CHLA’s Virtual Urgent Care connects families with pediatric specialists from California’s #1 children’s hospital without the drive

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) has launched Virtual Urgent Care, a convenient care option for families whose children require treatment after-hours for non-emergency illnesses or injuries. Available to children and young adults up to age 21 located in the state of California, Virtual Urgent Care allows patients and families to communicate online with a CHLA provider in a video meeting from a computer, tablet or phone.

“Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is constantly working to implement practical, innovative solutions to enhance the patient family experience and improve access to care,” says Omkar Kulkarni, MPH, Chief Transformation and Digital Officer at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. “Thanks to CHLA’s new Virtual Urgent Care service, families from all over California can receive world-class care from physicians at the top ranked pediatric hospital on the West Coast from the comfort of their own home.”

Non-emergency illnesses or injuries that can be treated at CHLA’s Virtual Urgent Care include:

  • Fever (without any alarming symptoms or complications)
  • Upper respiratory infections (cough, sore throat, runny nose, congestion and flulike symptoms)
  • Vomiting and/or diarrhea
  • Skin rashes
  • Constipation
  • Eye problems (styes, pinkeye, irritation, etc.)
  • Allergies
  • Minor injuries (bumps, bruises, cuts, scrapes, etc.)
  • Ingrown toenails
  • Insect stings and bites

Virtual Urgent Care offers families the same level of care online as they do in person, including translation services if needed. At the virtual visit, the medical team will provide discharge instructions, send prescriptions to the family’s pharmacy, and, if necessary, let families know how and where to get physical exams, lab tests or imaging done.

CHLA’s Virtual Urgent Care services are available via appointment only Monday through Friday from 5 p.m. to midnight, and Saturday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. New and existing CHLA patients are both welcome, and most major insurance plans are accepted. To verify coverage and make an appointment, call 833-245-2432 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to midnight, and Saturday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Not sure when you should take your child to the emergency room, urgent care or call the doctor? Check out the CHLA blog.

CHLA’s Virtual Urgent Care services are made possible thanks to the continued support of the Rauch Family Foundation and its generous philanthropic grant, which funds CHLA’s Virtual Care at School program.

About Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

Founded in 1901, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is at the forefront of pediatric medicine and is the largest provider of hospital care for children in California. Children’s Hospital is home to renowned experts who work together across disciplines to deliver inclusive and compassionate care, and drive advances that set pediatric standards across the nation and around the globe. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles delivers a level of care that is among the best in the world for a truly diverse population of children. The hospital is consistently ranked in the top 10 in the nation on U.S. News & World Report’s Honor Roll of Best Children’s Hospitals, including No. 1 in California and No. 1 in the Pacific U.S. region. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles embraces the hospital’s mission to create hope and build healthier futures. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is among the top 10 children’s hospitals for National Institutes of Health funding. The Saban Research Institute of Children's Hospital Los Angeles supports the full continuum of research, allowing physicians and scientists to translate discoveries into treatments and bring answers to families faster. The pediatric academic medical center also is home to one of the largest training programs for pediatricians in the United States. And the hospital’s commitment to building strong communities is evident in CHLA’s efforts to fight food insecurity, enhance health education and literacy, and introduce more people to careers in health care. To learn more, follow CHLA on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and X, formerly known as Twitter, and visit CHLA.org/blog.

Lauren Song lasong@chla.usc.edu