Virtual care offers safe, secure, and convenient ways for you and your child to see a care provider without leaving the comfort of your home. There are multiple options available through your computer or mobile device. M Health Fairview Pediatrics offers four virtual visit types: a video visit, a phone visit, a MyChart eVisit, and an eConsult. Scroll down to learn more about each of the four types or download our virtual care FAQ document.
What are the four different types of virtual visits?
Video Visit
A video visit is a convenient and secure way for you and your child to see your provider from the comfort of your home, using a mobile device or computer. A video visit is similar to an in-person visit in overall length. The provider and your family can see each other over video. The clinician will discuss your health needs and work with you to develop a care plan during the visit. Because the visit is virtual, a patient's vitals are not taken and there is limited opportunity for a physical examination. Video visits can be held for many conditions. If your child's clinician decides a test or in-person exam is needed, you will be referred to a location that can administer it either before or after the video visit.
MyChart eVisit
MyChart eVisits are the fastest way for your child or family to be seen by our care team without needing to schedule an appointment or come to the clinic. Get diagnosed and treated 24/7 for dozens of conditions, including COVID-19. When completing your eVisit, choose the "Next available provider' option for the fastest response time – sometimes in as little as an hour. Please note: eVisits are only available to established patients that have seen an M Health Fairview provider in the past three years. For specialty eVisits, such as Cancer Care and Obstetrics, you must have seen a provider within that specialty in the last year. During an eVisit, you will answer a series of questions online with a provider about a particular condition. Responses are reviewed by a provider who you select. You can choose a provider you have previously seen (with a 24-hour response except weekends) or choose "First Available Provider" for a quicker response. You will receive a clinical diagnosis or recommendation for next steps in care.
Phone visit
Phone visits between a patient and provider can be held for many conditions, especially when a physical exam is not necessary. For example, mental health care, medication checks, etc. Phone visits are similar to an in-person visit in length. The provider will discuss your child or family's care needs, and work with you to develop a care plan during the visit. Because the visit takes place over the phone, there is no physical examination and vitals are not taken. If your child's provider determines that a test or an in-person exam is needed, you will be referred to a location that can administer it either prior to or following the phone visit.
eConsult
eConsults are a way for your primary care provider to connect with an M Health Fairview Pediatrics specialty provider on your behalf and are available at your request. This option often provides quicker access to specialty review and response (days compared to weeks or months) while also saving you time from an in-person appointment. Your primary care provider will connect with you on any recommendations and next steps from the specialty provider.
Virtual Visit FAQs
If you have a MyChart account, you can use it to check-in for your virtual visit up to seven days prior to your appointment. During this process, you will be asked to verify your information and you may be asked to answer some questions about your health. Based on your MyChart communication preferences, you may be contacted via email, text, or MyChart message with an appointment reminder and a prompt to check in for your appointment as well.
Depending on the type of appointment and your provider, you may also receive a call up to 24 hours prior to your appointment to verify your information and answer some questions about your health if you did not complete the MyChart check-in process.
For video and phone visits, you and your child can choose to see your regular primary care provider, or a provider of your choice. View a list of providers here. If the provider of your choice is not available when you want to be seen, you and your child may be offered options to see another provider from your clinic in your desired timeframe.
For MyChart eVisits, you select either a provider with whom you want to interact (this is usually a provider you have seen previously), or “next available” provider for a quicker response.
Video visits: Video visits are conducted using secure, HIPAA-compliant video connections which are not recorded by M Health Fairview. Unauthorized recording is not allowed. The provider and nurse handling your eVisit may be in a private space such as an exam room or office, where there will be complete privacy. They may also be in a clinic setting where other clinic staff members are visible in the background. In this case, your provider and nurse will generally use headphones so others cannot hear you.
Phone visits: If the visit is on the phone, your conversation is as secure as any phone call.
MyChart eVisits: If you’re using MyChart’s eVisit platform for your child’s healthcare visit, the whole process is completed using a secure patient portal, including the registration (eCheck-in) process and any questions you answer online.
Video visits are billed the same as a normal in-clinic visit.*
Phone visits are currently billed as a normal in-clinic visit, due to temporary billing practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.*
MyChart e-Visits are currently billed between $45-$90 per visit depending on provider time spent on visit.*
eConsults are covered by most insurance plans with varying patient responsibility costs.*
* What you will be charged depends on your insurance coverage, including whether you have a co-pay or have met any deductibles.
Just like an in-office visit, the provider will send prescriptions to the pharmacy of your choice, order lab tests, or recommend follow-up appointments after your family’s video, phone, or eVisit. One of our healthcare professionals will help you schedule any required follow-up care at the end of the virtual visit or through a phone call afterward.
If, during any type of virtual visit, your healthcare provider determines that you and your child need to come into a clinic, hospital, or another facility to have your health concern addressed, we will schedule an in-person visit, and you will NOT be billed for the virtual visit.