It’s the middle of the night, you’re enveloped in the comfort of warm blankets and soft pillows and suddenly a sheepish knock at your door followed by a cough and a soft cry pierces the quiet; your little one stands there feverish and uncomfortable, their small face flushed with illness.
As a parent, your heart aches, wanting nothing more than to ease their discomfort, to make them smile and laugh as they always do. Yet, the thought of dragging them into the cold night air to a crowded hospital waiting room, fills you with dread; especially if that waiting room is at such a distance that traveling there is not even an option.
This is where telemedicine steps in as a ray of light in the restless night. It promises a future where your child’s care comes with less heartache and headache, where expert medical advice is just a video call away. Recently this convenience has begun to find its way into school systems.
In this article, we will explore the transformative potential of school-based telehealth programs, examining the pressing need for such services, the remarkable growth and success of existing programs, and the impact this innovative approach is having on pediatric health and academic outcomes.
Expanding Access: Pediatric Telemedicine in Schools
The Challenge of Limited Healthcare Access
Millions of students in the United States, particularly those in rural and underserved areas, face significant barriers to receiving necessary medical care. According to a recent study, an estimated 13.23 million students attend schools in areas with limited access to healthcare providers (1). These access barriers disproportionately impact students from low-income, minority, and rural backgrounds, contributing to persistent health disparities.
The Impact on Health and Academic Success
The lack of access to healthcare can have serious consequences for students’ health and academic success. Chronic health conditions, such as asthma, allergies, and mental health issues, can significantly impact student attendance and performance when left unmanaged. The study found that students with common health conditions had significantly higher rates of chronic absenteeism compared to their healthier peers, based on national survey data (1). For example:
- Students diagnosed with asthma missed an average of 1.8 more school days and had a 2.6 percentage point higher rate of chronic absenteeism than those without asthma.
- Absenteeism is linked to lower academic performance, as students miss valuable instructional time and fall behind in their studies (1).
Schools as a Solution
Schools, however, are uniquely positioned to address these challenges by serving as a convenient and accessible location for providing healthcare services. As a central point of contact for children and families, schools offer an ideal setting to deliver care to students who may not otherwise have access due to transportation, financial, or other barriers. School-based telemedicine offers several advantages:
- Eliminates the need for parents to take time off work or arrange for childcare to take their children to medical appointments.
- Providing care in a familiar setting like school may also reduce anxiety and increase comfort for some students.
The Importance of Telemedicine in Schools
The lack of access to healthcare, the impact of health issues on attendance and performance, and the convenience of providing care in schools all underscore why telemedicine is important in this setting. By addressing these needs head-on, telemedicine in schools has the potential to:
- Bridge health disparities
- Improve student outcomes
- Support overall pediatric health and well-being
This integration into school-based health services represents a promising strategy for promoting health equity and academic success among the nation’s most vulnerable youth.
Growth, Prevalence, and Success of School-Based Telehealth
The Rise of School-Based Telehealth Programs
School-based telemedicine has experienced significant growth in recent years, driven by advancements in technology, reduced costs, and supportive policy changes. According to research, the prevalence of school-based health centers offering telemedicine services has increased markedly over the past decade.
Expanding Access for Millions of Students
As of 2016-17, more than 6.3 million students (13% of all U.S. public school students) had access to healthcare in a school setting (1). This represents a doubling in prevalence compared to a decade earlier, when only 6.3% of students had such access. The expansion of telehealth for schools is particularly noteworthy in rural and underserved areas, where traditional brick-and-mortar health centers may be impractical or cost-prohibitive (1).
Reducing Absenteeism in Rural Schools
Focusing on three rural school districts in North Carolina, researchers found that access to school-based telemedicine clinics (SBTCs) significantly reduced student absenteeism. School-level SBTC access reduced the likelihood of chronic absenteeism by 2.5 percentage points (a 29% reduction) and decreased the average number of absences by about 0.8 days per year (a 10% reduction). This access also increased the likelihood of students taking required math and reading tests by 1.8-2.0 percentage points (about 2%), likely due to improved attendance (1).
Success Stories Across the Nation
Other successful implementations of school-based telemedicine have been documented across the country. For example:
- In Rochester, New York, a program reported a 63% reduction in emergency department visits and a 26% decrease in hospitalizations among students who used telemedicine services (1).
- In California, a school-based telemedicine program focusing on asthma management led to a 76% reduction in school absences and a 49% decrease in emergency department visits among participants (1).
These case studies showcase the potential for school-based telemedicine to improve health outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and support academic success.
