Brindise, T., Phophairat, M., et. al. (2015). Development of a
Tele-ICU postorientation support program for bedside nurses.
Crit Care Nurse: 35 (4): 8-16.
35. The Feasibility and Satisfaction of
Using Telemedicine To Provide Tertiary
Pediatric Obesity Care
Reza Sadeghian, MD, MBA, MSc 1 , Leigh Ann Phelps, RN 2 ,
Rebecca A Gooch, MD 3 , Daniel Preudhomme 2
1
University of South Alabama, Department of Pediatrics,
2
Department of Adolescent Medicine, Department of
Pediatrics, 3 Department of Medicine and Critical Care,
Northwell Health
Background: The use of telemedicine in Pediatric tertiary
obesity care is in its infancy. Although Telemedicine imple-
mentation in tertiary care has been tried, the satisfaction and
outcome data is limited largely due to small sample sizes and
the marked variation of methods and personnel by which the
telemedicine technology is delivered and participants as-
sessed. Our objective was to determine the feasibility of using
telemedicine to deliver Pediatric tertiary obesity care and to
evaluate Patient/MD/Staff satisfaction.
Methods: We used a commercially available telemedicine
system to conduct a prospective study where a sample of 30
patients were evaluated by a specialist physician using tele-
medicine technology from February 2016 through August
2016. Inclusion criteria included children aged 10-18 years of
age and a BMI greater than 95%, either as an initial assess-
ment or as follow up. A qualitative assessment of the patient/
MD/staff perceptions of telemedicine use were assessed
through a 5 point Likert scale. The study was approved by the
Institutional Review Board at the University of South Ala-
bama. Consent was obtained from patients’ guardians. We
used descriptive statistics when appropriate.
Results: One specialist physician (DP), along with CRNP/RN/
PA/Resident