TeleVisits

Have an important health concern, but you can’t venture out to our office? Arrange for an innovative video “TeleVisit” with your child’s regular provider by calling South Lake Pediatrics’ scheduling line at 952-401-8300.

South Lake Pediatrics has the most up-to-date technology to bring quality medical care to you – wherever you are! During a TeleVisit, you can have a live, one-on-one, personal video appointment with your provider on your computer or smart device. They will be able to address your personal needs remotely for many common conditions and ailments.

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What is a TeleVisit?

A TeleVisit is when your healthcare provider uses technology to care for you – without you having to travel to their office. During your TeleVisit, you and your healthcare provider will see and speak with each other – using a computer, smartphone or tablet.

Your provider will be able to check how you’re doing, diagnose any problem you have, and come up with a treatment plan for you – all by video. It’s one-on-one, personal and feels like a Skype call. And your video won’t be recorded or saved.

What Kinds of Appointments can TeleVisits can be Perfect for?

  • Medication check-ups
  • Mental healthcare consultations
  • Pre-natal visits
  • Lactation follow-ups
  • COVID exposure

How do I Participate in a TeleVisit?

For many people, telemedicine is a convenient and effective way to see their healthcare provider. Before beginning a TeleVisit, make sure that you:

  • Schedule a TeleVisit appointment time by calling 952-401-8300.
  • Have an active Patient Portal account, with username and password
  • Use a desktop, laptop or smart device with webcam, microphone and speakers, and an up-to-date browser such as Safari, Firefox, Chrome or Opera.
  • Plan to sit in a secure, private location with good lighting.

Ready to begin your TeleVisit? Follow these easy steps:

  • Log in to your Patient Portal 15 minutes before the appointment begins. If you can’t access the Portal, you may also access your appointment by clicking on the reminder link sent to your email.
  • Click “Join TeleVisit” in your patient dashboard (or use the email reminder).
  • When the Vitals window appears, it is not necessary to enter any information at this time. Just click “Submit Vitals”.
  • Click “Proceed” to check your computer’s speed and ability to support a TeleVisit. If your computer does not have a webcam, you will need to attach one.
  • Click “Start TeleVisit” at the bottom of the screen to enter the virtual waiting room.
  • You will begin the face-to-face TeleVisit. Close your browser when the visit ends.
Patient Portal

TeleVisit Constraints:

TeleVisits can be used for only one single patient computer or device. Interested parents should gather around a common device.

TeleVisit Troubleshooting Guide:

  1. Close all other programs and applications on your device
  2. Ensure you are using an approved internet browser.


  1. Make sure the webcam and microphone are enabled on your device.
    1. Windows: Settings>Privacy>Camera/Microphone (Let Apps Use My Camera/Microphone=On)
    2. iPhone:
      1. If joining from email link: Settings>Safari>Camera and Microphone options set to “Ask” or “Allow”
      2. If joining from Healow App: Settings>Healow>Enable Camera and Microphone
    3. Mac:
      1. If joining from Safari: Log into the Patient Portal. From the Dashboard Page; Safari>Settings for This Website…>Camera and Microphone options set to “Allow”
        1. Close out of Safari, open a new Safari and re-log into the Patient Portal (this only needs to happen once)
  2. Log out of the Patient Portal or Healow application and relaunch the TeleVisit
  3. Restart your computer or smart phone

Join the South Lake Pediatrics Family

With a legacy grounded in quality and kindness, South Lake Pediatrics welcomes you to a healthcare experience tailored to your family’s unique needs. Enjoy our professional care, affordable options, insightful education, and easy access – all wrapped in a warm and personalized approach.

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Televisits

For a lot of us, the way we perform our work looks much different than it did a year and a half ago.  The concept of working from home was frequently discussed but infrequently put into practice.  Delivery of groceries and online shopping has taken on a whole new meaning.

Covid has brought a lot of changes to the practice of medicine as well.  We got a crash course in providing medicine in a different way.  South Lake has talked about trying to use telehealth for a long time.  However, due to insurance restrictions, technology, and, well, change in general, telehealth was not something readily embraced in many primary care offices.  In March 2020, that all changed.  Everyone had to figure out how to get on board with telemedicine.  The government was able to change some regulations with laws and insurance companies to make it possible to provide this service during the pandemic.  Now that we have a handle on how to get patients in and out of our office safely as well as some more experience with telemedicine, I thought it would be helpful to talk about when telemedicine is the right choice for your child versus when an office visit is appropriate. 

I think the most effective way we have been able to use telehealth is when a family has an exposure to Covid.  We have all received that dreaded email from school telling us our child has had an exposure.  Probably the last thing you want to do is wait in the office with all the kids to go over the recommendations only to be told that it is too early to test.  Telehealth has provided a relatively quick and timely way for us to talk to you about your child’s risks, testing options, and quarantine recommendations.  We often schedule a lab only visit after these visits to collect a test. The process is very streamlined and, when the test isn’t recommended to be collected until a couple of days after the televisit, you haven’t had to make an extra trip into the office.

I have found telehealth to be helpful for SOME mental health visits.  There are visits that require height and weight measurements, a blood pressure check, and an exam that can’t be done via telehealth.  However, when a follow up is needed that doesn’t require a physical exam, telehealth can be a great way to connect.  I care for a lot of busy teenagers that have a much easier time making an appointment via telehealth instead of missing an extra hour of activities for travel to see me.  I have found there is some better continuity of care and follow up when some of these visits can be done via telehealth. 

And now, the pitfalls!  Our number one priority is the health of your child and practicing medicine at our office is done to the highest standards.  Nothing replaces a physical exam, especially when working with young children who can’t tell you what’s wrong.  Sometimes things may seem straight forward such as “my child’s ear hurts.”  But an exam will tell us if it’s an inner or outer ear infection, pain from a molar being felt in their ear, or the annoying Barbie shoe that “mysteriously” shows up on a child’s ear exam.  (Side note, I could dedicate an entire blog to the things I have found in kids’ ears and noses!)  Pink eye is often accompanied by ear infections.  Strep needs to be diagnosed with a test.  There is no “classic” strep exam.  I get very weary when I see a urinary tract infection treated with antibiotics over a virtual visit.  Many different bacteria can cause those infections, and some are highly resistant to antibiotics.  Without collecting a urine culture BEFORE starting antibiotics, your child may end up in a worse place than they started. 

There are also some limitations with the legality of televisits.  Our clinicians are licensed in Minnesota.  A few states have allowed us to have televisits with kids in other states during the pandemic.  However, many have started revoking those privileges making it illegal for us to provide that service.  I would love to be able to easily meet with my college age patients around the country if I could, but states are cracking down!  These kinds of changes will continue to occur and affect the ability to provide telehealth visits. 

I think jumping into the world of telehealth was a good thing.  While it isn’t an option for every type of visit, it has helped us provide important services for our patients that we couldn’t before the pandemic.  When you call, ask if a telehealth visit is the right kind of visit for your child.  And know that when we recommend a visit in person, we are doing it in the best interest of the health of your child.

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