Primary Care Telemedicine Linked with Fewer Antibiotics for Children Than Direct-to-Consumer Telemedicine

Pitt researchers have shown that telemedicine visits conducted for children with primary care providers (PCPs) are associated with fewer antibiotic prescriptions than telemedicine visits with virtual-only, direct-to-consumer companies. 

The findings, published in JAMA Network Open, highlight the importance of supporting integrated telemedicine within the primary care setting and the potential challenges and limitations of delivering virtual-only acute care to children.

“Telemedicine meets an important need for families—it’s not always possible for parents to bring their kids to an in-person appointment,” said Kristin Ray, associate professor of pediatrics, School of Medicine, and senior author of the study. “Our findings suggest that PCPs can provide high-quality care with this technology, and we need to ensure that policymakers and payers thoughtfully structure telehealth programs and payment so that telehealth integrated within primary care remains a viable option for practices and families.”

Additionally, because antimicrobial resistance is a growing issue, prescribers need to be judicious in their use of antibiotics, noted Ray.

Read more about the findings in the news release.