Rheumatology Program | Your Visit

Before your visit

Please complete the following before your visit:

• Register for the MyChildren's Patient Portal if you have not already.
• Complete the pre-visit questionnaires, which will be emailed to you five days before your visit. If your visit is scheduled within five days, you will receive the email upon scheduling.
• If you are a new patient, contact your primary care provider or referring physician to request that any relevant labs and clinic notes be faxed to 617-730-0249.
• Check with your primary care provider to determine if an insurance referral is required. If needed, have it faxed to 617-730-0062.

What to bring to your visit

Please bring:

• The name and complete address of your child’s primary care physician
• Referral or authorization numbers, along with valid dates
• Medical records such as growth charts, immunization records, X-rays, blood tests, skin test results, and medication lists, if not already faxed by your pediatrician
• Any forms required by your child’s daycare or school
• Please have your child wear loose fitting clothes to accommodate a joint exam

Checking in

When you arrive at the hospital, you can complete eCheck-in at a kiosk, unless you have already done so through the portal. At the kiosk, you will be able to update demographic and insurance information, complete questionnaires, and pay your copay or any existing balance on the account. Once eCheck-in is complete, proceed to the front desk to finalize your check-in.

During your visit

A typical consultation in the Rheumatology Program takes about one to two hours for new patients and 30 to 60 minutes for returning patients.

After your visit

Before leaving, ensure that:

• Prescriptions have been refilled
• School or work excuse notes are requested, if needed
• Additional testing or follow-up appointments are scheduled

You can access the Patient Portal to view clinical notes, lab results, contact your provider, and schedule follow-up visits. If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to ask one of our staff members.

Boston Children's Hospital offers virtual visits, connecting patients with clinicians through a secure, live-interactive video system. This service provides high-quality care from the comfort of home or another convenient location, using a mobile device or computer.

Active MyChildren's users will launch their virtual visits through the portal. Non-portal users will receive an email with a direct link to start the visit.

Before your virtual visit

To prepare for your virtual visit:

• Review the Virtual Visit Patient User Guide
• Register for the MyChildren's Patient Portal if you have not already.
• Complete the pre-visit questionnaires, which will be emailed five days before your appointment. If your appointment is scheduled within five days, you will receive the email upon scheduling.
• If you are a new patient, ask your primary care provider or referring physician to fax labs and clinic notes to 617-730-0249.
• Confirm with your primary care provider if an insurance referral is needed, and have it faxed to 617-730-0062.

During the virtual visit

• Log in and join the visit five minutes before the scheduled time.
• Ensure your child is present, wearing a short-sleeved shirt and shorts for a joint exam.
• Use a smartphone, tablet, or laptop for flexibility in camera positioning. If only a desktop is available, it will still work.
• Use Wi-Fi for better connectivity but switch to data if needed.
• For technical support, call the virtual visit support line at 617-919-4390.