Researchers interviewed 15 physicians who worked in the Pediatrician Online of Clalit service in Israel over the last five years and analyzed data thematically.
Researchers identified six main challenges physicians face:
• Difficulties diagnosing from a distance
• Treating unfamiliar patients
• Working alone
• Urgency and load of calls
• Technological obstacles
• A “moral conflict” between the desire to meet parents’ expectations and maintain standards of care
“Decision-makers should be aware of the challenges and special skills and training required to succeed in this setting,” said Motti Haimi, MD, of Clalit Health Services at the Children’s Health Center in Haifa, Israel, the study’s lead author.
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