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Virtual Urgent Care

Virtual Urgent Care

Reviewed by Jeffrey A. Seiden, MD

Reviewed on

Expanded access to timely, convenient pediatric care

If your child needs care and you can’t get a same-day appointment — or you don’t want to sit in an Urgent Care waiting room with other sick or injured kids — we now offer Virtual Urgent Care for kids in Pennsylvania who’ve been seen previously at any CHOP Primary or Specialty Care location. It’s part of a new pilot program that lets children who meet specific criteria get expert care from home. It’s especially helpful on busy evenings

What to expect from a Virtual Urgent Care visit  

If your child is sick, you can schedule directly through your existing MyCHOP account (under "schedule visit") to see if a virtual appointment is available.

At the scheduled time, you and your child will join a virtual video visit with a CHOP Urgent Care provider. The provider will discuss your child's health concerns, offer medical advice, and recommend any next steps, including follow-up care if needed. If medication is needed, the provider can prescribe it during the visit. If lab work or imaging is needed and can’t wait until the next day, your child may be referred to the nearest CHOP Urgent Care location or the Emergency Department for evaluation.

A summary of the visit can be sent to your primary care provider (PCP).

Who can use this service?

This service is currently only offered to Pennsylvania CHOP families. Appointments are available Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays from 4 to 8 p.m. In the coming months, we plan to expand this service to more patients and extend its operating hours.  

What makes a patient eligible for a virtual urgent care appointment?

A child may be eligible for a Virtual Urgent Care visit if they meet the following criteria:

  • The medical issue is not life-threatening.
  • The condition does not require urgent in-person testing or imaging.
  • The concern is not related to behavioral or mental health.
  • The child would otherwise need to be seen in-person that day or the next day.
  • The condition doesn’t require an in-person physical exam.

How is the appointment billed?    

A Virtual Urgent Care visit is billed the same as an Urgent Care visit. If it is determined during the virtual visit that in-person care is needed on the same day and you opt to go to a CHOP Urgent Care facility, you will not be charged a second co-pay. For more information about your specific co-pays, please contact your insurance company.  

Primary Care visit - young girl with doctor

Right care, right place

Your primary care provider is always the first line of care for your child, but when they're not available, the CHOP Care Network provides several ways to get medical care for your child when your pediatrician’s office is closed. These tips can help you decide the best place to get care when your child is sick or injured.

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