HUS offers remote video consultation for children too

The Helsinki-Uusimaa Hospital District (HUS) will introduce remote video consultation for children from Friday, said HUS in a press release on Wednesday.

The Medical Helpline in Uusimaa will offer remote appointments for children’s illnesses.

A doctor can hold a remote video consultation with the child and parent. The service expansion is supported by evidence of high client satisfaction and excellent treatment outcomes in remote appointments.

Starting April 19, 2024, remote appointments can be offered for child patients seeking urgent medical attention by calling the Medical Helpline at the number 116117. The number is free of charge.

Calls are taken by a nurse who assesses the child’s treatment needs and gives recommendations on how to proceed.

If a remote appointment is suitable considering the symptoms, overall situation, and wishes of the child and guardian, a video appointment with a doctor will be held in Maisa, the online portal for health care customers.

Patients in need of emergency care are primarily treated at a health center. If the local health center is closed and the patients cannot wait until it is open again, Medical Helpline can help them at the number.

The remote appointment option has been available for adults from October 2021, and now the service will be expanded to include children whose medical issue does not require a physical visit to an emergency department.

“According to a study, 96% of adult patients have received the help they needed from the service, and 97% felt that the doctor’s consultation was easy and convenient. We have a very high customer satisfaction level and we've guaranteed patient safety by guiding certain patients to the physical emergency department based on symptom criteria,” said Specialist Arja Kobylin who is responsible for the development of remote appointment services.

Remote video appointments are available on Fridays from 4:00 pm to 10:00 p.m., on Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and on midweek holidays.

The service is provided by Uusimaa Medical Helpline, maintained by HUS, to which calls are routed from the Uusimaa region, excluding Helsinki.

The remote appointments are not available in Helsinki. If people are calling the Medical Helpline from an area that is close to the Uusimaa border.

Remote appointments may be offered to patients over the age of 1.