virtual doctor visit pediatric

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Urgent Care Video Visits for Kids

Monday–Friday: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET Saturday–Sunday: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET

Expert Urgent Care for Your Child

It's easy to get quality care from a Nemours Children's Health provider when you need it, even on holidays. Your child doesn't have to be a Nemours patient. Simply use the Nemours app on your smartphone, tablet or computer to have a secure video visit. A visit can cost as little as $0 depending on your insurance. Ask your insurance about coverage for telehealth.

Hours and Eligibility

• Your child can see a provider any time Monday–Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET, and Saturdays and  Sundays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.ET.
• We care for all kids, from newborn to 18 years.
• Your child doesn’t have to be a Nemours patient.

For emergencies, call 911 or visit an emergency department.

You Can Schedule a Video Visit Too

If your child is a current patient, you may be able to schedule a video visit with their Nemours primary or specialty care provider. Call your provider’s office to set up an appointment.

Conditions We Treat

We treat many minor illnesses and injuries when your regular provider isn’t available. Turn to us for:

• Abdominal pain, change in stool 
• Animal bites, burns, cuts
• Colds, flu, upper respiratory infections 
• Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
• Infected wounds
• Mild allergic reactions
• Rashes, insect bites
• Vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration 

If the online Nemours provider finds that your child needs a higher level of care, they’ll let you know. And they’ll tell you if you should see your child’s regular provider, urgent care or go the emergency department.

How It Works

Step 1: Get Started

• Download the app .
• Create an account.
• Plan to use a device with a camera and microphone.

Step 2: Launch Your Visit in the Nemours App

• Choose Video Visit from the main menu.
• Choose Select a Provider, and pick an available Nemours provider.
• Pay securely.
• You and your child meet with the Nemours provider. You’ll share your child’s history and symptoms, and the provider will diagnose and treat your child. If your child is a Nemours patient, the provider can see their full medical record. If a prescription is needed, the provider will send it to your pharmacy.

Step 3: After Your Visit

• You’ll get a visit summary in the app.
• Your child’s regular primary care provider can get a summary too. If your child is a Nemours patient, we’ll add the summary to their medical record.

Frequently Asked Questions

Insurance info.

Why do I need to create an account?

You need an account to use our secure system. When you create an account, we'll ask for some basic information, including your insurance, pharmacy, your child’s medical history and primary care provider. Your online provider will be able to see this information. 

Where can I get more questions answered?

Contact us at DigitalHealthSupport@nemours.org , and we’ll be happy to help you.

How do I know if a video visit is a good option for my child?

Your child's primary care provider knows the most about your child's health, so always call them first. They may recommend a video visit.

If you have a Nemours video visit, our online provider will first assess your child. If the provider finds your child needs additional care, they will refer you to an in-person visit.

How long does the visit last?

A video visit usually lasts about 10 minutes, but it can last longer if needed.

What if my child needs a prescription or an absentee note?

Prescription: If your child needs a prescription for the condition being treated, the provider can send it electronically to the pharmacy you listed in your account.  For prescription refills, the provider will need to review your child’s health history to see if a refill is safe at this time. There are times when your child may need to see their primary care provider to get a refill.

Absentee Note: The provider can also write a note about your child’s condition for school or work.

Will I see my Nemours provider when I use Nemours on-demand video visits?

We have a special team of Nemours providers who offer online urgent care services. When you start an online urgent care visit, you can select from a list of available providers.

Scheduled Online Visits  — Many Nemours primary and specialty providers now offer video visits for scheduled appointments with their existing patients, either from their home or a more conveniently located medical office. In that case, your child would see their own Nemours provider. If you want to schedule an online visit with your provider, call their office to see if this is an option.

Will my insurance cover my child’s video visit?

Ask your insurance provider if they cover telemedicine visits and if a copay is required. Nemours Children's Health accepts most insurance. If you don’t have insurance, your video visit will cost $79.

Why am I seeing the wrong copay amount?

There may be an error in the insurance number we have on file. Please be sure your information is updated. If you need technical help, call our support line at (888) 459-4087.

How do I print out a receipt for my video visit?

Email us at DigitalHealthSupport@nemours.org , and we'll send you a receipt.

Start A Virtual Visit

Connect with a pediatric expert virtually..

It’s never convenient when your child falls ill or gets injured. Now, you can get instant access to a compassionate pediatric expert through virtual visits. Download our app to use your smartphone or tablet, or log on using your computer browser. See one of our doctors when it’s convenient for you, as long as your child is present at the time of their visit.

