The advantages of using photographs and video images in telephone consultations with a specialist in paediatric surgery

Abstract

Evaluation of photographs and video images of a lesion together with medical history and clinical findings via a telephone consultation between a paediatric surgery specialist and a general practitioner provides a definitive diagnosis and prevents patients from being referred unnecessarily.

Teleconsultations in pediatric surgical patients: Where we stand and what is the future?

“…have demonstrated that an accurate diagnosis of neonatal surgical conditions can be established utilizing video-conferencing. [ 4 ] Similar results have been depicted by other studies,[ 3 ] where sharing of clinical photographs and images during teleconsultations has been shown to greatly augment the decision-making power of pediatric surgeons.…”

“…Firstly, it decreases the patient load arriving at the healthcare facility. Akkoyun[ 3 ] had shown that unnecessary consultations or referrals to the pediatric surgeon constitute a sizeable proportion. Teleconsultations can be beneficial in reducing the physical appointments to pediatric surgeons.…”

Teleconsultation and Clinical Decision Making: a Systematic Review

“…Hence, the quality of the decision depends directly on the quantity and quality of information received. Some researchers have suggested solutions such as sending medical documents like photographs and video images ( 15 ) or improving the quality of images ( 16 ) to increase the definiteness of timely diagnosis.…”

What Is “Telemedicine” and What Does It Mean for a Pediatric Surgeon?

“…28 The use of photographs and images being used in teleconsultation has been shown to have numerous advantages for the pediatric surgeon. Akkoyun 29 found in his study in which the average distance of patients from the medical center was 122 km. It was determined that by using teleconsultation technology of providing the surgeon with images of the patient's pathology 83% of unnecessary emergency referrals to the pediatric surgeon were prevented and 97% of parents of nonemergency patients reported that they were satisfied with their child's medical care, were sure about the diagnosis they had received through this method, and felt that this method was correct.…”

“…It was determined that by using teleconsultation technology of providing the surgeon with images of the patient's pathology 83% of unnecessary emergency referrals to the pediatric surgeon were prevented and 97% of parents of nonemergency patients reported that they were satisfied with their child's medical care, were sure about the diagnosis they had received through this method, and felt that this method was correct. 29…”