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How much fun is dragging a sick child out of the house, trekking to your pediatrician’s office and waiting to be seen? Probably not on many parents’ top 10 list of family activities. While there is certainly no replacement for a physician’s physical exam, telehealth can be an important supplement toward attaining the best care for your child. The ongoing pandemic and public health concern has highly influenced the increased use of telemedicine, which has demonstrated its quite helpful role in assessing acute care issues and health surveillance of certain conditions. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises all children receive well child exams and immunizations through a medical office, however utilizing telehealth for common pediatric complaints may be a wonderful additional asset in order to maintain quality medical care for children.
Telehealth in a practical sense, is the method of exchanging medical advice through the use of technology. Here at My Virtual Physician, it is easy to set up an appointment to “see” a physician through our online platform, after answering the text prompt on our homepage. In some cases, telehealth also encompasses the use of special diagnostic equipment. It is private, and typically hassle-free when you consider the lack of commute time and being able to talk to a physician from the comfort of your living space. In particular for pediatrics, telehealth allows for the presence of both caretaker and child, which is sometimes difficult given conflicting work schedules or occasional need for a third party to bring a child to the office. Another perk is the lack of exposure to others’ germs that are also common visitors in office waiting rooms. One of the best uses for telehealth discovered during the pandemic, is the increased access to physician care. Many specialists are overbooked, however often times, given the flexibility that telehealth allows, they are able to accommodate telehealth appointments into their busy schedules more easily. This allows for more patients to be seen, when an ordinary wait for an appointment could be several months away. In the same light, through telehealth, underserved or rural areas are provided a way to more quickly access care without the burden of travel expenses.
A physical exam is one of the most important aspects to establish a diagnosis for most patients and especially in pediatrics, however many common conditions in children can be “seen” virtually. Some of these include cough and cold symptoms, gastrointestinal complaints like constipation, rashes, allergies, medication management, and depression/anxiety. Sometimes follow up visits from an emergency department can also be done via telehealth. These issues rely heavily on another key component to appropriate diagnosis: an accurate history. It is imperative to provide details of the complaints, including time of onset, any improvement or worsening, as well as additional symptoms, recent travel, past health problems and sick contacts. Fortunately, these are questions that can be answered in conversation over a communication platform.
Parental and caregiver guidance, often given within the context of an office visit, is unique to pediatrics and is another important avenue in which telehealth in this population can be incredibly helpful. Whether asking questions about newborn feeding, normal developmental behavior, screen time, school readiness, bath and swim safety, dental hygiene, prepubertal and adolescent concerns, immunization worries or just seeking advice on how to maintain a positive connection with your child, telehealth is a tool that can provide a safe and relatively efficient way of finding helpful answers from a pediatric expert.
There are some diagnoses that should be referred to an in-person physician. Fever, for example, is one of the most common reasons children visit their doctor. Many times this can be discussed via telehealth initially and often reveals itself to be a symptom of an illness that will pass in time. However, there are instances where telehealth is not sufficient and the child should be seen in an office for a closer look, such as when a newborn has a fever. Likewise, a cut that might require stitches as well as an injury where there is question of a broken bone or significant pain would need more than an initial televisit. It should also be noted that any condition, in which the child is having trouble breathing, is difficult to arouse or wake or is generally having worsening complaints, an in-person visit would be likely more appropriate.
As mentioned above, there really is no adequate replacement to having a physician’s exam, but telehealth certainly affords many safe conveniences that can be practical in pediatrics. Visit My Virtual Physician to learn more about how our board certified pediatricians can help you and your child!
Telemedicine surged this past year. Analysts say virtual healthcare will top 1 billion visits this year. But is it right for everyone? Parents may wonder if an online pediatrician is a good choice.
Telemedicine (TM) is a great resource for most people, even parents. Online doctors treat many pediatric health concerns through video visits. Yet, some cases require an in-person physical exam. When in doubt, the doctor, or their team, can help parents decide what is best for each situation.
Those who are curious about online pediatrician appointments should read on. Here we share why you should book an online pediatrician visit.
