Your Guide to Telehealth and Virtual Doctor Visits

Telehealth is a service that lets you connect with healthcare professionals online. Patients and doctors can meet virtually from different locations—even different cities. Many of these virtual doctor visits can replace standard in-office appointments, offering greater convenience and efficiency.

Research shows that virtual care improves health outcomes for chronic conditions like migraine and diabetes. It can also make receiving care faster and less expensive.^1,2

Virtual care is especially helpful if you live in a rural area or need a rare medical specialist. During a public health emergency, it also helps reduce the spread of illness. However, not every medical concern can be handled online, so telehealth does have some limitations.

What is telehealth (virtual care)?

Telehealth includes any health service delivered through digital technology. It lets patients connect with doctors, nurses, physical therapists, speech therapists, or mental health specialists through video calls, text messaging, image sharing, and smartphone apps.

Virtual care generally falls into two main categories:^3,4

1. Services that diagnose, monitor, and treat health conditions
2. Services that focus on prevention, training, and health education

Understanding the difference between telehealth and telemedicine

While people often use these terms interchangeably, they have distinct definitions:

• Telehealth is a broad term covering all remote health services. This includes clinical appointments, health education, administrative meetings, and provider training.
• Telemedicine refers specifically to remote clinical care. This includes medical consultations, diagnosis, and treatment provided directly by a clinician during a virtual doctor visit.

How does telehealth work?

Hospitals, clinics, and private platforms offer virtual appointments.5 Either you or your doctor can suggest using telehealth.⁵

Care is typically delivered in four ways:⁶

• Live videoconference: Real-time video calls that let you talk face-to-face with a provider.
• Store-and-forward: You collect and send medical data (such as photos or test results) to your doctor. The doctor reviews it later and follows up by phone, email, or text. Dermatologists frequently use this method to evaluate skin conditions.
• Remote patient monitoring (RPM): At-home tracking devices send your health data directly to your care team. Doctors use RPM to manage chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, or asthma.
• Mobile health (mHealth): Health tracking and education delivered through smartphones, tablets, or smartwatches. One example is text messaging that encourages someone to quit or reduce smoking.

How to prepare for your virtual doctor visit

Preparing ahead of time ensures a smooth and productive appointment. Here is a quick checklist to get ready:

• Test your technology: Charge your device and check your internet connection. Download any required apps or log into the patient portal early to test your camera and microphone.
• Gather key information: Keep a list of your current medications, dosages, pharmacy details, and recent health metrics (such as blood pressure or temperature) nearby.
• Write down your questions: Note your main symptoms, when they started, and specific questions you want to ask your provider.
• Find a quiet space: Choose a private, well-lit room with minimal background noise so you can speak comfortably.
• Have pen and paper ready: Keep a notepad nearby so you can write down treatment instructions or follow-up steps.

What are the benefits of telehealth?

Virtual care offers several key advantages for both patients and healthcare providers:⁷

• Better health outcomes: Early diagnosis and treatment are possible even if you live far from a specialist. Studies show that ICU virtual visits lower mortality rates, and telemedicine improves recovery for stroke and heart failure patients.
• Increased access to care: Virtual care helps overcome provider shortages, long travel times, and mobility challenges. It benefits patients in rural and underserved urban areas. Many platforms offer 24/7 access, reducing emergency room strain during health crises.
• Lower healthcare costs: Remote patient monitoring reduces unnecessary emergency room visits, ambulance trips, and hospital transfers. It also lets doctors and pharmacists manage prescriptions efficiently from anywhere.

What are some limits of virtual health visits?

Although telehealth adoption has grown significantly, patients and providers still encounter a few challenges:⁸

• Outdated state laws and medical licensing regulations
• Concerns regarding patient privacy and digital data security
• Variations in insurance coverage and provider reimbursement rules
• Licensing restrictions for care that crosses state lines
• Technology costs and required training for healthcare staff and patients
• Physical limitations on physical exams and hands-on procedures
• Digital access barriers, including internet availability and technology literacy

Will my insurance pay for virtual care?

Coverage depends on your specific health plan. Medicare, Medicaid, Veterans Affairs, and most private insurers expanded telehealth coverage in recent years. Regulations and covered services continue to evolve. Virtual health visits that were not paid by insurance in the past may now be covered. Always check with your insurance provider to confirm coverage before scheduling your appointment.^6,9