Grant Supports Expansion of Pediatric Telehealth Offerings in Montana

A two-year partnership between Montana Pediatrics and the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, which includes a $1 million investment, aims to expand a pediatric telehealth program to increase access to healthcare.

Given the large geographic size of Montana, accessing care can be challenging for in-state residents, particularly children. According to the press release, only 20 of the 56 counties in Montana have a practicing pediatrician. The distribution of pediatricians also leads children from rural communities to obtain care from hospitals with limited pediatric care resources.

However, after receiving the grant from the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, Montana Pediatrics will expand its after-hours telemedicine program. This program began in 2020 when Montana Pediatrics formed a group of virtual pediatric care providers, allowing patients to access care from home in the evenings, on weekends, and during holidays. Currently, over 50 percent of pediatric providers in the state are involved in this collaborative network.

“We’re not here to replace daytime care, but instead provide appropriate, accessible, and affordable care in the times and spaces when primary care is not available,” said Chelsea Bodnar, MD, a pediatrician, and CEO of Montana Pediatrics, in a press release. “For any family who accesses care from an after-hours visit, their primary care provider will have detailed notes from the visit by the next morning. We’re fiercely committed to continuity of care. It doesn't matter who the child’s provider is or how late at night we saw the child, we believe every provider should always be in the loop about their own patients.” 

In 2023 so far, Montana Pediatrics has assisted over 150 families with after-hours medical needs related to fevers, stomachaches, ear infections, and others.

With financial assistance from the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, the organization aims to support care access in areas with limited pediatric resources, with the eventual goal of expanding pediatric care in all 56 counties by the end of 2024.

"We know access to health care is challenging for families in rural Montana, and Montana Pediatrics plays a significant role in filling that gap,” said Craig Lambrecht, MD, Logan Health president and CEO and current chair of the Montana Pediatrics Board of Directors, in the press release. “This investment by The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation will not only help the organization expand its reach but truly impact the lives of children and families across Montana for generations to come.” 

Efforts involving the merging of pediatric care and telehealth have become increasingly common.

In January, Seattle Children’s began offering virtual services for treating urgent care symptoms such as allergies and colds.

As an organization, Seattle Children’s aims to assist patients through nearly 60 pediatric subspecialties. The organization planned to address challenges related to high patient volumes by adding telehealth for urgent care to its offerings.

Known as Virtual Urgent Care, appointments affiliated with this program took place through devices such as computers and tablets. Prerequisites, however, included an in-state location during the visit and supervision from a legal guardian.