Online pediatrician visits can be a good choice. For instance, a recent pediatric study found that TM lowers lowers healthcare costs raising patient satisfaction. Easy access to doctors from the safety and comfort of home is invaluable. TM is an innovative solution to one of parenting's great challenges: a sick child.
Before booking an online pediatrician appointment, follow these steps.
Ask your doctor if TM is a good idea when you have a problem. In some cases, a doctor may want to see your child in person. In-office exams allow doctors to use instruments. Some tests cannot be conducted through a video screen.
Your doctor may also have a list online showing which concerns they can treat through online appointments.
To book an online pediatrician visit, you must have the equipment and connection to meet with the doctor. In other words, if you are booking a visit with a tablet or cellphone, make sure you have a strong signal and full bars. At home, log in to WiFi to get the best video quality.
Also, check with your doctor to find out what platform they use. Some have a mobile app. Others may want you to download the software before the visit.
It is good to arrive for your TM visit 10-15 minutes early. Log in ahead of time, so you don't feel rushed and can figure it out. You'll also have time to troubleshoot technical issues before the doctor arrives.
When deciding if you should book an online appointment, the last thing to think about is which provider to use. Each office has cost, appointment times, and patient reviews that vary.
A recent article by CNBC warned that TM is in high demand. Some will have longer wait times. Check your doctor's availability ahead of time. A little online research can go a long way to helping parents find the right online doctor.
Pediatricians can treat many common problems with a video consultation. Some concerns that are easily evaluated in a virtual visit are:
If you are unsure, check with your doctor. They can let you know the best choice for you.
In some cases doctors may need more tests. When a pediatrician needs more tools to treat a sick child, they may refer parents to an in-person visit or urgent care.
Some doctors' offices, like My Virtual Physician, work with local partners. They can arrange lab tests by sending an order to a laboratory. Later, they can review the results with the patient over video.
Telemedicine providers can arrange X-rays or other diagnostic tests this way too.
In some cases, online doctors prescribe medication. Online pediatricians can fax refills to local pharmacies. During the TM visit, online pediatricians will explain the treatment plan and any instructions to parents, just like in-person appointments.
Not all problems are best solved by an online appointment. Here are a few reasons to check with your doctor before booking an online pediatric appointment.
When a child needs in-person medical attention, but you can't book an appointment with a pediatrician, an urgent care center or emergency room may be the best option.
Dr. Ayyagari is a board-certified pediatrician of 20 years. She is licensed in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Texas, and Florida and is accepting new patients. Click "BOOK APPOINTMENT NOW" to book an appointment. Or let us know if you have questions about your child. We are standing by to help.
This past year tested many young businesses. Telemedicine is not new. But the My Virtual Physician (MVP) business model is. The virtual doctor practice offers the best in online doctor services as a direct-to-consumer multi-specialty provider licensed in multiple states. Regardless of 2020's challenges, the MVP virtual doctor team didn't slow down. They focused on their path to becoming the #1 online doctor and forged ahead.
Over the last 12 months, MVP worked hard to bring high-quality medical care into homes in 15 states. They now offer online pediatric, gynecologic, and primary healthcare services for patients of all ages. Plus, they provide same-day scheduling for online physician appointments, some in-network insurance benefits, and five-star customer service.
As the #1 online healthcare provider, MVP doctors get to know their patients. Quality care is emphasized, and they aim to provide the best patient satisfaction in telemedicine. Here’s what patients are saying about MVP's online doctors:
“I would give My Virtual Physician more stars if I could”
“Dr. Howard has the best personality and is very friendly.”
“The future of medical visits; what better way to social distance.”
“A+ would recommend to everyone.”
Since their launch, MVP has opened new offices and added service lines such as nutrition and diabetic care. The practice has partnered with more online doctors and added office staff. Just this Spring, MVP enhanced their patient portal for self-scheduling, and integrated a program to trend patient reviews.
This one year anniversary milestone is cause for celebration. It is exciting, and this is only the beginning. Despite any challenges that lie ahead for this medical practice, their progress shows that the future is very bright for My Virtual Physician.
