In the field of developmental and behavioral pediatrics, there is an extreme demand and insufficient access to provide the support that children need.  Telehealth helps with access by reducing the barriers of travel and financial expenses.  It also provides a clearer picture of a child’s condition in their natural environment.

The research for developmental assessments and testing over telehealth is growing, and the actual implementation is in the early stages.  When I’m tired before seeing a patient, I try to put myself in their shoes as much as possible.  It’s a 6-12 month wait to see a developmental-behavioral pediatrician.  The families often drive multiple hours to see me in-person.  Often, the child has symptoms of Autism, and changes in routine lead to aggression and irritability.  I imagine that difficult (and potentially dangerous) trip.  I imagine the family getting up at 5am to make an 8am appointment and praying there isn’t a wreck on the road that would make them miss the appointment.  I imagine the fear of missing an appointment that families have waited a year for and now could have to wait even longer.  Telehealth addresses this, and I consider this a disability rights issue.  If the evidence exists that we can provide this service of equal value, then we should do it.  I’ve linked to research below that supports telehealth usage in developmental and behavioral pediatrics.