Back-to-school conditions that can be treated though a virtual doctor visit
With students back in school, it’s only a matter of time before your child brings home an unwelcome condition. Fortunately, with Immediate Care Video Visits from the Nebraska Medicine Virtual Care Clinic, seeking medical advice and treatment for certain conditions has never been easier or more convenient.
“Virtual care is super advantageous for families,” says family medicine expert Jason Patera, MD. “The hours are pretty lengthy, and we’re open seven days a week and on holidays. The wait time is never more than a half hour. So families anywhere in Nebraska can be seen at their convenience.”
Some of the most common back-to-school conditions that can be treated virtually include:
- Cough
- Cold
- Runny nose
- Sore throat
- Rashes
- Headache
- Sinus infection
- Flu
- COVID-19
- Head lice
- Pink eye
- Minor cuts
How does virtual care work?
You can schedule an Immediate Care Video Visit through the Nebraska Medicine app. Once you’ve entered your information, you can log off and your provider will notify you when they are available. Dr. Patera says the wait is generally under 30 minutes.
“Once the provider is logged in and ready, they are actually on the call waiting for the patient instead of the other way around, which is pretty unique and patient-friendly,” he says.
During an Immediate Care Video Visit, a provider will evaluate your child and can prescribe necessary medications. The only testing that can be done through a virtual visit is for flu or COVID-19. Your provider will order the test; then you can schedule a time through the app to do the test at the closest testing site. Once you arrive, a Nebraska Medicine staff member will meet you at your car to administer the test.
Immediate Care Video Visits are safe and use a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform. These visits are never recorded, so your information is completely private, just as it is during in-clinic appointments.
In-person appointments
Certain conditions are best evaluated by a provider in person. These include:
- Any issues that have been treated via virtual care that are not improving
- Suspected ear infections
- Cuts that may need stitches
- Injuries that may require an X-ray
- Moderate to severe abdominal pain
- Chronic conditions
- Anything that might require a blood test
If you live in Nebraska and would like to schedule an Immediate Care Video Visit, get the Nebraska Medicine app or visit NebraskaMed.com/Telehealth.