Congratulations to Dr. Howard, Dr. Masghati, Dr. Ayyagari, and all of the My Virtual Physician Staff.
With warm weather comes more opportunity for pool and beach time, and it’s important to refresh ourselves on water safety around our pediatric patients.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death in kids ages 1-4 years. Drowning is the second leading cause of death, second only to motor vehicle accidents. Males have about a two-fold risk over females and African American children are nearly 5.5 times more likely to die by drowning than their Caucasian peers. The good news: drowning is essentially preventable.
When you see the Pediatrician for routine child well checks, some of the topics discussed fall under the category of anticipatory guidance. Anticipatory guidance are things to expect as a child develops along their trajectory and how to manage it. Water safety is a topic often reviewed during in person or virtual doctor visits. Common questions that may come up during a water safety conversation are:
Important Tip: Remember that a young child can drown in as little as an inch or so of water. We can not emphasize enough the importance of direct and uninterrupted supervision, early and safe water exposure as well as prevention measures.
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises swim lessons begin as early a year old and many swim facilities offer swim readiness training to toddlers and their caretakers. As affordability may be a concern to utilize commercial schools, you can check your town’s park and recreational facility to discover potential options for discounted pricing for more local community programs. The decision to begin swim lessons may vary for some families depending on the child’s physical and emotional development, but swimming is a life skill and starting in toddlerhood has been shown to reduce the risk for drowning. Infant swim lessons are not recommended due to lack of evidence to support that swim lessons in this age group lower drowning risk.
Young children are naturally curious and move quickly. The majority of drownings occur in settings without appropriate supervision or safety in place. An in-ground, residential pool is required to have a barrier fence of at least four feet high and surrounding three sides of the pool with the house acting as the fourth side. If this is the sole barrier, door alarms should be placed on the doors that open to the pool. It is further protective to have an actual four-sided barrier fence surrounding the pool itself with an automatic locking gate. Additionally, another layer of protection is a pool cover, however these should never be used alone without barrier fencing.
Open bodies of water, such as lakes or oceans, present some of their own unique challenges, including poor visibility compared to a pool, and potentially strong currents. Using a life vest approved by the US Coast Guard is always recommended for children exposed to outdoor water.
Aside from physical barriers, supervision is imperative: direct and constant. Equipment malfunction, such as a broken gate latch or failure of proper life vest use, can lead to more risk, which is then mitigated by your constant presence with the child/children. Never take on water supervision with children while intoxicated and never leave older children to watch younger children. “Touch supervision”, or being at arm’s length of the child, is advised by the AAP. Ideally, getting into the water can be more helpful in acquainting children with safety while also promoting a fun experience.
With these ideas in mind, you can feel more secure about your young water-lovers taking on a healthy and splashingly good summer! For any additional questions or concerns you may have regarding swim safety, scheduling an online doctor visit with My Virtual Physician is a quick and convenient way to reach our Board Certified General Pediatricians, who are happy to help! My Virtual Physician provides parents with high quality medical care via video visit and are able to treat a variety of health conditions. Schedule a virtual visit today!
Meet Dr. Aravinda Ayyagari! We are ecstatic she has joined our My Virtual Physician practice.
She is a board-certified pediatrician with almost 20 years of experience. She serves on several hospital committees and enjoys volunteering her time in different settings ranging from the local school to the board of Easter Seals, and even traveling to El Paso, TX as a volunteer physician at a migrant center. She also serves as the state of Delaware CATCH grant coordinator to increase children’s access to healthcare services.
In her free time, she enjoys traveling, cooking, exercising, and spending time with friends. She loves hiking with her husband and two children in various destinations both domestically and internationally - covering Asia to South America. As a family, they have been amazed at how people are much more alike than different. They are looking forward to their next adventure!
Dr. Ayyagari speaks Spanish and some Telugu. She enjoys caring for patients of different cultural backgrounds.
Most recently, she started Bridge Care Pediatrics, a direct primary care which provides all pediatric and newborn housecalls. www.bridgecarepeds.com
