Children’s Community Pediatrics Now Offers 24/7 Access to Care for Common Illnesses through On-line Video Appointments

PITTSBURGH, PA - November 25, 2013 - Families in Pennsylvania now can access Children's Community Pediatrics (CCP) board-certified pediatricians for many common illnesses day or night through a virtual visit using a computer with a webcam.

These new pediatric virtual visits, part of UPMC AnywhereCare, are just one part of an expanded MyUPMC.com online patient portal providing access to UPMC's world-class care to anyone located in Pennsylvania. Through UPMC AnywhereCare, children ages 3 and older can be evaluated and receive treatment for many common symptoms and diagnoses from CCP pediatricians through a video connection 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

MyUPMC.com builds on UPMC's existing patient portal known as UPMC HealthTrak. Parents seeking a Children's AnywhereCare visit for their child will need to have a "proxy" relationship established prior to seeking online care. The proxy provides parents with access to view their child's health information online and access online care. Parents who do not have a UPMC HealthTrak account or established proxy can sign up online at https://myupmc.upmc.com or speak with their CCP provider.

After requesting a virtual visit through the portal, a scheduler will call within 15 minutes and schedule a video appointment with a board-certified CCP pediatrician, typically within one hour. Conditions that currently are being evaluated and treated are cold, cough and conjunctivitis (pink eye). The cost of a UPMC AnywhereCare visit is a flat fee of $38. Patients who have UPMC Health Plan coverage may pay a lower co-pay amount for their child's virtual visit.

"These conditions might not rise to the level of a trip to the emergency department, or even to the physician's office, but can be challenging for families to deal with because it can cause kids to miss time from daycare or school and parents to miss time from work for appointments," said Kathy Guatteri, president, CCP. "UPMC AnywhereCare allows them to have their children evaluated by a board-certified CCP pediatrician with quick, convenient access to treatment. It also can provide continuity of care with a child's CCP pediatrician, since the virtual visit automatically becomes part of the child's electronic record at UPMC."

For more information or to schedule a UPMC AnywhereCare virtual appointment, please visit https://myupmc.upmc.com/.

#  #  #

About CCP
Children's Community Pediatrics (CCP) is the largest pediatric and adolescent primary care network in western Pennsylvania. With more than 120 board-certified pediatricians in more than 30 pediatric locations across nine counties, we are committed to providing exceptional pediatric care. Through CCP, our patients also gain access to an array of specialty services, including Behavioral Health, Dermatology, Express Care, Sports Medicine, Weight Management, and more right within the convenience of our practices. For more information, visit www.childrenspeds.com.

Andrea Kunicky, 412-692-6254, andrea.kunicky@chp.edu  

Michelle Faderewski, 724-933-1100 x 235, michelle.faderewski@chp.edu.