Pediatric Experts are available for virtual visits in the following regions:

• NY, NJ, CT, VA, MD & DC: 6am – midnight (M-F); 8am – midnight (weekends & federal holidays)
• MA:  6am – 10pm (M-F); 8am – 10pm (weekends & federal holidays)
• NC, FL & TN: 6am – 10pm (M-F); 6am – 10pm (weekends & federal holidays)
• AK, IL, PA & DE: 8am – midnight (M-F); 8am – midnight (weekends & federal holidays)
• CA: 8am – 10pm (M-F); 8am – 10pm (weekends & federal holidays)
• TX: 6am – 10pm (365 days a year, including weekends & holidays)

Receive care from anywhere.

PM Pediatric Telemedicine offers the same trusted in-office care from the comfort and convenience of your home. We meet your family where you need us most.

Our pediatric experts and specialists care for babies, children and young adults through age 26 to diagnose and treat common urgent conditions.

• Connecticut
• Massachusetts
• North Carolina
• Pennsylvania
• Washington D.C.

For details on paying for your visit, please visit the  FAQ  section on this page. Visit our  Insurance page  to see if your insurance covers virtual visits.

Many common pediatric illnesses can be diagnosed and treated effectively with PM Pediatric Telemedicine.

These include:

• Cough and cold symptoms
• Respiratory infections
• Pink eye/conjunctivitis
• Stomachache/vomiting/diarrhea
• Skin rashes
• Seasonal allergies
• Injury consultation

Request a virtual visit and register using your phone

Download the “PM Pediatric Telemedicine APP” OR visit the Apple Store/Google Play and search “pmpanywhere.”

Open the APP and click on “CREATE YOUR ACCOUNT”

Enter YOUR NAME and DATE OF BIRTH to continue moving through the registration process, making sure to fill out and check off ALL boxes, including your demographic information.

Once you have completed the registration process, you will be assigned as the ACCOUNT HOLDER. You will then be redirected to the home screen of your account, where you can add yourself as a patient, in addition to your children and other family members as dependents.

Scroll down and click on MY ACCOUNT. On the top right, click on the “+” sign. Click on the purple arrow on the top right to navigate back to the home screen

Once you have added all patients, go back to the home screen and click on REQUEST A VISIT. You will then be asked to select a patient and enter your state. You will also need to update you or your child’s medical profile if you did not fill it out completely when ADDING THE PATIENT.

Request a virtual visit and register using your desktop

Open a new browser and type in:  www.pmtelemedicine.com

Click on “CREATE YOUR ACCOUNT”

Scroll down and click on MY ACCOUNT. On the top right, click on the “+” sign. Click on the purple arrow on the top right to navigate back to the home screen

Once you have added all patients, go back to the home screen and click on REQUEST A VISIT. You will then be asked to select a patient and enter your state. You will also need to update your child’s medical profile if you did not fill it out completely when ADDING THE PATIENT.

VIEW WAIT TIMES

Prepare for your virtual visit with our real-time schedule..

Please review the current estimated wait time* for your virtual visit. When a clinician is available, a notification will be sent to your computer or phone. If you do not respond, we will call you directly at the phone number you provided during the visit request. You may walk away from your computer or leave the mobile app if needed, but please keep your phone nearby.

*Actual wait times can vary from the current wait time as these numbers are provided as an estimate only.

Estimated wait times are available from 9am – 11pm.

Pediatric Experts are available for virtual visits from 6am – midnight.

*California virtual visits available 8am – 10pm

Sometimes the best care for your child doesn’t need to involve an in-person office visit.

If you’re new to telemedicine, or have a specific question, take a look at the FAQs below to see if we can help familiarize you with our telemedicine practices.

What is telemedicine?

What are the benefits of telemedicine over in-person visits, where is telemedicine available, what can be treated with telemedicine.

Many common pediatric illnesses can be treated effectively with telemedicine. These include:

• Sprains and strains

Who are the pediatric specialists who will treat my child?

How long is the wait to see a clinician, how secure is my visit, will insurance cover my telemedicine visit, how much is a telemedicine visit if i am not currently covered by insurance, how will i get a prescription if needed, how will i get a school or work excuse note if needed, what technology is required to use pm pediatric telemedicine.

You may use any computer, tablet or smartphone that has a web camera and video capability. Our mobile app is available on both iOS (iPhone or iPad) or Android mobile platforms. Performance may be improved by connecting through Wi-Fi when possible. Please make sure your child is with you at the time of their visit.

Click here for registration instructions

What if I have questions after my visit?

Does each member of the family need a separate account, what if the clinician cannot diagnose my problem with a telemedicine visit, questions about behavioral health telemedicine solutions.

Visit our  Behavioral Health  page to learn more.

Tips & Tools

Can telehealth "video visits" be a good option for my child how do they work.

