Virtual Pediatric Trauma Center for Trauma Care

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of California, Davis

Disqualifiers: Wards of state, Deceased, CPR, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 3 days

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a new telemedicine model called the Virtual Pediatric Trauma Center, designed to provide expert trauma care to children without long-distance travel. It compares live video consultations with traditional phone calls to determine which method better supports families and reduces stress and costs. The trial gathers feedback from families to identify the best way to communicate and make decisions with hospital staff. Children who have been injured and require transfer from a smaller hospital to a large trauma center, along with their parents, may be suitable for this study. As an unphased trial, it offers families the chance to influence the future of trauma care for children.

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that the Virtual Pediatric Trauma Center is safe for pediatric trauma care?

Research has shown that telemedicine, such as the Virtual Pediatric Trauma Center (VPTC), can safely and effectively care for children. Studies have found that telehealth use in emergencies reduces unnecessary hospital transfers and improves care outcomes. For instance, one study found that telemedicine can shorten hospital stays and even lower death rates in children.

The VPTC connects specialists with local doctors through live video, ensuring children receive expert care quickly, even if they are far from a large hospital. Telehealth consultations have proven safe and help doctors manage medical issues without needing to move the child unnecessarily.

Overall, research supports the safety of telemedicine in pediatric trauma care. It provides timely expert advice, significantly impacting children's recovery from injuries. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Virtual Pediatric Trauma Center because it leverages telehealth to connect pediatric trauma specialists with patients remotely, offering a more immediate and comprehensive care approach compared to traditional telephone consultations. Unlike standard telephone consultations, this virtual center uses video technology to provide real-time, face-to-face interactions, which can enhance diagnosis and treatment planning. This method not only aims to improve the quality of care for young trauma patients but also increases accessibility to specialized care, particularly for those in remote or underserved areas.

What evidence suggests that the Virtual Pediatric Trauma Center is effective for pediatric trauma care?

Research has shown that the Virtual Pediatric Trauma Center (VPTC), which participants in this trial may experience, can ease the burden on families when a child suffers a serious injury. This trial will compare the VPTC to regular phone consultations, serving as the control arm. Studies have found that the VPTC might enhance communication and decision-making between families and medical staff. Early results suggest that live video consultations can reduce stress and boost families' confidence in their child's care. Although more data is being gathered, the VPTC could also lower healthcare costs and reduce the need to transfer children to distant trauma centers. This approach aims to bring expert care closer to families, even if they live far from major hospitals. ^{1 2 4 6 7}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for children under 18 with acute injuries needing a transfer consultation from smaller hospitals to UC Davis's specialized departments. It aims to improve the experience and outcomes for these young patients and their families.

Inclusion Criteria

I am under 18 and have an acute injury requiring a transfer to UC Davis for trauma, orthopedic, or neurosurgery.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive either telephone consultation or Virtual Pediatric Trauma Center intervention

3 days

Initial ED visit

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for outcomes such as anxiety levels, out-of-pocket costs, and healthcare utilization

30 days

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Virtual Pediatric Trauma Center

Trial Overview The study compares standard phone consultations with a new Virtual Pediatric Trauma Center (VPTC) that uses live video calls, assessing which method better supports injured children and their families.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Virtual Pediatric Trauma Center (Intervention) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The Virtual Pediatric Trauma Center uses telehealth to consult a pediatric trauma specialist.

Group II: Telephone Consultation (Control) Active Control 1 Intervention

Telephone consultation to a pediatric trauma specialist.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of California, Davis

Lead Sponsor

Trials

958

Recruited

4,816,000+

Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute

Collaborator

Trials

592

Recruited

27,110,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9793356/

Measuring the impact of a “Virtual Pediatric Trauma Center ... The goal of this study is to compare the current standard of care to the VPTC with respect to family-centered outcomes developed by parents and community ...

2. pcori.org pcori.org/research-results/2020/comparing-two-approaches-improve-families-experiences-care-when-children-receive-treatment-traumatic-injury-emergency-room

Comparing Two Approaches to Improve Families ... Only 45% of the Virtual Pediatric Trauma Center (VPTC) participants received the intervention. Reviewers noted that this was a limitation of the ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9518803/

Enhancing the Implementation of the Virtual Pediatric ... This article describes factors related to adoption, implementation, and effectiveness of the Virtual Pediatric Trauma Center intervention.

4. icpsr.umich.edu icpsr.umich.edu/web/pcodr/studies/39210

Improving Family-Centered Pediatric Trauma Care - ICPSR The purpose of this study was to compare the current standard of care to the Virtual Pediatric Trauma Center (VPTC) with respect to family- ...

5. pcori.org pcori.org/research-results/2020/improving-family-centered-pediatric-trauma-care-standard-care-versus-virtual-pediatric-trauma-center

Improving Family-Centered Pediatric Trauma Care In this study, the research team is looking at virtual trauma care for children. The team wants to see if patients can receive effective trauma care without ...

6. intjem.biomedcentral.com intjem.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12245-025-00968-3

Impact of telemedicine on mortality, hospital admissions, and ... Although our pooled analysis demonstrated statistically significant reductions in LOS and overall mortality among pediatric patients receiving ...

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2688115224007720

The role of telehealth in pediatric emergency care Telehealth consultation can provide timely and safe management for many medical problems in children and can prevent many unnecessary and often long transport ...