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Telehealth is health care through technology. It's also called virtual care or telemedicine. You use a phone, computer, or other device to get health care. This care often happens online through video calls, emails, text messages, or recorded videos. But you can also have a telehealth visit with a phone call.
Many health care providers do telehealth visits, including doctors, dietitians, counselors, and physical therapists. You can get care for things like colds, the flu, and skin rashes. You can also get care for chronic conditions, such as diabetes, asthma, and heart disease. And you can do well visits, child well visits, and visits during and after pregnancy.
Ask your health care provider about telehealth and how to set up a visit. Scheduling may be more flexible, so you can choose times that work best for you.
Also ask about a patient portal. It’s a website where you can safely send messages to your health care provider and view your health information, like medicines and lab results.
How can you get ready for a telehealth visit?
Here are some tips to help you prepare for a telehealth visit.
Ask about the cost. If you have health coverage, check with your health plan, Medicaid, or Medicare to find out if they cover telehealth visits.
Find out how your health care providerdoes video calls. Your provider may use an app like Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime. Or they may do video calls through a patient portal. If you can't get online, ask your provider if you can do a phone call instead.
Decide what device to use. You could do a video call with a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer.
Tell your health care providerif you need support for your visit. For example, some people need a screen reader, closed captioning, or a translator.
Ask someone to help during your visit, if needed. This could be a caregiver, friend, or family member. If someone is going to help you during the visit, tell your health care provider. You may need to give permission to share your health information.
If you can, choose a quiet and private place for your visit. Also choose a place with a good internet connection.
Think about the issues you want to discuss. You may want to write them down. Have paper and a pencil or pen handy if you want to take notes during the session.
Use headphones or earbuds. They can help you hear better and give you more privacy.
Try to log in a few minutes early. This can help you be on time for your visit.
What happens during a telehealth visit?
Telehealth visits are a lot like in-person health care visits. Your health care provider will ask you questions. You may get a prescription for medicine. Your provider may ask you to come into the office for a checkup.
If it’s hard for you to travel to an in-person visit, let your provider know. You may also get follow-up information by email or through your patient portal. This could include things like how to take your medicines, what lab tests you need, and when you have follow-up visits. Tell your provider if you need help getting online and logging into your patient portal.
If you're doing a video call, you may want to give your health care provider your phone number. If your internet stops working, you could finish your visit over the phone.
You may be able to use devices to send information to your health care provider over the internet. These include devices to check your oxygen level, heart rate, blood pressure, or blood sugar.
Current as of: February 25, 2024
Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Ignite Healthwise, LLC education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
