Adoption and utilization of device-assisted telemedicine.

We estimate the effect of adopting a digital device for performing medical exams at home during telehealth visits. We match visits of adopters and non-adopters who used the same virtual care clinic but without the device and compare healthcare utilization after the matched visits. We find that device adoption, partially offset by decreased use of other primary care modalities, results in a 12% higher utilization rate of primary care and increased use of antibiotics.

Bacterial vs viral etiology of fever: A prospective study of a host score for supporting etiologic accuracy of emergency department physicians.

Background: A host-protein score (BV score) that combines the circulating levels of TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP-10) and C-reactive protein (CRP) was developed for distinguishing bacterial from viral infection. This study assessed the potential of the BV score to impact decision making and antibiotic stewardship at the emergency department (ED), by comparing BV score's performance to physician's etiological suspicion at patient presentation.

Methods: Rosetta study participants, aged 3 months to 18 years with febrile respiratory tract infection or fever without source, were prospectively recruited in a tertiary care pediatric ED.

The effect of environmental noise isolation on bronchiolitis severity in hospitalised children.

Aim: Bronchiolitis is an infectious disease, with no effective treatment. Music and Mozart's works specifically are known to have a positive effect on physiological parameters, while noise is considered harmful. We aim to evaluate the short-term effect of environmental noise detachment and/or music listening on the course of bronchiolitis in hospitalised children.

A management model for admission and treatment of pediatric trauma cases.

Background: Pediatric trauma, particularly major trauma cases, are often treated in less than optimal facilities by providers who lack training and experience in treating severely injured children. We aimed to develop a management model for admission and treatment of pediatric trauma using the Theory of Constraints (TOC).

Methods: We conducted interviews with 17 highly experienced policy makers, senior nursing managers and medical managers in pediatrics and trauma.

Diagnoses and Health Care Utilization for After-Hours Telemedicine Versus Primary Care Visits.

Objective: The use of a nation-wide, pediatricians online (PO) after-hours telemedicine service has been offered in Israel for more than a decade. We sought to compare PO visits with those to the primary care pediatrician (PCP).

Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study using Israel's largest health care provider database.