In unadjusted analyses, there were no significant between-groups differences
in birth weight, gestational age, gender, and history of fetal
echocardiography (Table 2). Telemedicine patients were more likely
to have respiratory disease (P = .015) or heart disease associated
with genetic syndromes (P < .001). The prevalence of other noncardiac
diagnoses was similar across groups. Four percent of telemedicine
patients and 10% of control patients (P < .01) required
transport to other facilities (Table 3). Time required for a definitive diagnosis
(Table 3) among telemedicine patients was significantly
shorter (P < .001) than time to diagnosis for control patients.
Telemedicine patients were located significantly farther (P < .01)
from tertiary care hospitals than control patients (Table 3). There
were no statistically significant differences in the number of level 2
and level 3 nurseries between telemedicine and control hospitals.
No diagnostic errors were reported in the telemedicine group (compared
with subsequent videotape review).
Total LOS and ICU LOS were significantly shorter among the telemedicine
patients than the control patients (P = .005 and P = .024