OSF OnCall provides home monitoring for young children with viral respiratory diseases

Baby’s nostrils are cleared

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has launched a national campaign to inform the public about common respiratory viruses and available vaccines. The campaign, Risk less. Achieve more., aims to raise awareness of vaccines that reduce severe illness from influenza (flu), COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in high-risk populations and to limit the spread of these viruses among all Americans.

With the beginning of the respiratory virus season OSF OnCall also reminds parents that it offers a monitoring and support program for babies and young children under 5 years of age who suffer from an infection with a respiratory virus. These include: flu, rhinovirus, croup, pneumonia and others, including RSV, the most common reason for hospitalization of children under one year of age in the United States. It can lead to other infections, including bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lungs) and pneumonia (pneumonia), especially in babies.

OSF HealthCare’s digital health arm will support patients with a pediatric respiratory virus and caregivers from the comfort of their own home. Enrollment provides a connection to OSF OnCall care teams available 24/7 and monitoring tools that enable a proactive response to worsening respiratory virus symptoms and keep infants and young children out of hospitalization.

Mary Stapel, MD, chief medical officer for community care at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center, says RSV and other respiratory infections can often be treated at home.

“For the more common cold symptoms, we can recommend conservative home treatments like saline nasal irrigation and some suction, a cool mist humidifier, you know, just frequent, small meals to optimize the child’s hydration.”

According to Rose Smith, RN, Clinical Digital Care Supervisor, OSF OnCall was able to implement its 24/7, digital RSV home support program so quickly two years ago because of its experience with similar monitoring to support patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart failure. Smith says parents and caregivers are excited.

How it works

“They love having support anytime they want it – text, phone call, whatever. They can send us pictures. We’ve really implemented this in a way that makes parents feel comfortable bringing their children home from a clinic or hospital during this difficult time.”

An OSF OnCall software application provides training and notifications to report relevant signs/symptoms over a 10-day period. Smith says that upon enrollment, parents or guardians will receive a care kit for use at home from their provider after a visit, or a digital community health worker can deliver one.

“So we have a pulse oximeter to monitor oxygen levels and heart rate, and then we have a thermometer, and we also provide saline spray and a bulb syringe. Many parents use them in the hospital after their babies are born, but they may not know that they can use them to relieve secretions, especially before feeding their children.”

Smith adds that it’s also important to clean the nose before a nap or bedtime. Parents also receive written step-by-step instructions as well as a video demonstration on how to use the products included in the kit.

The OSF OnCall RPM Respiratory Illness Program is available to anyone in Illinois or Michigan. To qualify, patients must have a positive test or diagnosis of a respiratory infection. Referrals can be made from providers in a hospital emergency department, OSF OnCall Urgent Care, OSF PromptCare, physician offices, or upon hospital discharge.

Smith says parents whose child is in the program can request a video visit at any time. The OSF OnCall nurse will also recommend a video visit if needed.

“If they think their child doesn’t look good, we just have a second set of eyes. The doctors will look at that (to see if they need more intensive care). Sometimes our nurses can say to parents, ‘We think they need to be evaluated. Can we do a video visit right before you go out with your child, especially now that it’s colder outside?’ You know, we don’t want them to go outside if they’re having trouble breathing, but we really just focus on what works best to still get them the care they need.”

Last year, from September to April, a total of 1,074 babies and toddlers were enrolled in the pediatric respiratory virus remote surveillance program.

There is concern at OSF HealthCare and across the country that returning to school and moving more activities indoors this fall could accelerate the transmission of RSV, flu, COVID-19 and other viral illnesses. Dr. Stapel advises making sure you and everyone around you practice good hand hygiene, coughing into your elbow and staying away from parties and other engagements when you are sick.

If you suspect your child has symptoms of RSV, flu, or another respiratory virus that not appear life-threatening, you can contact your pediatrician, family doctor or OSF OnCall emergency care which also offers the possibility of a virtual visit at any time.