Telehealth is easy — here’s how it works at Kaiser Permanente
How it works
You can schedule an appointment in advance or get fast, personalized support 24/7. Before you connect, make sure you’re set up for your video visit by choosing how you’d like to talk with a doctor or nurse. Either a mobile device or computer is fine. Just be sure it has a front-facing camera.
When it’s time for your appointment, you’ll “check in” virtually on kp.org — or by clicking the link we send you by email or text — to let the doctor or nurse know you’re ready. After they connect, you’ll see them on the video screen and you can use your camera to show them specific symptoms or health issues. The doctor or nurse can both see and hear your health needs, and can diagnose, treat, and prescribe medication — just like during an in-person visit.
How it works
You can schedule an appointment in advance or get fast, personalized support 24/7.
A Kaiser Permanente doctor or nurse will call you to start your visit. From there, it’s just like an in-person visit — without the exam room. The doctor or nurse will diagnose and treat your health concerns, work with you to create a personalized care plan, and prescribe medication as needed.
How it works
Unlike a typical in-person visit, e-visits are done online without an appointment, so you can start one at any time. After you sign in to kp.org on your mobile device or computer, it’s as easy as telling us what’s wrong (for example, cold and flu, anxiety, or pink eye) and answering some questions about your symptoms.
When you finish, a few things can happen depending on your answers. For minor conditions, we’ll immediately send you some online resources and articles to help you care for your condition on your own, which can help you save time and money. If your condition is more serious — or you need more personalized care — a Kaiser Permanente doctor or nurse will email you usually within a few hours to provide a treatment plan, prescriptions, or appointment recommendations to help make sure you get the care you need.
How it works
If you have health questions or can’t reach your doctor immediately, you can get advice within minutes — at no cost. Call our licensed medical professionals anytime to:
- Get advice for a common cold
- Find your nearest urgent care location
- Learn what kind of doctor you need to see
- Get help choosing the best way to get care for your needs
How it works
When you sign in to kp.org or the Kaiser Permanente app, you can use our secure message center to send nonurgent health messages to your care team — including doctors, nurses, and specialists you’ve seen in the past — at no extra cost. You can also email questions about your coverage to Member Services.
When your care team gets back to you (usually within 2 business days), we’ll send an email to your personal address saying there’s a message waiting for you on kp.org. Remember, all your conversations become part of your electronic health record, so it’s easy for you and your doctors to keep track of past conversations and make informed decisions about your care.
Tips for emailing your doctor or care team
To help your care team quickly meet your needs, try to include as much information as possible in your message. This will help avoid back-and-forth messages.
Example of a good email message