Video Visits: See Your Child’s Doctor From Home

Parent on a telehealth call with a provider. The parent is holding the ipad and the sitting next to their daughter who has a thermometer in her mouth.

Whether it be an illness, injury, or ongoing medical condition that needs attention, please know that our providers across the UVM Health Network are open and ready to provide care.

“We’ve missed seeing your children across our region. We’ve missed checking heights and weights to ensure good growth, making sure vaccinations are up-to-date, assessing developmental progress and answering the health issues that you’re concerned about,” says Lewis First, MD, Chief of Pediatrics at UVM Children’s Hospital. “We want our children in our community to be healthy long after this pandemic has passed, so it is important for families to not be scared to see us as we continue to make sure that the coronavirus does not spread in our region, especially now that we are seeing very low numbers of positive test results compared to weeks ago.”  

While in-person visits are encouraged for those who need to be seen in person, such as a young infant or toddler who needs to be measured, examined in person, and/or vaccinated, the University of Vermont Health Network has significantly expanded video conferencing in Vermont and New York in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to allow families to access their child’s health care professional and talk about issues on their mind, including whether an in-person visit to the office is needed for their child.

“Step one is to call us by phone to determine which appointment is right for you—a video or in-person visit. Through video visits, we can still learn a lot about your child’s health even if not physically examining them in the office,” says Dr. First.

Providers want their patient families to understand the measures in place to protect them. Physical distancing, universal masking and reduced waiting room capacity are just some of the changes patients and their families will experience. “Now that the coronavirus is calming down in our region, this is an ideal time to call your child’s care providers and check back in with them,” says Dr. First.

“Please be reassured we are safe and we are here for you. We’re making your child’s care as accessible and welcoming as we can, but we need you to be part of the solution by not being afraid to access us,” says Dr. First. Getting the care your child needs carries far less risk than staying away out of fear of exposure. The UVM Children’s Hospital is in a great position to provide the normal and necessary care to ensure your child’s health.

Here’s How It Works

A video visit is a secure online appointment between you and your child and their provider using a computer, tablet or smartphone. Both you and your child and the provider are able to see, hear and speak to each other, similar to using FaceTime. Your video visit is private and not recorded – only you, your child and your provider participate in the appointment and it’s completed in real time. With select exceptions for adolescents who are managing their own care, a parent or guardian should join their child for the video visit.

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