If you have never seen a health care provider by video, it is natural to wonder how it works. Can someone really help you without being in the same room? For many everyday concerns, the answer is yes. A telehealth visit is a real appointment with your provider, held over a video connection from your home or another private place. Here is what to expect, how to prepare, and where telehealth has limits.
How a Telehealth Visit Works
A telehealth visit starts the same way an office visit does: with a conversation. Your provider will ask what brought you in, how long it has been going on, what you have tried, and how it is affecting your life. Your medications, allergies and health history are reviewed too. Then, depending on the concern, your provider may ask you to show something on camera, guide you through simple self-checks, or ask for readings from devices you have at home.
At the end, you talk through a plan together. That might include a prescription sent to your pharmacy, lab work ordered to a lab near you, a referral, home care advice, or a follow-up visit.
Before Your Visit
A little setup goes a long way. A few practical steps:
- Use a phone, tablet or computer with a camera, and keep it charged or plugged in.
- Find a quiet, private spot with good lighting, ideally facing a window or lamp rather than sitting with the light behind you.
- Test your internet connection, camera and microphone ahead of time.
- Log in a few minutes early so small technical hiccups do not eat into your visit.
- Keep your medication list, pharmacy information and insurance card close by.
- Be located in Utah at the time of your visit, since licensing rules depend on where the patient is during the visit.
What to Have Ready
Your provider cannot touch or measure you through a screen, so information you gather ahead of time becomes especially useful. If you have them, keep these nearby:
- A thermometer, and your most recent temperature if you are sick
- A home blood pressure cuff and a few recent readings
- A bathroom scale, if weight is part of the conversation
- Clear photos of a rash, wound or other visible concern, taken in good light
- A short written list of your symptoms, your questions and when things started
For a child's visit, have your child with you, along with their recent temperature, how much they are eating and drinking, and how many wet diapers or bathroom trips they have had.
What Telehealth Handles Well
Many primary care needs fit naturally into a video visit, including:
- Follow-up visits for ongoing conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid disease or asthma
- Reviewing lab results and adjusting a care plan
- Medication reviews and refills
- Many common illnesses and concerns, such as colds, seasonal allergies and minor skin problems
- Conversations about mood, stress, anxiety, depression and sleep
- Women's health conversations, such as birth control, period concerns and menopause symptoms
- Questions from parents about a child's feeding, sleep, behavior or development
When You Need to Be Seen in Person
Telehealth is a good fit for a lot of care, but not all of it. Some things require hands, equipment or a sample collected in person. Examples include:
- Hands-on exams, such as listening to the lungs, pressing on the belly or looking inside the ears
- Pap tests and pelvic exams
- Vaccines
- Rapid strep tests and other swabs
- Newborn weight checks
Labs and imaging, such as blood work, urine tests and X-rays, are ordered to a local lab or imaging center, and the results come back to your provider to review with you. Sagebrooke Family Medicine is starting as a telehealth practice. When you need a hands-on exam or another in-person service, we will help you arrange it.
When something needs an in-person look, your provider will tell you plainly and help you take the next step.
Telehealth Is Not for Emergencies
A video visit is not the right place for a medical emergency. If you have chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of a stroke such as sudden weakness or trouble speaking, severe bleeding, or thoughts of harming yourself, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. For thoughts of suicide, you can also call or text 988.
What About Insurance?
Sagebrooke Family Medicine is an insurance-based practice, so visits are billed to your health plan, with whatever copay, deductible or coinsurance your plan sets. Telehealth coverage varies from plan to plan. Insurance plans are still being added, so visit our insurance page or contact the practice to check your coverage.
Common Questions
Can my provider prescribe medication after a video visit? Often, yes. Many medications can be prescribed after a telehealth visit and sent to your pharmacy. Some medications have extra rules, and some situations need an in-person evaluation first.
Can a family member join? Yes, if you would like them there. A family member or caregiver can sit with you or help with the technology. Just let your provider know who is in the room.
What if my provider decides I need to be seen in person? That happens, and it is a normal part of good care. Your provider will explain why and help you plan the next step.
Getting Started
If you are located in Utah and want primary care that fits around your life, learn more about telehealth at Sagebrooke Family Medicine or see what to expect as a new patient.