Telemedicine and eHealth Applications in the Pediatric Population

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Digital Health Technologies".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2026 | Viewed by 831

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
1. Health Systems Management Department, Yezreel Valley College, Yezreel Valley 1930600, Israel
2. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3109601, Israel
3. Meuhedet Healthcare Services,Tel Aviv-Jaffa 6203854, Israel
Interests: telemedicine; digital health; health disparities
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Telehealth is changing how we care for children, but it is not just "adult telemedicine made smaller." When kids are involved, everything becomes more complex—and more interesting.

The integration of telehealth technologies in pediatric care represents a transformative shift that addresses longstanding barriers to healthcare access while introducing novel considerations unique to child and adolescent populations. Unlike adult telemedicine, pediatric telehealth must navigate the complex dynamics of parent–child–provider interactions, accommodate developmental variations in communication abilities, and address the distinctive clinical needs that require hands-on examination and assessment. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated adoption across pediatric subspecialties, revealing both the remarkable potential for remote management of chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and mental health disorders, as well as the limitations in conducting comprehensive physical examinations and developmental screenings.

Now, as we settle into hybrid care models, we are grappling with big questions: How do we maintain that crucial therapeutic relationship virtually? What about families who cannot access reliable internet? When is a virtual visit good enough, and when do we absolutely need in-person care for optimal outcomes?

We are seeking research that tackles these real-world challenges across all aspects of pediatric telehealth.

Potential Article Topics for Submission

Clinical Applications and Outcomes

  • Remote monitoring of chronic pediatric conditions (asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, and cardiac)
  • Virtual mental health interventions for children and adolescents
  • Telehealth in pediatric subspecialties (cardiology, endocrinology, neurology, and psychiatry)
  • Emergency and urgent care triage via telemedicine
  • Post-operative follow-up and wound care management
  • School-based telehealth programs and outcomes

Diagnostic Challenges and Clinical Decision-Making

  • Limitations and adaptations in virtual physical examinations for children
  • Diagnostic accuracy in pediatric telehealth vs. in-person care
  • Parent-mediated assessment techniques for remote diagnosis
  • Age-specific diagnostic challenges in virtual pediatric consultations
  • Clinical decision support tools for pediatric telehealth diagnosis
  • Red flag identification and escalation protocols in virtual pediatric care

Education and Health Promotion

  • Virtual health education programs for children and families
  • Parent training and coaching through telehealth platforms
  • Interactive digital health literacy initiatives for pediatric populations
  • Remote lifestyle counseling and behavior modification programs
  • Telehealth-delivered anticipatory guidance and preventive care education

Technology and Innovation

  • AI-assisted pediatric diagnostic tools for remote care
  • Mobile health applications for pediatric populations
  • Wearable devices and remote patient monitoring in children
  • Virtual reality applications in pediatric therapy and pain management
  • Integration of telemedicine with electronic health records in pediatric settings

Access, Equity, and Social Determinants

  • Rural pediatric healthcare delivery through telehealth
  • Addressing digital divides into pediatric telehealth access
  • Telehealth utilization patterns across different socioeconomic groups
  • Language barriers and cultural considerations in virtual pediatric care

Quality, Safety, and Standards

  • Clinical practice guidelines for pediatric telehealth
  • Quality metrics and outcome measures for virtual pediatric care
  • Privacy and security considerations for minors in telehealth
  • Training and competency requirements for providers
  • Medico-legal considerations in pediatric telemedicine

Family and Developmental Considerations

  • Parent satisfaction and engagement in pediatric telehealth
  • Age-appropriate communication strategies in virtual visits
  • Impact on parent–child–provider relationships
  • Telehealth in early childhood development and screening
  • Adolescent-specific considerations in virtual healthcare delivery

Implementation and Health System considerations

  • Workflow optimization for pediatric telehealth programs
  • Cost-effectiveness analyses of virtual vs. in-person pediatric care
  • Staff training and change management in pediatric telehealth adoption
  • Hybrid care models in pediatric practices
  • International perspectives on pediatric telehealth implementation

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Motti Haimi
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • telehealth
  • remote monitoring
  • digital health
  • mobile health
  • pediatric telemedicine
  • virtual reality applications

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

39 pages, 1170 KB  
Review
Bridging Distance, Delivering Care: Pediatric Tele-Nutrition in the Digital Health Era—A Narrative Review
by Motti Haimi and Liron Inchi
Healthcare 2025, 13(23), 3107; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13233107 - 28 Nov 2025
Viewed by 568
Abstract
Background: The emergence of telehealth has transformed healthcare delivery across multiple disciplines, with tele-nutrition representing a rapidly evolving field that addresses nutritional assessment, counseling, and management through digital platforms. Objective: This narrative review examines the current landscape of pediatric tele-nutrition services, exploring technological [...] Read more.
Background: The emergence of telehealth has transformed healthcare delivery across multiple disciplines, with tele-nutrition representing a rapidly evolving field that addresses nutritional assessment, counseling, and management through digital platforms. Objective: This narrative review examines the current landscape of pediatric tele-nutrition services, exploring technological platforms, clinical applications, evidence for effectiveness, implementation considerations, and future directions. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and Web of Science databases from January 2010 to October 2025. A total of 114 relevant sources were selected, encompassing randomized controlled trials, observational studies, systematic reviews, implementation studies, clinical guidelines, and policy documents. Results: This review synthesized 114 sources, predominantly from the United States (54%) and European nations (21%), with evidence expansion accelerating post-COVID-19 pandemic. Evidence suggests pediatric tele-nutrition demonstrates clinical outcomes comparable to traditional in-person care across diverse populations including obesity management, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, feeding difficulties, metabolic conditions, and preventive nutrition services. Multiple technology platforms are utilized, with synchronous video consultations most common (60–85% of encounters). Benefits include enhanced access to specialized care, increased frequency of contact, reduced family burden, and high satisfaction rates (>80% across most studies). Challenges include limitations in physical assessment, digital equity concerns affecting vulnerable populations, variable reimbursement policies, and the need for provider training. Hybrid models combining virtual and in-person care appear optimal for many conditions. Conclusions: Pediatric tele-nutrition represents a viable and effective care delivery model with particular advantages for families facing geographic, logistic, or access barriers. Continued attention to digital equity, provider training, regulatory frameworks, sustainable reimbursement policies, and rigorous evidence generation will optimize implementation and outcomes. Future directions include artificial intelligence applications, precision nutrition approaches, and expanded global health applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Telemedicine and eHealth Applications in the Pediatric Population)
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