How to Prepare for Your First Telemedicine Appointment
The basics
Telemedicine refers to using digital technologies to visit with a healthcare provider, instead of seeing them in person. It’s a form of telehealth, which is the use of electronic communications and technologies to provide healthcare, health information, and education services.
Telemedicine allows you to see a provider through a website, an app, text, email, or video chat. Your visit will be very similar to a regular appointment: You’ll meet with the provider, discuss your symptoms, receive a diagnosis (if necessary), and discuss any follow-up steps.
This page will walk you through the steps to prepare for your first telemedicine appointment.
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Table of contents
Understanding the limits of telehealth treatment
Before scheduling an appointment, make sure your condition is appropriate for telemedicine. Common conditions treated through telemedicine include:
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Even though the number of conditions treated by telemedicine is constantly expanding, you’ll still sometimes want to see a provider in person. For example, if you need stitches, a cast, or a preventive procedure like a colonoscopy or mammogram, you’ll have to schedule an in-office appointment.
Telemedicine should also not be used for emergency situations, such as:
Heavy bleeding
High fevers
Seizures
Severe nausea or vomiting
Suicidal thoughts
Sudden chest pain or difficulty breathing
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.
Determining whether your insurance will cover telehealth appointments
Most private plans will cover telemedicine visits, though you may be responsible for a small portion of the fee. Talk to your insurance company to find out what your coverage includes and whether you need prior approval for telehealth services before making an appointment.
Earlier this year, Medicare and Medicaid expanded telehealth and telemedicine coverage. Medicare will pay for office, hospital, and other visits with a wide range of providers, such as doctors, nurse practitioners, and licensed social workers. Medicaid coverage varies by state.
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Bear in mind, though, that you don’t need insurance to see a telemedicine provider — and not all providers take insurance. Many app-based services will accept credit or debit cards. Some may charge per visit, while others may charge weekly or monthly.
Choosing your telehealth service provider
There are two ways to see a provider using telehealth. You can schedule a virtual visit with your provider or a specialist, or use an app-based service like GoodRx Care.
If you don’t have a primary care provider, you can use your insurance company’s website to search for one. Some insurance companies may have their own telemedicine services, or can connect you with a provider who offers telemedicine and is in your network.
If you’d like to use an app, you have several options. You can use the GoodRx Telehealth Marketplace to view providers in your area and compare prices. Providers may vary by state.
Booking a telehealth appointment
If you’re seeing your regular provider or a specialist, you can call the office or schedule an appointment online through the provider’s website or patient portal.
If you’re using an app, you’ll need to download it (though some apps, such as GoodRx Care, allow you to use their service through their website). Create an account and select the service you need, then fill out the required forms and upload any requested information, such as your insurance carrier and photo ID. The app will let you know when a provider is available (in many cases, it will be the same day).
Setting up telehealth technology
Once you’ve booked the appointment, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got the right technology. A telemedicine appointment can take place through a video conference, a phone call, text, or email.
If you are seeing your regular provider or a specialist, find out whether they use a digital platform, such as their website or Zoom, or if you will speak over the phone.
If you will be using a platform, find out if the platform works best on a particular browser. Some of the more common conference software programs are Zoom, Skype, and FaceTime. These work on your smartphone and laptop. Also, ask the provider what you should do if you have any technical problems during the call.
If you need to download software beforehand, give yourself plenty of time to set it up and test it. You may also need to create an account on the provider’s website or app.
Gathering your information
There are several pieces of information you’ll want to have handy before your appointment. You’ll also want to be prepared for any questions the provider might have, and know what you want to ask them.
Collect the essentials. These items include a list of your allergies and chronic conditions; your insurance information; a list of your current medications; and the name, address, and phone number of your pharmacy and your primary care provider, if you’re seeing someone else. Some providers, like GoodRx Care, require a government ID and a photo.
Document your symptoms. Write down as much detail as you can about your symptoms: what they are, when they started, how long you’ve had them, if they’ve gotten worse, and what you’ve used to treat them.
Write down questions you want to ask. Make a list of what you want to ask the provider about your symptoms or whatever else you’re seeing them about. That way, you can make the most of your time and won’t have to worry about forgetting something.
Take your vitals. Some providers may ask you to take your temperature or your weight before the appointment — just like they’d do at an in-person visit. If you don’t have the ability to do this, it’s OK. In some cases, like a skin problem, they might want you to take pictures of the affected area.
Once you’ve got everything assembled, make sure you’re in a quiet place with reliable Wi-Fi, good lighting, and no distractions. Your device should be charged up and ready to go. If you’re using a phone, make sure you have reliable service.
It’s also a good idea to have a pen and paper nearby to take notes during the appointment.
Navigating the appointment
A telemedicine visit might work differently depending on who you’re seeing.
For example, if you’ve got an appointment with a provider’s office, it’ll probably seem like an in-person visit. You’ll log on (perhaps you’ll even be placed in a virtual waiting room), and the provider will ask you questions about your symptoms. Then, they’ll make a diagnosis, prescribe a medication, or refer you for further treatment.
With services like GoodRx Care, you’ll answer a series of multiple choice questions about your symptoms. Your responses are sent to a provider, who’ll then chat with you over a secure messaging system. From that point, the visit will basically work the same way as one with a doctor’s office.
Discussing follow-up care
Your provider may email you details of the visit after you’re done, or send them through their website or app if you have an account there. If you need a new prescription or a refill, they can send it to your pharmacy. If you need lab work, they’ll either refer you to a local lab or send you a home test kit.
Your provider may recommend that you see someone in person. If your symptoms are severe, they may ask you to go to urgent care or the emergency room for immediate treatment.
Keep in mind
A few parting tips about telemedicine appointments:
Get a primary care provider. While a telemedicine visit can be extremely helpful in a pinch, it’s still better to find a primary care provider in the long run. They can get to know you and your health history, which will lead to better, more personalized care. You’ll also have someone you trust that you can call when you get sick, instead of scrambling to look up the nearest urgent care center.
If you have a provider, let them know about your visit. If you already have a primary care provider but see someone else for your telemedicine visit, be sure to follow up with them after the visit. Let them know what you were seen for and if you received any medications or referrals.
Be open-minded. Just as if you were seeing a provider in person, don’t be surprised if the person you speak to recommends a different treatment than you expected. Sometimes, people think that all they need is a simple prescription refill or a particular test. But the provider may suggest something different after talking to you.
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