Give Pediatric Telemedicine A Chance -- In Certain Cases
Telemedicine has made it easier for people to see a doctor without having to worry about getting to an office on time, find parking, and wait for an appointment while sick. It isn't a total substitute for seeing a doctor in person, but it is a wonderful addition that makes some care more convenient and faster to provide. Telemedicine for pediatric patients has been somewhat more controversial as children are generally better off being seen in person, especially when they're younger and can't adequately describe symptoms. Yet there are situations in which telemedicine is a perfect solution when you need to speak to someone but are encountering blocks.
Travel Time
One such block is travel time. For rural patients and for patients who have to travel via public transit, getting to the doctor can be difficult. Now imagine a sick, crying child accompanying that parent on public transit or a long car ride. That can be a nerve-wracking experience.
Sometimes telemedicine is better in these situations. The doctor conducting the session can ask the parent to take the child's temperature and describe symptoms. It still may turn out that the parent and child have to go in person for a test or further evaluation. However, the doctor may also be able to determine what's likely going on (e.g., a bad cold) without testing. That saves the parent time and aggravation, and it lets the child remain at home in comfort.
Child-Related Discussions
Another situation that benefits from pediatric telemedicine is parental discussions regarding the child's development, health, and other progress. Many times you really don't need to go in to see a doctor in person to get this advice or have these discussions. For example, if you're concerned about your child's speech, your initial conversations with the doctor, at least, can be done via telemedicine.
Preliminary Advice
That initial consultation ties into another time telemedicine wins for pediatric medicine: When you're not sure what to do regarding something going on with the child. For example, the child may have been in an accident and appear to be OK -- but something about the accident was out of the ordinary (such as the child falling off a bike, rather than just tripping on flat ground). Use telemedicine to discuss what happened and see what you should do next. The doctor may tell you to bring the child in for an x-ray, or he or she might say to observe the child if nothing appears hurt.
If you're not sure which way to go, ask your pediatrician which mode of communication he or she prefers. If the office does have a telemedicine component, find out when the doctor would prefer that you use that service. For more information, contact a medical professional like Ada Pediatrics PA.
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