Telehealth
The Telehealth Revolution By Ned Ketyer, MD.
It only took a global pandemic to jump-start an idea — resisted for so long by medical providers, health insurers, and patients — and make it a reality. But with great speed and little fanfare, telehealth — the electronic, virtual health visit — has arrived, and it is here to stay.
What is telehealth? Telehealth involves the use of technology to provide clinical services to our patients without an in-person visit. This will allow your child to be evaluated by one of our pediatric providers by extending your medical home beyond our office walls, to meet you where you are and provide the care you need.
Why is AHN Pediatrics – Pediatric Alliance adding telehealth services? The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused our providers to incorporate new ways to ensure our patients, their caregivers, and our office staff are Dr. Joe Aracri, AHN Pediatrics – Pediatric Alliance Greentree protected from picking up and conducts a telehealth visit on spreading the virus. Telehealth March 31, 2020. allows patients and parents to freely interact with their chosen provider to receive the best pediatric care that they have come to expect.
How will telehealth work at my pediatrician’s office? Parents and caregivers are encouraged to call the office if they have important questions or concerns about their child. Most of these questions and concerns will be handled by our well-trained phone triage staff during regular office hours, and all of these calls will be reviewed by a provider, just as they always have been. This is not a telehealth visit. In case questions are complex, or are of the type that usually result in scheduling an in-person office visit with one of our providers, a virtual telehealth visit will be offered instead in order to comply with appropriate “social distancing” strategies to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 infections by keeping you and your child safely at home. After the parent or caregiver consents to a virtual visit, a telehealth visit will be scheduled with a provider during regular office hours.
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Can every problem be evaluated in a telehealth visit? While a large number of pediatric conditions can be evaluated and resolved by a telehealth visit with a provider, there are others that must be seen in person in Dr. Susie Saunders (Arcadia) takes order to adequately provide a call in your medical home. the best care to your child. When you call the office, you can speak with our triage staff and discuss which type of visit is most appropriate. Examples of what qualifies for a telehealth visit include: > Feeding concerns and reflux > Asthma followup > Gastrointestinal issues — > ADHD vomiting, diarrhea, > Anxiety/depression and constipation > Behavioral/developmental > Headache concerns > Injuries (some) > Cold symptoms/sinusitis > Rashes (most) and eczema > Concussion > Worried well — > Conjunctivitis (pink eye) for reassurance. > Croup Our policy for prescribing antibiotics over the phone are the same in a virtual visit: We cannot prescribe antibiotics without evaluating a child in the office for conditions such as: > Ear pain > Throat complaints, which may need a strep culture > Pneumonia or wheezing or respiratory distress > Urinary complaints which may need a urine culture We also cannot conduct telehealth visits for the following: > Well-Child Check-ups > Newborn weight checks > Jaundice *NOTE: These lists are not all inclusive. Our staff and providers will assess each patient individually and determine the best course of action.
AHN Pediatrics-Pediatric Alliance • Spring 2020 • www.ahnpediatrics.org
