Oh boy ... I have so been there.
My Camille, back when she was almost 4 months old
When Camille was around four months old, I was picking her up from daycare one afternoon, and I was chatting with her teacher about their day. Camille was in her teacher's arms, facing me. Next thing I know, BAM -- crazy projectile vomiting -- and the only thing I could think to do was reach my hands out and catch it. (It's a glamorous life.) I hurried to clean us both up and get her strapped safely in the carseat, and then I rushed home, trying to focus on the road but wanting to keep my eyes on her in the carseat the entire time.
We monitored her that evening, and she got sick twice more. I was really scared to put her down to sleep that night! Of course, my crazy mind was considering the worst case scenarios -- dehydration, choking on her vomit. I was on the phone a few times with the pediatrician's after-hours nurses, but I just felt like I was getting some contradictory information (and being a new mom, I just wanted an opinion from a DOCTOR -- yet my husband and I agreed that this particular situation didn't deserve an ER trip, where we'd expose our newborn to other scary germs).
Had I known that a simple "telehealth" company like Amwell existed, I would have hopped on the site in an instant. The opportunity to hand-select a physician, video conference with them, and give them the scoop would have definitely been my preferred method of dealing with her sickness.
Here's the gist of how it works:
Amwell is the nation’s largest telehealth company, connecting users with their choice of doctor for immediate, live online visits—day or night, on either mobile or desktop. Some general conditions their doctors encounter include: minor illnesses and injuries, general health and wellness concerns, prescription refills, and chronic condition management. They employ primary care and specialist physicians, as well as behavioral therapists and nutritionists, to meet patients’ needs. Amwell doctors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are dedicated to keeping you healthy -- and all from the comfort of your home.
I downloaded the free app on my iPad and I think that's one of the easiest ways to use it. When I first logged on, I answered a few registration questions and then was given the chance to choose a physician to work with. I loved that it was easy to see their experience and credentials, and from start to finish this just took a few minutes.
I selected to visit with Dr. DeHaas because I was looking for a family physician and I liked that her experience specifically mentioned working with babies.
Before the visit started, I made a list of questions to ask Dr. DeHaas, and I centered this visit on the weaning process and how to go about introducing the baby to cow's milk when she is a year old. I was curious if our baby was getting enough "real" food now (outside of milk), and I was looking for more ideas of finger foods.
You wait for a minute while the doctor reviews your notes (just like a normal visit, but without the uncomfortable paper gown) and then you get a little ping when the doctor is ready to see you. And by "see you," I mean see you via your webcam or mobile camera! This is just so easy.
Looking for a little more information before you try it out? They have a pretty funny YouTube video which gives a great outline of the service:
So that's my experience in a nutshell. The next time you need a quick medical opinion, or if you are feeling poorly and don't want to leave the couch, or if it's after-hours, or whatever the case may be -- I'd encourage you to give them a shot. I know we will be using them again.
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Disclaimer: Compensation was provided by American Well via MomTrends. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions of American Well or Momtrends.
