How parents can avoid this common telehealth mistake

A benefit of telehealth that is at the top of many parents’ lists is the ability for your child to get care from home when they’re sick. But before you join your child’s virtual appointment, there is one common mistake some parents make that you will want to avoid – your child needs to be with you for the appointment. 

“It’s important to have your child present during the telehealth visit,” says Dr. Kathleen Webster, medical director of pediatric telemedicine at Advocate Health Care. “Even if you can tell us about their symptoms, we still want to see, hear and interact with your child. This helps us determine a diagnosis and treatment plan.” 

Telehealth visits should be treated like in-person visits. It may seem obvious, but there are some scenarios where it may not occur to you to have your child present. One scenario is if they are sleeping.  

“If your child is sleeping, we know it’s tempting to not wake them,” notes Dr. Webster. “However, we’ll need them awake for at least part of the telehealth visit.” 

Many parents advocate for their children, so it’s understandable why you may join a visit without your child. This can be especially true for young children. When considering if your child’s appointment should be in-person or virtual, think about how your child will behave. Will they sit with you for the appointment and, if needed, let you examine them, and interact with their doctor or virtual care provider?  

While telehealth can’t replace all in-person visits, it does make life easier. This is especially true for visits related to minor illnesses like a cold or routine visits like medication check-ins. For some of those visit types, your doctor may say that your child doesn’t need to be present. If you have questions, ask your doctor when scheduling the virtual appointment. 

A lot can be gained from a virtual exam, but sometimes you may be asked to bring your child in for tests or further examination after the telehealth visit.  

“There are some limits to what we can diagnose while on camera for a virtual sick visit,” adds Dr. Webster. “It helps to have some supplies handy, such as a thermometer or a flashlight in case we need to look in your child’s throat.” 

Telehealth visits also help your child feel at ease, especially if visits to the doctor make them nervous. The goal is to have your child feel comfortable enough to engage in the virtual visit, says Dr. Webster. “This is an opportunity to hear directly from your child. We want them to feel heard and understood.” 

To best prepare, review some tips for a successful telehealth visit and steps on how to prepare before the appointment. If your child is old enough, include them in these steps so they know what to expect.  

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