Nemours’ Pediatric Remote Monitoring Expanding

Jacksonville, Florida
Friday, August 31, 2007 @ 01:14 PM EDT
by: Odette Struys
(904) 232-4186

Seeking More First Coast Schools Participation

Nemours, one of the nation’s largest children’s health systems, is expanding its award winning Pediatric Remote Monitoring program to more schools in Duval and surrounding counties. The program is seeking the help of parents and educators to identify additional schools that have a large population of chronically ill asthmatics, from grades K through 12 that may have an interest in participating in the pilot project.

The remote monitoring program consists of technology installed in schools or childcare centers to allow children who suffer from chronic medical conditions to have online e-visits with Nemours clinicians through videoconference.

“Monitoring remotely from a patient’s home, school, or childcare center enables nurses and physicians to extend care beyond office visits and allows patients to empower themselves with disease management,” said R. Jay Cummings, MD, Vice-President of Physician Practices for Nemours Florida. “Additionally, scheduling office visits for children with chronic conditions often results in missed school days and a parent taking paid time off from work -- with remote monitoring and video conference, health care savings for the child’s entire family are achieved.”

“We are excited to have this wonderful program in our schools. The remote monitoring keeps kids in classrooms learning, which is so very important for every child but particularly so for youngsters with chronic conditions. Again, Nemours is partnering with our schools to offer assistance to children who need help the most,” said Dr. Joseph J. Wise, superintendent of schools.

There is no charge for participating in the program or for the initial visit as the program is currently funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Technologies Opportunities Program (TOP) grant. Current locations where remote monitoring is available include: Alfred I. duPont Middle School, Joseph Stilwell Middle School, Paxon School for Advanced Studies, Mt. Herman Exceptional Student Center, Chappell Child Development Centers located at the Florida Community College North and Downtown Campuses and the main Chappell Child Development Center.

Once the new schools are identified over the next few weeks, monitoring is set to begin by the end of September and last through to June next year. Interested schools or parents should contact Nemours at: (904) 858-3898.

The Nemours remote monitoring project won the 2006 Governor of Florida’s Innovation Award for its contributions to Florida’s economic growth for providing a program that helps children with chronic conditions such as asthma.

modified: Wednesday, September 05, 2007 @ 01:14 PM EDT
created: Wednesday, September 05, 2007 @ 01:14 PM EDT

About Nemours

Nemours, one of the nation’s largest pediatric health systems, is dedicated to achieving higher standards in children’s health. Nemours offers an integrated spectrum of clinical treatment coupled with research, advocacy, and educational health and prevention services extending to all families in the communities it serves. Starting with Alfred I. duPont’s bequest over seventy years ago, Nemours has grown into a multi-dimensional organization offering personalized clinical and preventive care focused on children.

Nemours owns and operates the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware and major children’s specialty clinics in Delaware (Wilmington), Florida (Jacksonville, Orlando and Pensacola), Pennsylvania (Philadelphia and Bryn Mawr) and New Jersey (Atlantic City and Voorhees). Having recently received preliminary approval from the State of Florida, Nemours will establish a new full-service children’s hospital as part of an integrated pediatric health campus in Orlando. KidsHealth.org, the world’s most visited pediatric health care Web site for parents, kids and teens, is a project of Nemours.

Nemours employs over 4,400 individuals, including 430 pediatric physicians, specialists and surgeons who cared for approximately a quarter of a million children in 2007. The organization’s goal is to align with parents, physicians, community leaders, children’s advocates and elected officials to ensure optimal wellness for every child. Additional information about Nemours can be found at www.nemours.org.