Alison Curfman, MD, FAAP

​A child's medical care is best provided face-to-face. In certain situations, however, video visits and other telehealth tools used by your pediatrician's office (also known as your "medical home") can be a good option. For some families, it can provide access to high-quality pediatric services they could not otherwise get.

Telehealth is being used in a variety of places and settings, including:

If your child needs a pediatric service but it's not available in your area, telehealth can connect you with a specialist remotely.

Emergency situations. Many areas, like rural communities, do not have doctors onsite who are trained to treat children in an emergency. When this happens, telehealth services give immediate access to pediatric specialists in other communities who can help the medical staff stabilize and treat children before they are transported to a pediatric center or children's hospital.

Outpatient visits. If your child has a health issue but you live far away from their specialist, you may be able to visit a local hospital and connect remotely with the doctor to receive care without having to travel long distances.

Special services. In some areas, video visits are being used for physical therapy, speech therapy, hearing screenings, nutrition counseling and other special services that might otherwise require long trips by children and their parents.

Some communities offer telehealth services in their schools. These programs have tools for the school nurse to have a video visit with a doctor or nurse practitioner to diagnose and treat issues like ear infections, strep throat , sprained ankles , and common colds . Parents can be included on the visit as well. These virtual visits help the school nurse know when children need to be seen in person by their pediatrician or in the emergency room.

This type of telehealth is being used more often as a way to see your pediatrician for certain exams that don't require an in-person visit. You can use your own device such as a smartphone, tablet or computer to connect to your pediatrician to diagnose and treat common, non-urgent conditions. There are many companies that offer these services, but not all of them are certified in pediatrics. Ask your pediatrician's office if they offer telehealth services.

How does a video visit work?

During a video visit, the doctor can see your child and ask you about their symptoms, just like in a face-to-face visit. Your child can be examined via video, using tools such as:

Smartphones, tablets and computers. Any device with a camera and internet or WiFi connection can be used for telehealth. Hospitals and schools usually have high-quality cameras to ensure the most accurate exam. For home-based telehealth, you can use the camera on your own device.

Stethoscopes. Hospital-based and school-based telehealth programs will have stethoscopes for your doctor to listen to your child's heart and lungs remotely. These types of tools may be available soon for home use as well.

Otoscope. This tool is used to look inside your child's ears and help diagnose ear infections.

Ultrasound and other imaging. Hospital-based programs can even transmit images such as ultrasound for a pediatric specialist to see remotely.

Video visits also make it possible for the doctor to look at your child's activity level, breathing, interaction and general state of health. If the doctor thinks the video visit is not giving them enough information to diagnose your child, they may recommend you come into the office or go to urgent care or the emergency room.

Telehealth video visits can be good for children. To be sure you are getting good care, avoid telehealth providers that are not trained to treat children. Choose a provider who has the training and tools necessary to diagnose and treat your child, and who has an established relationship with your family. Your pediatrician should always be your first choice when seeking telehealth services.

More Information

• Telehealth 101: Get Plugged in to Your Child's Health
• Telehealth Services for Children
• Ask the Pediatrician: Is it really that important to see my pediatrician right now?
• 10 Common Childhood Illnesses and Their Treatments

Other languages available

• Brazilian Portuguese
• Simplified Chinese
• Traditional Chinese

​Alison Curfman, MD, FAAP, is an executive committee member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Telehealth Care. Dr. Curfman is also a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Mercy Clinic in St. Louis and serves as Medical Director for pediatric virtual care within the Mercy Hospital system. She is co-founder and Vice-Chair of SPROUT, a multi-center research network dedicated to high quality pediatric telehealth research. She is co-author of the chapter “Pediatric Emergency and Critical Care Telemedicine” within the textbook Understanding Telehealth.

• Telemedicine is available 9am–9pm every day!
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• Start a Virtual Visit

Spring/Summer Telemedicine Hours: 9am–9pm

Personalized virtual care from the comfort of your own home!

Our board-certified providers can answer your health questions and develop a custom treatment plan for your everyday symptoms, like the common cold, flu, strep, and even COVID-19.

More Than Just Telemedicine

We go above and beyond for our patients. In many cases, we can resolve treatment virtually from the comfort of home. But what if you need additional care? We have testing sites to further your virtual care experience to give you the quality care you can’t find anywhere else.

We now offer a variety of on-site testing including:

COVID-19 Testing (Rapid Antigen, PCR, & Antibody)

Rapid Flu A & B Testing

Rapid Strep Testing

Rapid Mono Testing

Rapid RSV Testing

Urinalysis/Urine Culture

NEW! Allergy Treatments (Steroid Shots)

We accept most major insurance plans!

Including chip & medicaid.

What We Treat Online

Common illnesses.

