Tech & Innovation in Healthcare

Question: We are a small pediatric clinic in a rural setting. We have regular hours, but as things go with kids, many of our providers end up returning to the clinic after traditional business hours to treat our patients.

Would telehealth be a good option for the after-hours visits?

Michigan Subscriber

Answer: Telehealth would be an excellent option for after-hours visits — especially when your main patients are little children.

In fact, Seattle Children’s started providing telemedicine visits for urgent care services. The program, called Virtual Urgent Care, allows patients to connect with providers to have receive care without having to pile in the car and drive to a clinic.

In a virtual urgent care visit, a provider can examine a patient for some of the following symptoms:

• Allergies
• Cough
• Eye infection
• Minor injuries, such as sprains or strains
• Nausea and vomiting
• Skin rash
• Sore throat

Patients can use a computer, tablet, or other digital device to connect with a provider.