Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health Launches Virtual Pediatric Urgent Care

Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health has launched new virtual urgent care services to complement existing urgent and emergency care services provided by OU Health pediatric experts. Virtual urgent care, available at oklahomachildrens.org/virtualcare, is a convenient way for children to receive quick care for common conditions, such as fever, cough, skin rashes and pink eye. These services are provided to new as well as current patients of the OU Health system.

Ryan Brown, M.D., pediatric emergency medicine specialist, said these new services are a valuable addition to existing urgent and emergency care services provided by Oklahoma Children’s Hospital.

“Part of our commitment to children’s health means being able to care for our patients and patient families when and where they need us,” said Brown. “As a parent, it is difficult to see your child in any kind of discomfort. These new options make it easier to see a provider and help kids get well faster.”   

Brown said that while the best care happens in an established relationship with a primary care pediatrician, urgent situations may demand immediate attention. Unique and distinctive to Oklahoma Children’s Hospital, virtual visits are conducted by the same local, highly skilled OU Health Physicians experts who take care of children in OU Health hospitals and clinics.

Parents can access care online in the way they prefer, including online questionnaires or video visits. No appointment is necessary. Most visits are complete in as little as 15 minutes but no more than an hour during regular business hours, and fees are $25 or less. However, insurance is not required. Acceptable forms of payment include credit card or health savings account. For online questionnaire visits, a video connection is not required; therefore, a strong bandwidth is not necessary. This allows OU Health to reach patients needing urgent care, no matter where they are in Oklahoma. Currently, providers are available virtually from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with 24/7 access to arrange a visit.  

“Our providers do their best to treat your child online, and if additional care is needed, they make recommendations for follow-up, in-person care or emergent care,” said Brown.

Oklahoma Children’s Hospital operates two after-hours, urgent care locations in the metro area, located at 12516 N. May Ave. in Oklahoma City and in Edmond at 2820 N. Kelly Ave., Suite 100. These clinics also offer most emergency services, and are staffed by board-certified or board-eligible OU Health Physicians pediatricians. Call (405) 751-5437 to reach either clinic. Clinics are open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the weekends.

In addition to these urgent care locations, Oklahoma Children’s Hospital has Oklahoma City’s only dedicated 24/7 pediatric emergency department. A Child Life specialist is part of its staff, in addition to the full range of customary emergency services and providers who specialize in pediatric trauma care.

“As the state’s foremost resource for care devoted to children, Oklahoma Children’s Hospital seeks to be truly comprehensive, said Brown. “Parents can rely on the most trusted pediatric specialists in the state to provide top-notch care for their children.”

Visit oklahomachildrens.org/urgentcare to learn more about all urgent and emergency care options offered at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health.