Receive immediate care for ailments such as minor colds, the flu, sore throat, cough, ear concerns, headaches, sinus or allergy issues, yeast infections, nosebleeds, or pink eye

Skin Irritations & Allergies

Are you concerned about acne, minor infections, lice, pinworms, rashes, eczema, scabies, styes, fungal skin infections or warts? Our telemedicine providers are available to evaluate you online

GI Concerns

We offer care for constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, nausea, period pain and other GI issues

Immediate Needs

If you’re traveling or have an immediate need for a temporary medication refill of non-narcotic medications, connect to one of our providers virtually for evaluation

Minor Injuries

Quickly connect to one of our online family providers to evaluate cuts, burns, bites, and other minor injuries

Do you have questions about you, your infant, or general questions for one of our providers? That’s what we’re here for. Connect to one of our Texas-based providers online immediately

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a self-pay appointment.

$75 , we also accept most major insurance plans. We accept all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover). Learn more about self-pay options  here .

PCR, rapid, and antibody testing fees are an additional cost. Separate third-party lab cost dependent on your location: PCR results in 3–7 days, rapid results same day, and antibody results in 2–5 days.

Will my insurance cover the visit?

We accept most major insurance plans including Aetna, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, and most Medicaid plans. Learn more about insurance  here .

PCR, rapid, and antibody testing fees are covered at this time. Separate third-party lab cost dependent on your insurance plan: PCR results in 3–7 days, rapid results same day, and antibody results in 2–5 days.

Is an appointment required?

No.  You can access the service on-demand when we’re open, or you can schedule an appointment ahead of time.

Is the video call secure and private?

Yes , your privacy is very important to us.

Can I use the service if I’ve already visited one of your urgent care clinics?

Yes!  If you live in  Texas , you’re geographically eligible.

Can I use the service if I’ve never visited one of your urgent care clinics?

Can i use the service if i do live within driving distance to one of your urgent care clinics.

Absolutely!  You’re welcome to visit our physical clinic locations (only for patients that are 21 and younger) or visit with our on-demand providers from home through a virtual visit.

Can someone age 18-21 see a provider without a parent or guardian being present?

Can someone over the age of 21 use the service.

Yes!  We have expanded our virtual reach to include adults in order to help triage possible COVID-19 patients.

What information do I need to start the visit?

You’ll be asked for simple demographic information and a brief medical history before being ushered into our virtual waiting room.

When are telemedicine services available?

Mon – Sun: 9:00am–9:00pm We’re open every day of the year, including holidays and weekends. Our after-hour care means you can get care you need even when your primary care physician is closed.

Can I get a prescription?

If the doctor determines that a prescription is necessary they have the ability to send it to your local pharmacy.

How do I schedule a visit?

Simply select an on-demand visit or schedule an appointment from your computer, iPhone/iPad, or Android device.

How do I start a visit now?

Simply select an on-demand visit or schedule an appointment from your computer, iPhone/iPad, or Android device. Once your information is entered, choose to either talk to a provider live right away (on-demand) during our open hours or schedule a future appointment.

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Video Appointments - Virtual Doctor Visits

Learn More About Video Visits

FAQs About Video Visits

Find answers to frequently asked questions about your virtual visit including an overview of the process, how to prepare for your visit, cost and insurance and technical requirements.

Pediatric Video Visits

For your convenience and safety, we offer secure and easy virtual visits by video or phone for most pediatric care, with the only exception being regularly scheduled well-child visits. We want to ensure that every child has the best healthcare possible.

Download the MyChart App

Download the MyChart app for Apple or Android devices to access your health records, communicate with your providers and schedule an appointment.

Virtual Video Visits

Your family’s health doesn’t stop being a priority, even when it's a challenge to leave the house. For your convenience and safety, we offer secure and easy virtual visits by video for most of your healthcare needs. 

Current Patients 

Log in to your  MyChart account  to choose from available times to book your virtual appointment instantly with a primary care or specialty care provider. 

New Patients 

Our real-time,  online scheduling for video visits  lets you choose from available times so you can book your virtual appointment instantly with a primary care or specialty care provider. 

Video Visit Frequently Asked Questions

Video visits are similar to in-office visits, but instead of traveling to see your doctor, you can video chat with them from home. Our care providers can assess your symptoms, make a diagnosis, recommend treatment and send prescriptions to your pharmacy. 

Video visits are available for adults and for children of all ages, and are available to new patients in addition to those who already have a UChicago Medicine doctor.

Video Visit Resources

• Video Visit Checklist for Adult Patients
• Video Visit Checklist for Adult Patients (Spanish)
• Video Visit Checklist for Pediatric Patients
• Video Visit Checklist for Pediatric Patients (Spanish)

How do I schedule a video visit?

