Community Engagement Research to Improve Participation of Primary Care Physicians in Telehealth Consultation Services Focused on Pediatric Patients With Disabilities

Abstract

Community engagement research (CER) is an evidence-based approach to developing, studying, and evaluating the impact of academic–community partnerships focused on a common public health goal. In this case example, we will describe the process, barriers, and outcomes of a CER project that was focused on connecting pediatric specialists from a university-affiliated Children's Hospital with physicians in community-based pediatric practice treating children and youth with complex developmental disabilities. The common public health goal in this case was the commitment to the concept of a “medical home,” or the provision of high-quality medical care within one’s own community. Many families of children with disabilities live far from specialty medical centers and have difficulty accessing community-based practitioners that feel competent to manage all aspects of their care. Waiting lists to see developmental specialists are also very long, and delays in care can lead to adverse health outcomes for vulnerable patients. Building capacity of local doctors through ongoing consultations with specialists is an important part of establishing and maintaining medical homes for children and youth with disabilities. In this case example, we will describe our team’s efforts to partner with primary care providers in rural and underserved communities in Colorado and explore the potential feasibility and impact of an interactive case consultation service delivered via telehealth (e.g., videoconferencing). We will discuss the CER strategies we employed, the barriers we faced, and the outcomes we observed from this 3-year project.

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