Telehealth & Kids: How school systems can enhance healthcare for children through telehealth programmes

By Vikram Thaploo

In the era of technology, telehealth services have brought a transformative change in the way healthcare is accessed without compromising on care quality and outcomes. In a country like ours, timely access to healthcare is a critical priority for school children, especially in rural areas to improve their health status and reduce the incidences of mortality. The need for school-based telehealth services

According to a study published in The Lancet, a survey across 10 Indian cities revealed that children suffer from a lack of immunity that results in school absentism. The survey conducted by IMRB which involved 1500 mothers who had children in the age group of 6-14 years, also revealed that nearly 30% of mothers take their children to a doctor every month because of some nagging illness. For a country with the second-largest school system in the world, the figures can be more alarming if the money spent on physical travel to the doctor and lost hours of education are also taken into consideration.

In rural areas, insufficient transport resources, provider shortage and economic hardship—everything contributes to untreated health conditions that can have a significant impact on academics. Technology can be the best answer to these concerns where a video link between a doctor and a school can help address everyday health issues and improve academic outcomes. School-based telehealth can turn out to be an effective method to enhance healthcare quality and accessibility to care which includes chronic disease management, primary care, mental and behavioural health, nutritional counselling, dental screenings, speech therapy and health education.

How telehealth services in schools can make a difference

With the implementation of telemedicine, school children can benefit in a myriad of ways such as:

•  Immediate medical advice and treatment in case of sickness and emergency injuries
• Timely treatment and prevention tips can minimise the contagion factor
•  Improved care coordination with primary care providers
•  Those who lack the resources to quality healthcare can get access to specialty healthcare services
•  Children suffering from critical conditions that require physical attention can be moved to secondary care hospitals while less severe cases can be treated through a virtual consultation. This will also reduce the burden on district hospitals.
• Parents’ expenses can be minimised
•  Children are more likely to perform better academically because of good health

Though school-based telehealth programmes can be the key to manage the rising concern of health issues among children, school staff may lack the resources and time to manage care coordination effectively. Therefore, they may seek the help of relevant health providers in the community. Another important consideration would be investments in health information technology infrastructure that would result in the seamless transmission of patient information.

Telehealth can act as an essential tool to expand and complement the capacity of schools by meeting the healthcare needs of children through the use of technology. Unlike other school-based health initiatives, telehealth programmes in schools do not aim to replace local providers instead, complement the quality of care. With adequate financial support, technological advances and a consistent approach to implementation, telehealth can change healthcare in educational institutions.

The writer is CEO, TeleHealth, Apollo Hospitals Group