Applications of Telemedicine in Child Abuse Pediatrics

Child abuse is a common and morbid condition that is frequently identified in the emergency department, but emergency departments far outnumber specialized child abuse pediatricians. The small size and slow growth of child abuse as a specialty requires innovative approaches to ensure that specialized services are available to all children who may have been abused.

This review covers the history and core concepts of telemedicine in child abuse pediatrics, highlighting services including live patient visits, advice and consultation, and retrospective peer review. We describe a deliberate approach to establishing a telemedicine program. Training and practice help establish new competencies in this form of medicine. Evaluation and sound business planning lead to sustainable and positive change. We also discuss challenges unique to child abuse telemedicine including confidentiality, security, provider engagement, and specialized training.

Child abuse is a common and pervasive problem whereas child abuse pediatricians are both few and far between. Telemedicine may provide a solution to problems of availability and distribution within our specialty.