< Programs and Services

Telehealth

The Arkansas Children's Telehealth department brings pediatric subspecialty health care and consultation closer to home for families across the state of Arkansas, including clinic visits and follow-up medical care. Our telehealth programs help support a statewide system of health care for children needing primary and subspecialty services.

What is Telehealth?

Telehealth, sometimes referred to as telemedicine, virtual care, or virtual health, is a way for providers and patients to connect outside of the four walls of our hospitals. Telehealth allows your child to have regularly scheduled appointments with their Arkansas Children’s team through the use of a smartphone, computer or tablet. These appointments can take place in the convenience of your home through video or telephone visits. Telehealth can improve treatment times with quicker access to specialists, while also helping families reduce, and sometimes avoid, long and costly travel for their child’s care. It’s just one way we’re bringing the entire, unique experience of Arkansas Children’s to you.

With patient safety as a top priority, we are currently evaluating appointments on a case-by-case basis. A member of our team will reach out to you to discuss care options for any upcoming appointments. Until then, if you have questions, please call us at 501-364-1100.

Video Visits

If you and your care team agree, you may be able to do a video visit with your provider from the comfort of your home. You will be able to talk directly with your Arkansas Children’s team through a live, secure, interactive connection.

Before the day of your telehealth visit, there are a few things you’ll need to do.

  1. Sign Up for MyChart - The patient must have an active MyChart account. Click here to sign up for MyChart  if you haven’t already. 
  2. eCheck-In Through MyChart - You will be required to eCheck-in for your visit through MyChart. You can do this up to 7 days before your scheduled visit. You’ll need the patient’s insurance information and current medications. Follow the steps below to eCheck-in. 
  1. Complete the hardware check and connect

  1. Twenty minutes prior to your visit, find a spot in your house that is quiet, well lit, and has a strong internet connection or data signal.
  2. Log in to the patient’s MyChart account, either through the MyChart app or through a browser on your device.
  3. Open the MyChart appointment section where you will find your video visit information. View screenshot >
  4. Once eCheck-in is complete, you will see a green icon beside your scheduled visit. Select the green camera icon. View screenshot >
  5. At the bottom of the page select "Join Video Visit". View screenshot >
  6. You will be prompted to connect with the provider.
  7. Once you are connected, please wait on the line for your provider to join you. Please make sure the patient is present and ready for the visit. View screenshot >

Who can use telehealth?

If your child is currently being seen by an Arkansas Children’s provider and is signed up through MyChart, he or she might be a candidate for telehealth visits. To get started, talk to your provider’s office to see if your child is a good candidate.

Also, sign up for MyChart to manage your child’s medical information and connect with your Arkansas Children’s medical team. All telehealth appointments are done through MyChart. 

Are there conditions that can’t be seen through telehealth?

If you have a medical emergency, you should call 911 and go to the emergency room.

Your provider’s office should be able to help you determine if telehealth is appropriate for your child’s condition or complaint. Some complex conditions may require an in-person visit, such as infants with fever, difficulty controlling asthma or injuries.

Testing and labs require in-person visits. For example, if your child has a sore throat or flu symptoms, you may be asked to bring your child to the office for in-person testing (strep test, flu test, blood test).
 

How do I set up a telehealth appointment?

Contact your provider’s office directly to find out if telehealth is the best option for your child. If so, they will help you schedule a telehealth visit and confirm that you have a MyChart account for your child.

Telehealth visits are available during regular clinic hours.

Will the doctor or nurse have access to medical information? Can they prescribe medicine by telehealth?

Yes. Your health care provider will have access to your child’s medical history – the same as a normal in-person visit.

Prescriptions can be written by your provider based on your child’s symptoms and the ability to evaluate those symptoms through the telehealth visit. Please note, some medications can’t be prescribed with a virtual visit only. 

Is a telehealth visit secure?

Arkansas Children’s provides a secure, private, HIPAA-compliant system that allows you to safely and confidentially consult with a health care provider through telehealth. Many telehealth visits take place from your home, so you have the ability to limit the number of people involved with the visit. Please let our provider know who is in the room during the visit. On our side, the provider will also be in a secure location and away from other people in order to protect patient confidentiality.
 

Will insurance cover telehealth visits?

Although guidelines are ever-changing, insurers are generally covering telehealth visits. If you have concerns, please talk to your insurance company before the visit.

Will I have the option to continue with telehealth visits in the future? Is this the new norm?

Telehealth offers a safe and convenient way for providers to evaluate and diagnose patients remotely, while practicing social distancing and reducing the spread of germs. This is especially important for patients with complex conditions or weak immune systems. We plan to continue to explore and develop the technology and processes of seeing patients through telehealth. We want to support our patients and families and give them the best health care experience possible. 

Who do I contact if I have questions about a telehealth visit?

To get started, talk to your provider’s office to see if telehealth is an option and let them know if you have questions. If you have issues with your visit or questions about an upcoming visit, please call 501-364-2802 for assistance. This line is staffed Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM until 4 PM.

We are rapidly adjusting to challenging circumstances and working to overcome barriers to comprehensive pediatric care across the state.

Conversion of Outpatient In-Person Visits to Telehealth Visits (when possible) – The Arkansas Children’s team is equipped to conduct telephone and telemedicine visits across the vast majority of our services and clinics. We anticipate these capabilities will allow us to effectively transition a significant portion of in-person visits. Please know that telemedicine visits require patients to have a MyChart account and a high-speed internet connection. If you have clinic-specific questions, please reach out directly to the clinic. If you have general questions or need more information to appropriately direct your call, please call ACH at 501-236-4945 or ACNW at 479-327-1265.

Keep in mind, these measures are to meet the current emergency situation and we will reevaluate our approach as we move forward to best meet the needs of Arkansans.

Resources

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