Sponsored by Children’s Mercy.
Children’s Mercy has been providing telehealth services for many years as part of our commitment to provide extraordinary experiences for our patients and families. With the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth services have become even more in demand. Telehealth by definition is the use of audio-visual technology to deliver medical care when the patient and provider are not physically together.
At Children’s Mercy we offer two different telehealth services:
- Telemedicine facilitated visit—With a facilitated visit, you and your child go to Children’s Mercy Wichita – located at 3243 E. Murdock Street, Suite 201. A specially trained nurse facilitates the appointment while the Children’s Mercy provider joins through a computer from Kansas City or another Children’s Mercy location. The nurse is with you to ensure the communication between you and the provider is exceptional and to help with the physical assessment.
- Virtual visits—A virtual visit is an appointment online where children can be seen by a provider online at home. Children’s Mercy uses a secure, private audio-visual solution to allow children and families to remain at home and still have access to Children’s Mercy providers.
The Benefits of Telehealth
The availability of telehealth visits has been shown to increase patient satisfaction and decrease missed appointments, meaning improved care for patients. Families who have used telehealth have noted benefits like not needing to drive to an appointment or find parking, the ability to maintain physical distancing, minimizing exposure to other sick children and parents not having to miss work.
Telehealth visits can be delivered more efficiently, and more kids can receive the care they need. Due to the advancements in technology, a Children’s Mercy provider can be virtually anywhere delivering the same high-quality care that is the Children’s Mercy standard.
How Does It work?
With a facilitated visit, we obtain history, vital signs and even examine a patient using specialized cameras and equipment with the help of the telefacilitator. Equipment can include a video screen that can magnify areas of interest, a stethoscope for listening to the heart, lungs and abdomen, an otoscope to examine ears, and ophthalmoscope for looking into the eyes. This equipment works similar to if your child is being examined in person and sometimes offers an even a better view!
With a virtual visit you can use a laptop, desktop, tablet or mobile phone to connect with your child’s provider face-to-face via a secure connection from the comfort of your home. After scheduling your appointment, you will be sent a secure link to access the appointment at your designated time. It can be a new experience for some having a medical appointment at home, so here are some tips for having a successful virtual visit with your child.
- Have your child with you in the room when the appointment starts.
- Locate a quiet, private place free of distractions.
- Have strong WiFi and your device’s power cord.
- You may need a flashlight and thermometer.
- Know your child’s information like height and weights as well as allergies and current medications.
- Have your questions ready for the appointment like you would if you were meeting with the provider in person.
Local Pediatric Specialties with Telehealth
Children’s Mercy Wichita currently offers telehealth services for more than 25 pediatric specialties. Services include Allergy, Asthma, Immunology; Ear, Nose and Throat; Nutrition; Pulmonology; Sleep Clinic; Developmental and Behavioral Services; Gastroenterology; and more. To learn more and get information on scheduling, visit childrensmercy.org/Wichita.
Children’s Mercy Wichita offers a child-friendly environment to provide families access to pediatric specialty care that otherwise might not be available without traveling out of the community including Cardiology, Endocrinology, Nephrology, Hepatology, Neurosurgery, Plastic Surgery and more.