Our real-time,  online scheduling for video visits  lets you choose from available times so you can book your virtual appointment instantly with a primary care or specialty care provider.

How does a video visit work?

Your provider’s office will send you a link to a secure link to a video session through your MyChart account or to your email. If you do not have MyChart, please provide your email address to your provider. Ten minutes before your scheduled appointment time, please click on the link and wait for your provider to join the session.

During your visit:

• Place your computer in a safe spot so it cannot get knocked over. This is very important if you have a child taking part in a pediatric visit. 
• Shut down any other programs on the device you are using to improve the speed and quality of your video visit.
• If you are using a smartphone, prop it up on a stable surface rather than holding it.
• Speak clearly into your microphone. If someone else is joining your visit, make sure only one person is speaking at a time. Turn off any background noise such as the television and radio, and have everyone put their phones on silent or vibrate.
• Give your doctor or nurse or healthcare team a phone number they can call to do the visit over the phone, in case you are having problems with the video.

Before your visit ends, make sure to:

• Ask your healthcare team when and how you should follow up. This may include picking up medications from your pharmacy, getting tests done at a nearby lab, or making your next appointment. 
• Make sure to tell your doctor or nurse which pharmacy you use.

How should I prepare for my video visit?

Before your visit you should do the following:

Write down your questions before your visit.

• You can take your own vital signs before the visit if you have the tools you need. Vital signs can include your temperature, blood pressure, heart rate counted over one minute, your oxygen level, blood sugar, body weight and temperature. If you take your vital signs, write them down on a piece of paper so you can tell your doctor, nurse or healthcare team

If you check things like your blood pressure or blood sugar levels on a regular basis, have your log and readings with you, including the dates and times of each reading, so you can show those to your doctor.

Have a small light nearby (such as a flashlight or a phone light) to help your doctor examine parts of your body like your throat or eyes.

If you have concerns about skin problems, such as a rash or a wound, you can send a picture to your doctor or nurse or healthcare team with MyChart Messaging before the visit. This may give them a better view of your skin than the video can. 

For your video visit, you'll need: 

A computer, tablet, or smartphone with an internet connection. If using a computer or tablet, have your phone with you in case your doctor needs to call you.

A piece of paper and pen to write down your questions and take notes.

Your medication bottles. Have them with you during your visit and note the ones that need refills.

Find a good space for your visit:

Use an area with good lighting, but not one that has a window behind you.  

Make sure your space will be quiet for the whole visit. You can also use headphones if you have trouble hearing your doctor or nurse or healthcare team.

Choose a private space so you can talk with the doctor or nurse or healthcare team about your private healthcare information or show parts of your body, if needed for the exam.

• Video Visit Checklist (Adult)
• Video Visit Checklist (Comer)

How do I start a video visit on a laptop or desktop computer?

How to start a video visit on a laptop or desktop computer.

• Ensure that your computer has a camera and speakers/microphone
• Click on the link from MyChart or from your email 10 minutes prior to the appointment (note: please use MyChart to correspond with us – our team may not be able to respond to email)
• Once you're in the meeting, ensure that video and audio are unmuted and wait for your provider to join.

Use this visual guide for step-by-step instructions.

How do I start a video visit on a mobile device?

How to start a video visit on a mobile device.

• Click on the link from  MyChart  or from your email 10 minutes prior to the appointment (note: please use MyChart to correspond with us – our team may not be able to respond to email)
• Allow Audio and Video

Use this  visual guide for step-by-step instructions.

How are video visits billed?

Video transcript.

VIRTUAL PEDIATRICS

Providing general pediatric care services for children through telemedicine, dr. ayyagari is providing pediatric care through online virtual doctor visits.

Virtual Pediatric Care Services the Following States

DR. ARAVINDA AYYAGARI, M.D.

Pediatrician, licensed in new york, texas, colorado, california, nevada, and florida, conditions treated, see how our solutions compare to other telemedicine services.

Our Latest Virtual Pediatrics News and Information 

Parenting is perhaps one of the most challenging yet rewarding journeys in life. From the moment a child is born, parents are entrusted with the responsibility of nurturing and guiding them into adulthood. However, amidst the countless parenting advice and societal expectations, many parents often find themselves overwhelmed and unsure of the best approach.  And […]

Telemedicine practices are on the rise, revolutionizing the way healthcare is delivered. However, a recent survey reveals that 55% of physicians find a misalignment between their patients’ expectations and what can be achieved through a virtual care model.   My Virtual Physician (MVP) stands out as an innovator, sharing the belief that virtual care can […]

Visiting the doctor can be a frightening experience for children. Even for parents, these appointments can be uncomfortable, time-consuming, and even heartbreaking. Luckily, telehealth is making pediatric check-ups a little less scary.   In this blog, you’ll find out when and how you can conveniently see an online pediatrician—without the tears. As a bonus, if […]

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Everything You Need to Know about Pediatric Virtual Visits

Gina Boutwell, MD, Pediatrician

• Children's Health

The COVID-19 pandemic has upended nearly every aspect of day-to-day life. Birthday parties have been postponed, classrooms have been moved to living rooms, and graduation ceremonies are being held virtually.

