Revolutionizing pediatric neurology care: telemedicine advancements and regulatory impact in the Northeast of Brazil

Daniela Laranja Gomes Rodrigues; Melina Alves da Frota; Maísa Vieira da Silva Malta; Marcos Aurélio Maeyama; Frederica Padilha; Adriana Miyauchi; Vanessa dos Santos Gonçalves Senra; André Felipe Martins de Araújo Silva; Deyse Mirelle Souza Santos; Eno Dias de Castro Filho; Nídia Cristina de Sousa; Ana Paula Marques de Pinho; Fernanda Saks Hahne

doi:10.1055/s-0045-1806733

Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria, Inhaltsverzeichnis

CC BY 4.0 · Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2025; 83(02): s00451806733
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1806733

Original Article

Revolutionizing pediatric neurology care: telemedicine advancements and regulatory impact in the Northeast of Brazil

Daniela Laranja Gomes Rodrigues

¹Hospital Alemão Oswaldo Cruz, Responsabilidade Social, São Paulo SP, Brazil.

,

Melina Alves da Frota

¹Hospital Alemão Oswaldo Cruz, Responsabilidade Social, São Paulo SP, Brazil.

,

Maísa Vieira da Silva Malta

¹Hospital Alemão Oswaldo Cruz, Responsabilidade Social, São Paulo SP, Brazil.

,

Marcos Aurélio Maeyama

²Núcleo de Telessaúde, Florianópolis SC, Brazil.

,

Frederica Padilha

¹Hospital Alemão Oswaldo Cruz, Responsabilidade Social, São Paulo SP, Brazil.

,

Adriana Miyauchi

¹Hospital Alemão Oswaldo Cruz, Responsabilidade Social, São Paulo SP, Brazil.

,

Vanessa dos Santos Gonçalves Senra

¹Hospital Alemão Oswaldo Cruz, Responsabilidade Social, São Paulo SP, Brazil.

,

André Felipe Martins de Araújo Silva

¹Hospital Alemão Oswaldo Cruz, Responsabilidade Social, São Paulo SP, Brazil.

,

Deyse Mirelle Souza Santos

³Secretaria de Saúde, Aracaju SE, Brazil.

,

Eno Dias de Castro Filho

¹Hospital Alemão Oswaldo Cruz, Responsabilidade Social, São Paulo SP, Brazil.

,

Nídia Cristina de Sousa

¹Hospital Alemão Oswaldo Cruz, Responsabilidade Social, São Paulo SP, Brazil.

,

Ana Paula Marques de Pinho

¹Hospital Alemão Oswaldo Cruz, Responsabilidade Social, São Paulo SP, Brazil.

,

Fernanda Saks Hahne

¹Hospital Alemão Oswaldo Cruz, Responsabilidade Social, São Paulo SP, Brazil.

› Institutsangaben

Abstract

Background Telemedicine, a patient-centered approach that leverages technology, has emerged as a cost-effective solution to provide comprehensive medical services for acute and chronic conditions.

Objective We aim to document the experiences of pediatric neurologists using teleconsultations within the TeleNortheast program, a specialized medical assistance initiative in the Northeast of Brazil.

Methods A retrospective analysis of teleconsultations was conducted from January to October 2023. Data from 546 teleconsultations, involving 506 pediatric patients, were extracted from medical records. Consultations were conducted between pediatric neurologists in São Paulo and primary care professionals in Sergipe. The analysis included patients' demographics, diagnoses, and outcomes.

Results Of the 506 teleconsultation patients seen, 89% continued treatment within their primary care settings without needing in-person referrals. Discharge was observed in 9.5% of cases, and only 1.4% required specialized in-person care. The most frequent diagnosis was autism spectrum disorder (19.1%), followed by epilepsy (7.1%), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (6.7%), and intellectual disability (5.9%). A cost-saving analysis indicated that teleconsultations avoided significant transportation costs, which could reach up to R$ 21 thousand for travel and feeding expenses.

Conclusion The results highlight the effectiveness of teleconsultations in improving access to pediatric neurological care in underserved regions, reducing the need for in-person counseling, with the potential to provide significant cost savings for the public health system. The TeleNortheast program demonstrates the potential of this approach to bridge healthcare gaps, particularly in regions with limited access to specialized care.

Keywords

Telemedicine - Public Health Systems - Neurology - Child

Bibliographical Record
Daniela Laranja Gomes Rodrigues, Melina Alves da Frota, Maísa Vieira da Silva Malta, Marcos Aurélio Maeyama, Frederica Padilha, Adriana Miyauchi, Vanessa dos Santos Gonçalves Senra, André Felipe Martins de Araújo Silva, Deyse Mirelle Souza Santos, Eno Dias de Castro Filho, Nídia Cristina de Sousa, Ana Paula Marques de Pinho, Fernanda Saks Hahne. Revolutionizing pediatric neurology care: telemedicine advancements and regulatory impact in the Northeast of Brazil. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2025; 83: s00451806733.
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1806733

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Referenzen

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