Missoula, Mont.-based Community Medical Center plans to transition its pediatric intensive care services to a 24/7 telehealth-supported model, a move that has drawn opposition from nurses and physicians, according to a June 12 report from NBC Montana.
Hospital leaders said declining pediatric ICU patient volumes have made it difficult to sustain on-site pediatric intensive care staffing, according to the report. Under the new model, hospital staff will continue caring for acutely ill children with remote support from pediatric critical care specialists. Patients requiring a higher level of care will be transferred to a children’s hospital outside Missoula.
In a statement to NBC Montana, the hospital said the transition will allow it to provide “safe, dependable pediatric critical care while maintaining continuity for both patients and care teams.”
However, a group of 45 nurses and physicians signed a letter urging hospital leaders to reconsider the change. The letter argues that telemedicine physicians cannot perform bedside assessments during emergencies and raises concerns about the impact on patient care, according to the report.
Staff also said the model could increase the burden on families whose children require transfers for advanced treatment, potentially separating patients from local support systems.
According to the letter, the new care model is scheduled to take effect Oct. 1. The transition comes less than a year after Missoula-based St. Patrick Hospital said it plans to close its obstetrics unit, citing declining birth volumes and workforce shortages, NBC Montana reported.
Becker’s reached out to Community Medical Center for comment and will update this article if a response is received.
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