Potential Drawbacks and Limitations of School-Based Telemedicine
While school-based telemedicine offers numerous benefits and has demonstrated success in improving access to care and reducing absenteeism, it is important to acknowledge the potential drawbacks and limitations associated with this innovative approach, as highlighted in a recent scoping review (2).
- Technical difficulties and limited resources: Various studies in the review identified barriers such as unreliable internet connectivity, lack of suitable devices, and other technical infrastructure challenges that can hinder the successful implementation of telehealth in schools. These technical issues can lead to disruptions in care, frustrating students, parents, and healthcare providers alike.
- Generalizability concerns: Many of the reviewed studies had limitations related to small sample sizes and short trial durations, making it difficult to generalize the findings beyond the specific contexts studied. This underscores the need for more extensive research with larger, more diverse populations to fully understand the impact and scalability of school-based telemedicine.
- Digital literacy and access disparities: Limited digital literacy among students, families, teachers, and healthcare workers was identified as a challenge in some studies, along with restricted access to mobile phones in certain areas. These disparities can exacerbate existing inequities and limit the reach and effectiveness of school-based telemedicine programs.
- Participation and confidentiality concerns: Some studies noted a lack of participation in telehealth programs by students and families, which could be attributed to various factors such as discomfort with technology or concerns about data privacy and confidentiality. Ensuring secure, private spaces for telemedicine consultations in schools is crucial to building trust and encouraging participation.
- Cost and policy barriers: The costs associated with implementing and maintaining school-based telemedicine programs, as well as the need for government support and confidence in telehealth strategies, were recognized as potential barriers in some studies. Addressing these financial and policy challenges will be essential for the long-term sustainability and widespread adoption of school-based telemedicine.
While these limitations should not be overlooked, the overall evidence suggests that the benefits of school-based telemedicine in expanding access to care and improving student health outcomes outweigh the challenges. As technology continues to advance and best practices are established, many of these concerns can be mitigated, allowing school-based telemedicine to play an increasingly vital role in pediatric healthcare. Ongoing research, collaboration between healthcare providers and educators, and continuous improvement of telemedicine systems will be essential in addressing these challenges and maximizing the potential of this transformative approach to healthcare delivery.
The Future of Pediatric Healthcare
The rapid growth and demonstrable success of school-based telehealth programs highlight the transformative potential of this innovative approach to pediatric healthcare. By leveraging technology to bring care directly to students in need, these programs are breaking down barriers to access, improving health outcomes, and nurturing a more supportive learning environment.
As more schools embrace telemedicine, the benefits are likely to extend to millions of additional students, particularly those in underserved communities who stand to gain the most from improved access to care.
Staying Informed: Keep Up-to-Date on Telemedicine and Healthcare News with DKMD Consulting.
As the use of telemedicine continues to grow and evolve, particularly in pediatric and school-based settings, it is necessary for healthcare professionals, educators, and parents to stay informed about the latest developments, trends, and best practices. Staying up-to-date on healthcare news can help ensure that students receive the highest quality care, schools implement the most effective programs, and communities maximize the benefits of these innovative approaches.
One excellent resource for those seeking to stay at the forefront of telemedicine and healthcare news is DKMD Consulting. As a group of experienced medical writers, we are dedicated to providing the most current, accurate, and relevant information on the rapidly evolving landscape of healthcare.
By subscribing to our forthcoming newsletter and following our blog, you can gain access to a wealth of insights, case studies, and expert analyses on the latest trends and best practices in telemedicine and healthcare.
For example, one of our most recent blogs,Telemedicine Privacy and Security: What You Need to Know, covers some of the biggest hurdles to global adoption of telemedicine as well as best practices to mitigate those issues.
Whether you are a pediatrician looking to incorporate telemedicine into your practice, a school administrator exploring the benefits of school-based telemedicine, or a parent seeking to understand how these services can support your child’s health and well-being, DKMD Consulting has the information and resources you need.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to stay informed and make the most of these exciting developments. Visit DKMD Consulting today!
References
- Komisarow, S., & Hemelt, S. W. (2023). School-Based Healthcare and Absenteeism: Evidence from Telemedicine. EdWorkingPaper No. 23-698. Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University.
- Ayuso Margañon, R., Llistosella, M., Ayuso Margañon, S., Rojano Navarro, M., Bou Gràcia, N., & Sillero Sillero, A. (2023). Nursing Practice and Telehealth in School Health Services: A Scoping Review. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 11(24), 3124.
