Transforming Pediatric Mobile Care

The University of Miami’s medical school and the national Children’s Health Fund are partnering with the Verizon Foundation to transform pediatric healthcare in underserved areas. Their “doctor’s office on wheels” program is bringing the expertise of the University Health system to disadvantaged children across Miami-Dade County.

Powered by Verizon’s 4G LTE broadband network, the University of Miami (UM) Miller School of Medicine medical team boards the Children’s Health Fund’s bright blue telemedicine equipped pediatric mobile clinic to instantly connect children in need of specialized care to UM experts. This is accomplished via a computer, a high-speed wireless connection, video cameras, and high tech medical equipment.

The Children’s Health Fund has deployed 50 mobile pediatric clinics in 17 states since 1987 and the Verizon Foundation plans to roll out additional health information technology projects to reach children and families in Dallas, Detroit, New York City, Phoenix, and San Francisco. The projects include secure text messaging between providers and patients to help them keep appointments and manage their illnesses and medications.

UM was a natural choice for lunching the Verizon Foundation’s initiative since UM was the site of Florida’s first telemedicine program when the University and Jackson Memorial Hospital began providing medical care to migrant workers via video conferencing 20 years ago.

Today, the University provides a wide variety of telemedicine services, including remote dermatology for the cruise industry and Native American health facilities. UM also provides pediatric primary and specialty care for students at nine Miami-Dade public schools and for Children’s Medical Services clinics in Broward, Palm Beach, and Martin counties.