Everyone knows these social distancing measures are for the greater good, and it’s important that we all do our part to slow the spread of COVID-19.

However, social distancing shouldn’t come at the expense of your health or the health of your children.

It’s important for any patient to maintain regularly scheduled doctor’s appointments, but it’s especially important for children. Annual well-child visits help ensure that your child’s growth and development are on track.

Also, let’s face it — kids are still going to get sick and are still going to require care, even during social distancing.

With that in mind, South Shore Medical Center has introduced virtual visits for both pediatric and adult patients.

What are virtual visits?

Virtual visits are medical visits that are held via either phone or video call, allowing patients to get medical issues checked out without having to sit face-to-face with a provider.

Think of virtual visits as a modern twist on doctor’s visits in days past: doctors are back to making house calls, but are making them virtually instead!

These visits allow patients to keep in touch with their care providers without having to make a trip into the office. 

You’ll still get the same level of care you’ve come to expect from South Shore Medical Center, but you won’t have to leave home to get it!

What kind of pediatric visits can be held virtually?

Virtual visits can be scheduled for most visits you’d normally have in the office. These include both regularly scheduled well-child visits and sick visits that may come up at the last minute.

What electronic equipment is needed for a virtual visit?

For video visits, patients need to have either a smartphone or a computer with a microphone and a camera.

Smartphone users can download the Zoom app in advance of the visit, as that’s the platform that’s used for video appointments.

If you’re using a laptop or desktop computer, it’s a good idea to test your setup in advance of the visit, just to ensure that there are no technical difficulties.

What other equipment should I have?

While no additional equipment is required, there are a few tools that can help. These include:

• A tape measure or similar device to measure your child’s height
• A thermometer
• A flashlight

Additionally, if you have access to a pulse oximeter or can measure blood pressure at home, that would be helpful as well.

How can I prepare for a virtual visit?

First, pick a room that is well lit so we’ll be able to see you and your child clearly. Try to find a quiet space — though we know that can be a challenge with everyone at home these days.

Make sure there is room for your child to lie down, in case we need you to do some observed examination techniques.  The flashlight can be used in the event that we need to examine your child’s throat or mouth.

If possible, please record your child's height, weight, head circumference, and temperature before the visit begins. A nurse may call you shortly before the visit to collect that information, as having it in advance will help with the flow of the visit.

Also, it’s best to log into your email 5-10 minutes in advance of your child’s appointment, as you’ll receive an email with a link to launch the appointment.

While we always do our best to be punctual, appointments will occasionally run long. If 15 minutes have passed since your scheduled appointment time and you still haven’t received an email, please call the office.

What else do I need to know about virtual visits?

The main thing: don’t stress! We don’t expect virtual visits to go smoothly from beginning to end. We know that your kids may be antsy, or that they may have trouble focusing during this different setting.

Sometimes, it helps to start off the visit by talking about something else — maybe we can say hi to siblings or to the family pet, or your child can show us his or her favorite toy or game. 

Things like this can help your child get more comfortable with what can be an unusual situation.

Another important thing to remember: ask questions!

It’s important that you treat a virtual visit the same way you’d treat an in-person visit.  Ask us questions, raise concerns, bring up things that have been on your mind.

What about visits that can’t be held virtually?

While virtual visits are a convenient option for many appointments, they’re not suitable for every situation. For example, vaccinations, lab work, or imaging work still must be done on-site.

Rest assured: our team is taking every precaution to keep patients and staff safe.

Infection control procedures are in place at all South Shore Medical Center locations. Staff are screened for illness daily, and all staff have appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

How can I schedule a virtual visit?

Virtual visits can be scheduled like a regular visit!

Give your South Shore Medical Center location a call and book an appointment with a secretary or nurse like you normally would — just mention that you’d like the visit to be held virtually.

Virtual visits are available for most normal appointments, including pediatrics, family medicine, internal medicine, and specialty care.

Learn more about virtual visits at South Shore Medical Center.

Gina Boutwell, MD is a pediatrician at South Shore Medical Center. She is currently accepting new patients.

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Virtual visits

Talk to a health care provider from your computer, tablet or smartphone.

