You’re soon going to be making your first telemedicine visit. Whether you’re meeting your
physician for the first time on a virtual session, or returning for a follow-up visit to a condition
that was diagnosed on an earlier virtual visit, it’s important to remember that there are some
particulars about telemedicine services visit that aren’t the same as in-person care.
Here are some tips to get ready for your first telemedicine visit:
1. Make sure your computer is fully charged and has enough memory to run the software.
2. Make sure your internet connection is strong and stable before starting the session.
3. Make sure you have a webcam, microphone, and other accessories if needed (e.g.headphones).
4. Make sure you have all of the necessary paperwork ready for your doctor. You’ll want to bring along any medical history forms, test results, or other relevant documents that you’ve been given by your doctor.
5. Dress comfortably! You’ll be seated in front of a computer screen, so no need to wear
anything too fancy or too tight. Just make sure that it’s appropriate for someone from another country (or state!) to see you in.
6. Get comfortable! You’ll be spending about an hour with our doctor, so make sure you’re in a position where you can sit or lie down comfortably for the duration of the appointment (unless otherwise specified by our medical staff). You may want to have some snacks or drinks available if needed—sometimes people get hungry during their appointments!
7. Be ready to answer questions about your medical history and medications ahead of time. It is important that we know everything about your condition so we can treat it effectively during our session together.
8. Remember that everything is confidential! We will not share any information without your
permission unless it’s absolutely necessary for treatment purposes (in which case we will ask).
Bottomline
Telemedicine can be a wonderful, life-changing addition to the medical world. But it can be
difficult to anticipate your first appointment: what will it be like? Will you feel comfortable with the doctor?
Author bio– Dr. Lorie Poston is a nurse practitioner with over a decade of experience in medicine. She is a dual board certified as a Family and an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care nurse practitioner and now operates Telehealth Care Florida
