Preparing for Your Virtual Visit
What is a Telehealth Video Visit?
Telehealth technology connects patients with medical professionals in real-time online. Medical professionals can now evaluate, diagnose and treat patients using technology like video conferencing and smartphones - all without the need for an in-person visit.
During a telehealth video visit, your provider discusses your symptoms and develops a treatment plan. It is important to note that telehealth is used for non-emergency health situations, like a cold, fever, skin condition, or sinus infection. Telehealth is also used to conduct preventative care visits, such as annual wellness visits.
Please be aware that there are limitations to a telehealth visit – the provider cannot touch your body or listen to your heart or lungs. However, you will be able to adequately describe many symptoms and communicate with your provider to help them decide if you need to be seen in person.
Finally, you may want to know if your insurance will cover a telehealth visit. This depends on your insurance. While Medicare and Medicaid have expanded the coverage for telehealth visits, private insurers vary on this benefit.
Preparing for your Telehealth Visit
Before Your Visit
- Whether you're at home or away from home, protect your privacy by choosing a private, well-lit, and quiet place for your visit. Calls should not be taken while driving.
- A child must be present during pediatric appointments. Pediatric appointments are only available at the Holy Cross Health Center in Germantown.
- Get your documents ready. Make a list of:
- Chronic conditions
- Prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, and supplements you're currently taking
- Your pharmacy phone number and address
- The names of other doctors or specialists whom you’re currently seeing
- Insurance or credit card information
- If possible, measure and record your vital signs for approximately one hour in advance of your visit. These may include your height, weight, temperature, pulse, blood oxygen level, and blood pressure.
- If you are diabetic and check fingerstick blood sugars, have a list of your recent blood sugars available.
- If you have high blood pressure and check your blood pressure at home, have a list of your recent pressures available.
- If you are seeing your doctor because you don't feel well, make a list of your current symptoms, when they started, and how severe they are. For example:
- Earache
- Headache
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
- Difficulty breathing or pain in your chest
- Fatigue? If so, how severe and for how long?
- Stomach pain or diarrhea
- Have paper and a pen ready for taking notes during the call.
- Are others in your home ill? If so, for how long?
- Have you been tested for COVID-19? If so, what were the results?
Check Your Technology
- Are you going to use your phone, tablet, or computer for the visit?
- Is the device fully charged or plugged in?
- Do you have a reliable internet connection?
- Do you understand how the visit will be initiated?
During Your Telehealth Visit
- Close any open applications on your device.
- Avoid streaming (such as music or TV shows) or, if possible, using other WiFi dependent devices.
- Talk clearly and make sure that the provider can hear you. Make sure they can see you through your camera.
- Clearly present your symptoms.
- Answer the provider's questions as clearly as possible.
- Make notes of the provider's recommendations and ask questions if something is unclear.
Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar
For information on how to monitor your blood pressure and blood sugar, please visit these links:
How we respect your privacy:
- During your telehealth visit, you will not be asked to disrobe (get undressed) at any time. Due to privacy concerns, we are unable to provide examinations of sensitive areas that would require the removal of undergarments via a telehealth visit. If an examination of a sensitive area is required, we will:
- schedule you for an in-person visit with a provider to allow for a chaperone to be present
- provide a chaperone for your telehealth visit if examination of a sensitive nature is considered unavoidable. Only the area pertinent to the concern should be exposed.
We hope this checklist was helpful in preparing for your visit and we look forward to seeing you soon!