Health care heroes: How to have a good virtual doctor visit

“How am I going to keep the kids busy this summer without our usual activities? Will they be going back to school this fall? How are we going to keep this up?”

Parents have enough things to worry about right now. Getting their kids in to see their pediatrician doesn’t have to be one of them.

That’s thanks to health care heroes like Dr. Wendy Lotts, lead physician for general pediatrics at Advocate Children’s Medical Group – Gurnee. Every day, Dr. Lotts completes between 10 and 12 virtual visits, amounting to 40-45 a week, and sometimes closer to 60 visits in a week. Most visits are Zoom videos, and some are done over the phone.

“Virtual visits offer an opportunity to see a medical provider without leaving your home,” says Dr. Lotts. “These visits are useful when trying to decide if a current illness warrants an in-person visit, an urgent care or emergency room trip or if treatment can be provided at home. We’re often able to provide treatment in these visits. At times, we do need to send the child in for a visit where they can be physically examined. There is something so comforting about looking into someone’s eyes as they give advice or information,” she says.

Dr. Lotts says she was initially anxious about conducting video visits.

“I’ve since found them to be a highly satisfying way to connect with my patients,” she explains. “I have met new patients as well as visited with those I have worked with for years. We need to be flexible and roll with the punches during these visits, as this is new technology for all of us.”

She offers a few tips for parents when planning a virtual visit:

• Listen carefully to the instructions when setting up the first appointment.
• Zoom needs to be downloaded on the device you intend to use, and portal access needs to be requested in advance. Parents will need their own portal account prior to requesting proxy access for their children.
• The pre-check in takes 5-15 minutes and should be completed prior to the start time for the appointment.
• Have pen and paper handy to take down any notes or phone numbers the provider may give you during the visit.
• Try to avoid backlighting during the visit.

Dr. Lotts says the visits have made a real difference in providing medical care. “We’re so excited to be able to offer virtual visits. This is a great way to be able to have a medical appointment with your usual provider for many common issues. I’m excited to see how these will be incorporated into our future!”