It was what seemed to be a normal morning. Children in a toddler room sang songs, went outside to play, created an art project and sat down to read books while lunch was being set up. One of the children went and sat on the teachers lap to read a book. The teacher felt the heat come from the child and decided to take her temperature. The thermometer read 104. Fortunately we were able to use the TeleAtrics system to connect with a clinician to obtain a Tylenol order to start bringing the fever down while the parent was on her way to pick the child up. In the past we would not have been able to administer Tylenol without the parent picking up the child and taking them to a doctor’s office to provide us with a Doctor’s written order. Without this telehealth service, a child with a fever would have to wait longer before getting a dose of Tylenol or even ride in an ambulance to a local hospital.

The Rochester TeleAtrics system has also helped monitor children with ear infections. We had one case where the child had fluid behind his ear but that day did not have an infection. The next day mom came in to say he was up with pain that night and so we took another look. The clinician diagnosed that the child did have an infection then, and medication was ordered. The child was able to participate and the mom did not have to miss two days of work.

I have had parents come into the Telemedicine office and look at the pictures of their child’s ear, skin rash, or listen to their heart and lung sounds. Many of them now come into the center more open about the child’s health because they feel safe and comfortable with the system. With increased parent trust and the TeleAtrics system, we give better care to children.

Rochester Childcare Center Certified Telehealth Assistant