When to Consider Telehealth for Your Child

Virtual or In-person Visit? A Practical Guide for Parents on When to Consider Telehealth for Their Child

Since 2020, telehealth has come onto the scene as a convenient solution for parents everywhere. And it can be! But, how do you know when you should consider it instead of in-person care?

This guide with expert advice from Mumtaj Chand, DO, and Ashima Gupta, MD, will help you understand when telehealth could be the perfect solution, so the next time your child is sick or has a follow-up appointment, you can book their visit with confidence.

Let’s start with the basics: What is telehealth?

Telehealth visits are any visits with a pediatrician or pediatric clinician that occur without visiting in-person. They happen on a secure portal, providing you with quick, convenient access to a clinician who can diagnose non-urgent medical conditions.

At Zarminali, we currently offer video-based telehealth visits.

Care that comes to you

Being a parent means your child is going to get sick. In most cases, our pediatricians that offer video visits have same-day appointment availability Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time. “These are a great option when you need to see a clinician quickly and conveniently without having to take a trip to the clinic,” says Dr. Gupta.

We’re happy to offer video visits to families in states where we’re opening clinics soon, such as Illinois.

Symptoms that can be treated with a video visit

While not all needs can be addressed through virtual appointments, such as well child visits or sports physicals, there are many common ailments that can be evaluated with a telehealth visit.

Here are some common symptoms we evaluate through a telehealth appointment:

• Pink eye and/or eye discharge
• Runny nose/congestion
• Simple insect bites/stings
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• School excuse notes (depending on the type of sick visit)
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Fevers
• Allergy symptoms
• Skin rashes
• Abdominal pain
• Headaches

Our Zarminali clinicians’ main priority is to deliver excellent care to your child. Depending on the concerns shared during the intake, our team may contact you to ask additional questions. “In some cases, notes from the parent help us decide whether an in-person visit would be more appropriate to best support the child,” says Dr. Chand. “We want to make the most of our visit together to get your child the care they need to feel better.”

If we believe that a telehealth visit alone is not enough to make an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan, our team may suggest an in-person appointment instead.

Additional visits available to established patients

If your child is an established patient with a Zarminali clinician, you may also be able to complete the following types of appointments via telehealth:

• Behavioral concerns, such as ADHD, anxiety, or depression
• Weight management
• General concerns as a follow-up to a recent well child check
• Follow-up after in-person visit with your clinician
• Follow up after going to the ER, hospital, or an urgent care

“These appointments are for families who already have an established relationship with a provider,” says Dr. Chand. “They focus on ongoing or long-term conditions and can be a helpful way for families to check in between in-person appointments.”

Symptoms and other factors that impact our approach to telehealth visits

Certain factors, such as the age of the child or nature of the symptoms, make an in-person evaluation necessary.

Age of the child

Newborns and infants (especially under 3 months) with sick symptoms should be evaluated in person given the limited physical evaluation that can be done via telehealth. If your baby is sick for the first time, check out our guide on what to do.

“If you have other concerns about feeding, sleep patterns, or general care questions outside of the regular checkup, these can still be done via telehealth,” noted Dr. Gupta.

Concerns and symptoms that make an in-person evaluation necessary

The following are examples of sick visits that require an in-office visit due to the need for thorough physical exam and possibly further testing, such as checking a urine sample or running a strep throat test.  Before prescribing treatment like antibiotics, clinicians need to accurately diagnose your child to determine their exact diagnosis.

• Possible UTI, such as pain with urination or increased frequency of urination
• Middle ear infection
• Strep throat
• Fractures/sprains (may require imaging)
• Chronic cough or asthma symptoms
• Head injury/possible concussion
• Complaints related to genital area

Trust your instincts. If you are concerned about your child’s health, seek medical advice promptly.

Preparing for a successful video visit with your child’s pediatrician

Tips from our doctors on how to make the most of your telehealth visit

Once you have an appointment, Dr. Chand and Dr. Gupta recommend that you run through this checklist:

1. The more you share, the smoother your visit. Provide as much information as you can during the pre-visit intake form, including the reason you scheduled the visit, how long your child’s symptoms have been going on, your main concerns, and anything else you believe will be helpful for your clinician. “When families share detailed information ahead of the visit, it helps us use our time more thoughtfully. It reduces what might feel like repetitive questions for the parent and allows me to be prepared,” says Dr. Chand.
2. Providing vitals helps guide their care. If you are able to share your child’s weight, temperature (and how it was measured), and/or vitals from pulse oximeter, those details support the clinician too! “Vitals help us understand how your child is doing in the moment, including temperature and oxygen levels,” shares Dr. Gupta. “An accurate, recent weight helps ensure medications are prescribed at the correct dose when needed.” While we always collect vitals during in-person visits, telehealth appointments rely on families to share this information when available.
3. Take pictures, if necessary. In some cases, like if your child has a rash or pink eye, you may be asked to provide a photo. You’ll be asked to send these through a secure portal.
4. Find a good place for your visit. You’ll want to ensure proper internet connection and choose a room in your home that is quiet so your clinician can hear you clearly. Depending on the type of visit, you’ll also want to ensure that the space is well lit, so your clinician can see your child and examine any physical symptoms.
5. Test your technology. You’ll use a smartphone, tablet, or computer for your visit, so you’ll want to make sure that it’s charged up and ready. Turn up the volume and confirm that your microphone and camera are working as expected.
6. List your questions. Think of any questions you may have to ensure they get answered before the end of your visit.
7. Have a pen and notepad handy for any notes. This can help you remember important details.

Just like an in-person appointment, you will be able to discuss your concerns with the clinician, and they will come up with a diagnosis and treatment plan for your child.

Schedule your video visit now!

Navigating your child’s illnesses is easier when you have accessible, more convenient care provided by a trusted clinician. Zarminali Pediatrics offers parents same-day sick visits—and you can schedule your video visit with one of our clinicians today. We’re here to help you navigate your child’s illness with confidence!