What is a virtual visit? It may be a term you’re hearing more often. That’s because the use of virtual visits, also known as telehealth, has expanded recently, offering people more ways to connect with a health care provider from home or work. During a virtual visit, you use digital technologies, like your smartphone, tablet or computer, to talk with a provider. You can get treatment options and even prescriptions for medications, if needed.

UnitedHealthcare offers members options for virtual visits with local providers or by using UnitedHealthcare’s preferred national providers. For benefits coverage information, please  sign in to your health plan account . Let’s go over some of the basics about virtual visits and how they work.

Are virtual visits covered?

Virtual visits may be covered by your health insurance in a similar way to an office visit with your doctor. Depending on your benefit coverage, you may be able schedule a virtual visit with a local provider or have a virtual visit for primary care, therapy, specialty care or 24/7 with a national provider for urgent care or when your provider is not available. Sign in to your health plan account  or call the number on your member ID card to check your benefits for virtual visit coverage. Below are some options that may be available, based on your health plan.

Virtual care may include in-network virtual visits for medical, mental health, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, chiropractic, home health, vision, hearing and dental services.

Virtual visits for mental health

If you need care for mental health issues, local health care providers may be able to provide virtual visits. Coverage may depend on your health plan benefits, so  sign in to your health plan account  or call the number on your member ID card first to learn what benefits may be available to you.

Emotional support by phone or mobile app

Some emotional support programs may be included with certain health plans. Sign in to your health plan account to learn if the following benefits may be available with your health plan.

• With Self Care by AbleTo , get personalized content that’s designed to help you boost your mood and shift your perspectives.
• With Talkspace online therapy, you can regularly communicate with a therapist, safely and securely from your phone or desktop. No office visit required. Talkspace is convenient, safe and secure. Simply register (first visit only) and choose a provider and message anywhere, anytime. Eligible members can visit talkspace.com/connect to get started.

A.I. May Someday Work Medical Miracles. For Now, It Helps Do Paperwork.

The best use for generative A.I. in health care, doctors say, is to ease the heavy burden of documentation that takes them hours a day and contributes to burnout.

Dr. Matthew Hitchcock, a family practice physician in Tennessee, uses Abridge A.I. software to produce summaries of patient visits. Credit... Audra Melton for The New York Times

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By Steve Lohr

Steve Lohr has written about the impact of technology, including on health care, for more than two decades.

• June 26, 2023

Dr. Matthew Hitchcock, a family physician in Chattanooga, Tenn., has an A.I. helper.

It records patient visits on his smartphone and summarizes them for treatment plans and billing. He does some light editing of what the A.I. produces, and is done with his daily patient visit documentation in 20 minutes or so.

Dr. Hitchcock used to spend up to two hours typing up these medical notes after his four children went to bed. “That’s a thing of the past,” he said. “It’s quite awesome.”

ChatGPT-style artificial intelligence is coming to health care, and the grand vision of what it could bring is inspiring. Every doctor, enthusiasts predict, will have a superintelligent sidekick, dispensing suggestions to improve care.

But first will come more mundane applications of artificial intelligence. A prime target will be to ease the crushing burden of digital paperwork that physicians must produce, typing lengthy notes into electronic medical records required for treatment, billing and administrative purposes.

For now, the new A.I. in health care is going to be less a genius partner than a tireless scribe.

From leaders at major medical centers to family physicians, there is optimism that health care will benefit from the latest advances in generative A.I. — technology that can produce everything from poetry to computer programs, often with human-level fluency.

But medicine, doctors emphasize, is not a wide open terrain of experimentation. A.I.’s tendency to occasionally create fabrications, or so-called hallucinations, can be amusing, but not in the high-stakes realm of health care.

That makes generative A.I., they say, very different from A.I. algorithms, already approved by the Food and Drug Administration, for specific applications, like scanning medical images for cell clusters or subtle patterns that suggest the presence of lung or breast cancer. Doctors are also using chatbots to communicate more effectively with some patients.

Physicians and medical researchers say regulatory uncertainty, and concerns about patient safety and litigation, will slow the acceptance of generative A.I. in health care, especially its use in diagnosis and treatment plans.

Those physicians who have tried out the new technology say its performance has improved markedly in the last year. And the medical note software is designed so that doctors can check the A.I.-generated summaries against the words spoken during a patient’s visit, making it verifiable and fostering trust.

“At this stage, we have to pick our use cases carefully,” said Dr. John Halamka, president of Mayo Clinic Platform, who oversees the health system’s adoption of artificial intelligence. “Reducing the documentation burden would be a huge win on its own.”

Recent studies show that doctors and nurses report high levels of burnout, prompting many to leave the profession. High on the list of complaints, especially for primary care physicians, is the time spent on documentation for electronic health records. That work often spills over into the evenings, after-office-hours toil that doctors refer to as “pajama time.”

