Telehealth | Frequently Asked Questions

Telehealth can be considered a synonym to telemedicine. Some, including the Center for Telehealth at Cincinnati Children’s, consider telehealth to be a broader term that includes remote healthcare that is not always a clinical service. This can include education and training.

Cincinnati Children’s provides diagnostic services, inpatient and outpatient consultations and provider-to-provider conferences which allow discussion of cases and treatment options. We also offer remote patient monitoring through the Center for Telehealth. We currently offer telehealth services in many of our nationally ranked specialties.

Telehealth at Cincinnati Children’s is designed to improve your family’s access to pediatric specialty care through the use of technology. This can allow your child to receive timely treatment closer to home. It may reduce travel time or the need to travel at all. You will still receive the same level of care from our providers you’d receive in an in-person clinic visit.

The cost of services varies. Insurance reimbursement also varies depending on the service and the insurance carrier, and the state you live in.

In many states, Medicaid or private insurance will cover telehealth encounters. However, this is not the case in all states.

All families are asked to consent to telemedicine consultations as part of your annual consent. If you do not want to participate in telemedicine, please discuss this with your providers. However, if there is an emergency, we may use telemedicine. This is for your child’s safety. There is no charge for telemedicine used in emergency cases.

The video and voice data is encrypted, which means the patient’s privacy is protected and cannot be accessed by anyone not participating in the visit. Telehealth visits cannot be recorded and must adhere to all the privacy regulations of an in-person visit.

The type of equipment needed depends on the service being provided. Often a computer, tablet, or smart phone can be used to connect patients and providers. However, in some instances, a telemedicine cart is needed that uses a computer, multiple screens and medical peripherals. Medical peripherals are devices (otoscopy, stethoscope or hand-held camera) that work along with the video technology to allow the provider with the patient to share images or sounds from a physical exam with the remote provider to aid in the assessment. All telemedicine software we use allows for the encounter to be encrypted and HIPAA compliant.

Currently telehealth is not offered directly to patients. Patients must be referred by their physician for telehealth visits. However, if you are interested in learning if telehealth might be an option for your child, contact your physician’s office for more information.