Potential of telemedicine in pediatric primary care

Telemedicine virtually eliminates geography as a barrier to access to health care because it does not require patient and clinician to be in the same place at the same time. Telemedicine models using commercially available technology have enabled high-quality illness care in pediatric primary care settings and markedly improved access. More equitable distribution of health services is a likely result. Potential for children, families, and primary care pediatricians to gain from the access and effectiveness proffered by telemedicine hinges on acceptance by physicians and adoption in the health-care system. Significant organizational and psychological barriers to physician acceptance exist. Health system adoption, in turn, depends on successful organizational innovation and reimbursement from insurance organizations.