Generative A.I., experts say, looks like a promising weapon to combat the physician workload crisis.

“This technology is rapidly improving at a time health care needs help,” said Dr. Adam Landman, chief information officer of Mass General Brigham, which includes Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

For years, doctors have used various kinds of documentation assistance, including speech recognition software and human transcribers. But the latest A.I. is doing far more: summarizing, organizing and tagging the conversation between a doctor and a patient.

Companies developing this kind of technology include Abridge , Ambience Healthcare , Augmedix , Nuance , which is part of Microsoft, and Suki .

Ten physicians at the University of Kansas Medical Center have been using generative A.I. software for the last two months, said Dr. Gregory Ator, an ear, nose and throat specialist and the center’s chief medical informatics officer. The medical center plans to eventually make the software available to its 2,200 physicians.

But the Kansas health system is steering clear of using generative A.I. in diagnosis, concerned that its recommendations may be unreliable and that its reasoning is not transparent. “In medicine, we can’t tolerate hallucinations,” Dr. Ator said. “And we don’t like black boxes.”

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center has been a test bed for Abridge, a start-up led and co-founded by Dr. Shivdev Rao, a practicing cardiologist who was also an executive at the medical center’s venture arm.

Abridge was founded in 2018, when large language models, the technology engine for generative A.I., emerged. The technology, Dr. Rao said, opened a door to an automated solution to the clerical overload in health care, which he saw around him, even for his own father.

“My dad retired early,” Dr. Rao said. “He just couldn’t type fast enough.”

Today, the Abridge software is used by more than 1,000 physicians in the University of Pittsburgh medical system.

Dr. Michelle Thompson, a family physician in Hermitage, Pa., who specializes in lifestyle and integrative care, said the software had freed up nearly two hours in her day. Now, she has time to do a yoga class, or to linger over a sit-down family dinner.

Another benefit has been to improve the experience of the patient visit, Dr. Thompson said. There is no longer typing, note-taking or other distractions. She simply asks patients for permission to record their conversation on her phone.

“A.I. has allowed me, as a physician, to be 100 percent present for my patients,” she said.

The A.I. tool, Dr. Thompson added, has also helped patients become more engaged in their own care. Immediately after a visit, the patient receives a summary, accessible through the University of Pittsburgh medical system’s online portal.

The software translates any medical terminology into plain English at about a fourth-grade reading level. It also provides a recording of the visit with “medical moments” color-coded for medications, procedures and diagnoses. The patient can click on a colored tag and listen to a portion of the conversation.

Studies show that patients forget up to 80 percent of what physicians and nurses say during visits. The recorded and A.I.-generated summary of the visit, Dr. Thompson said, is a resource her patients can return to for reminders to take medications, exercise or schedule follow-up visits.

After the appointment, physicians receive a clinical note summary to review. There are links back to the transcript of the doctor-patient conversation, so the A.I.’s work can be checked and verified. “That has really helped me build trust in the A.I.,” Dr. Thompson said.

In Tennessee, Dr. Hitchcock, who also uses Abridge software, has read the reports of ChatGPT scoring high marks on standard medical tests and heard the predictions that digital doctors will improve care and solve staffing shortages.

Dr. Hitchcock has tried ChatGPT and is impressed. But he would never think of loading a patient record into the chatbot and asking for a diagnosis, for legal, regulatory and practical reasons. For now, he is grateful to have his evenings free, no longer mired in the tedious digital documentation required by the American health care industry.

And he sees no technology cure for the health care staffing shortfall. “A.I. isn’t going to fix that anytime soon,” said Dr. Hitchcock, who is looking to hire another doctor for his four-physician practice.

Steve Lohr covers technology, economics and work force issues. He was part of the team awarded the Pulitzer Prize for explanatory reporting in 2013. More about Steve Lohr

Explore Our Coverage of Artificial Intelligence

News  and Analysis

Google appears to have rolled back its new A.I. Overviews  after the technology produced a litany of untruths and errors.

OpenAI said that it has begun training a new flagship A.I. model  that would succeed the GPT-4 technology that drives its popular online chatbot, ChatGPT.

Elon Musk’s A.I. company, xAI, said that it had raised $6 billion , helping to close the funding gap with OpenAI, Anthropic and other rivals.

The Age of A.I.

After some trying years during which Mark Zuckerberg could do little right, many developers and technologists have embraced the Meta chief  as their champion of “open-source” A.I.

D’Youville University in Buffalo had an A.I. robot speak at its commencement . Not everyone was happy about it.

A new program, backed by Cornell Tech, M.I.T. and U.C.L.A., helps prepare lower-income, Latina and Black female computing majors  for A.I. careers.

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