The Children's Medical Services program in Georgia uses telemedicine to provide pediatric specialty care to rural communities. Specialists were previously only available in major cities, requiring long travel for patients. Through telemedicine, specialists from hospitals like CHOA and GHSU now conduct clinics remotely to evaluate and treat patients for conditions like pulmonology, endocrinology, and nephrology. The telemedicine program has grown substantially since starting in 2007, allowing more patients to access care while improving their health outcomes.

1. Children’s Medical Services
Telemedicine Program
Georgia Partnership for Telehealth Conference
Sandee Simmons, RN, BSN
March 19, 2013

2. Children’s Medical Services
• Provides care coordination to children
from birth to age 21 who have disabling
conditions or chronic diseases
• Provides long-term specialized care,
medical equipment, medication,
hospitalization, nursing services, family
education, social services, and case
management

3. District 8-1 Barriers to
Specialty Care
• Rural South Georgia
• Specialist are
located hours away
• No financial
resources for travel

4. Pediatric Specialty Clinics
provided by CMS
• On Site Clinics
– Cardiology
– Hematology/ Sickle Cell
– Orthopedic
– Pulmonology
– Endocrinology

5. Concerns for Care
• Endocrinologist had to stop travel to
Valdosta because more time was needed
in the physician’s office
• Pulmonologist had to cut travel to
Valdosta due to staff shortage

6. Use of Telemedicine
2007—Used Telemedicine with Pulmonologist
2009—Pulmonologist retired from MCG
2010—Began Genetic and Nephrology Clinic
2011—Partnered with CHOA for Pulmonology
and CF specialist
2012— Endocrinology/Diabetic Clinic with
previous physician
2012—Pulmonology Clinic from Georgia
Health Science University

7. Growth of Clinics
• Genetic Clinic started once every other month
– now held monthly
• Nephrology Clinic started with 4 patients
– increased to 20 patients
• Pulmonology Clinic started with 3 patients
− CHOA 3 days each month (2 physicians)
− GHSU 1 day each month
• Endocrine/Diabetic Clinic started with 7 patients
− increased to 27 patients within 5 months

8. Telemedicine Clinic Routine
• Obtain referral from physician for pediatric
specialty evaluation
• Schedule patients for clinic and send the
schedule to the specialty site along with clinical
notes
• Obtain or schedule labs or tests prior to visit
• At clinic visit, patient completes specialist forms,
vital signs are obtained and faxed to the
specialist

9. Patient Success Stories
• Families are able to attend appointments
because of ease of travel
• CMS provides Care Coordination
• CMS can assist eligible families with
medications, test, or supplies if needed
• Improvement in patient outcomes