Florida families are now able to connect with Nemours 24/7 over the internet or through a mobile application.

Families in Florida now have a faster, easier way to see a pediatrician through a new service called Nemours CareConnect. Doctors from Nemours are available through the service, 24 hours a day, seven days a week over the internet or mobile application.

Families who want to use Nemours CareConnect may download the mobile application onto their smartphone or tablet. It is now available, at no cost for Apple and Android devices. The service is also available through the website, www.NemoursCareConnect.com.

Each visit costs $49 and may be paid at the time of service with a credit or debit card. The family must be in Florida to use Nemours CareConnect. Each case seen is reviewed by the medical director to ensure standard of care and safety. They are using HIPAA compliant Vidyo software so there is no breach of patient information.

Should the child need medication, geo-location services built into the phone or tablet can identify the pharmacy nearest to the family.

Carey Officer, director of service delivery innovation for Nemours Children’s Health System said, “Nemours is always looking to bring our world-class care closer to families and you cannot get much closer than the phone in your hand or the computer in your living room. We hope this service helps our families in Florida avoid a trip to an urgent care center or Emergency Department.”

MEdSim Editor-in-Chief Judith Riess had the pleasure of visiting and speaking with Dr. Shayan Vyas, medical director for Nemours telehealth in Florida. He said since the program was launched in November they have already had thousands of downloads and over 300 visits.

Dr. Vyas is very passionate about the program and stated, “It can be really difficult to get a sick child in to the car and to the doctor. Nemours CareConnect lets you immediately see a pediatrician right from the comfort of your home. Parents can also feel good knowing that each provider available for a video visit is a part of the Nemours team of pediatric experts.”

When asked what do patients and doctors see when using phone or iPad he said they see sprains, rashes, learn about fever and can see if child needs stitches. Decades of experience have shown that 85 to 95 per cent of sick children do not need lab test. Therefore, what better way to treat a child in less than two minutes than via a parents’ phone or iPad.

The service comes through a partnership between Nemours and national telehealth leader, American Well. Nemours was the first pediatric health system to announce such a partnership with American Well.

“Nemours shares our vision for bringing care into the community, into family's homes, making it more accessible to obtain high-quality healthcare as soon as it's needed," said Danielle Russella, president, client solutions, American Well. "With the launch of CareConnect, Nemours and American Well are together providing a more family-centered patient experience."

Nemours already offers different telehealth services at multiple collaborating hospitals in Florida - Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center in Haines City, Indian River Medical Center in Vero Beach, Parish Medical Center in Titusville and Wuesthoff Regional Medical Center in Rockledge. That service includes a technological link that allows Nemours specialists to remotely assess a pediatric patient at the four locations through an iPad. Care teams are able to better determine the safest and most necessary care for the child and family.

When speaking with Dr. Vyas he discussed an article he had read that Bernie Tyson, CEO of Kaiser Permanente had written. Tyson talked about healthcare systems needing to meet the patients where they are. Dr. Vyas believes that is the future of medicine, worldwide video healthcare delivery through technology and Nemours is in a perfect position to make that happen.

Nemours has grown significantly in Central Florida. The health system now owns and operates 12 Nemours Children’s Primary Care locations, six Nemours Children’s Urgent Care centers and three Nemours Children’s Specialty Care locations in the region.

Dr. Vyas pointed out that everything with Nemours is a team effort, within the Nemours hospital system but also with the surrounding communities they serve. If they feel a patient needs more attention than they can give through consultation they refer the child to their family pediatrician. They gather inspiration from other healthcare leaders and strive to find innovative ways to serve their patients and offer patients superior care in their home environment.

Nemours Care Connect is going live next year in the Delaware Valley and by the second quarter will serve five states, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida.

Nemours is interested in partnering with other organizations and companies to deliver CareConnect. Next year CareConnect will be available to all Nemours employees. They would also like to establish partnerships for CareConnect with self insured companies and other hospitals in Florida.

About Nemours

(Rebecca Greenfield/Fortune)

Nemours (NAH-mors) is an internationally recognized children’s health system that owns and operates the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware and the Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando, Florida along with major pediatric specialty clinics in Delaware, Florida, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Established as The Nemours Foundation through the legacy and philanthropy of Alfred I. du Pont, Nemours offers pediatric clinical care, research, education, advocacy and prevention programs to all families in the communities it serves. For more information, visit www.Nemours.org

About American Well American Well is the most trusted telehealth services provider, having delivered healthcare into people’s homes and workplaces for close to a decade. The company serves the nation’s top health systems and health plans, more than 600 major employers and more than 25 million covered Americans. American Well’s consumer service, Amwell, connects people with board-certified doctors, dieticians, and psychotherapists for video visits via smartphone, tablet, kiosk, phone, or desktop. For more information, please visit www.americanwell.com.