How Does Telehealth Work?

Understanding How Telehealth Works

Telehealth allows you to receive medical care remotely through channels like phone calls, video conferencing, and secure online patient portals. You can connect with a healthcare provider using your phone, tablet, or computer. This makes it easier to handle:

• Follow-ups
• Discuss minor symptoms
• Refill prescriptions
• Manage chronic conditions without an in-person visit

Here’s the kind of care you can get through telehealth:

• Reviewing test results or discussing treatment plans
• Managing chronic or recurring health issues
• Addressing common symptoms like colds, pain, or skin concerns
• Receiving mental health support or counseling

Common Types of Telemedicine in the Healthcare Industry

There are many types of telemedicine in the healthcare industry, each designed to fit different patient needs and clinical workflows. It could be a quick check-in, chronic disease monitoring, or even reviewing imaging results. 

Here are some of them in a few different forms:

• Interactive medicine (live video visits). You talk to your doctor in real-time through a video or phone call, just like a regular appointment, but from home.
• Remote patient monitoring. You use devices at home (like a blood pressure monitor or glucose meter) to track your health. That data is sent to your provider, who monitors your condition from afar.
• Store and forward. You upload health information, like photos or test results, for your provider to review later. There’s no live conversation, but it helps with diagnosis and care planning.

While technology enables these forms of care, the real backbone of effective telemedicine is consistent, secure communication before, during, and after virtual interactions. That’s where PatientCalls makes a difference. 

PatientCalls helps healthcare by handling HIPAA-compliant message routing, patient intake, and after-hours call triage. Want to see how it works? Get on a call with us.

How Does a Telehealth Visit Work?

A telehealth visit is like a regular doctor’s appointment, except it happens through a screen or over the phone. It’s designed to make healthcare more accessible, especially if you’re far from a clinic, don’t feel well enough to travel, or simply prefer the convenience of being at home. 

Here’s how the process usually goes, step by step:

1. Scheduling Your Appointment

You start by booking your appointment. Just like you would for an in-person visit. Most providers let you do this through their website, mobile app, or by calling their office. Some even offer same-day slots depending on availability.

2. Getting Set Up

Before the visit, make sure you have a working device with a camera and microphone; this could be your phone, tablet, or computer. 

You’ll also need a stable internet connection. Some providers may offer phone-only appointments if video isn’t possible, but video calls allow for better evaluation.

3. Entering the Virtual Waiting Room

You’ll log in to the telehealth platform at your scheduled time using a link or app. You may be placed in a virtual waiting room, a secure online space where you wait until the doctor is ready to join.

4. The Actual Visit

Once the provider joins, they’ll talk with you about your symptoms, any recent changes in your health, your medical history, and the medications you’re currently taking. They may ask you to use the camera to show visible issues, such as a rash, swelling, or injury.

5. Diagnosis and Next Steps

Based on your conversation, the doctor will assess your condition. They might give you a diagnosis, talk through treatment options, prescribe medications, or recommend tests or in-person visits if necessary. This part works much like an office visit, just done remotely.

6. Wrapping Up and Follow-Up

Finally, your provider will inform you about any follow-up steps. These might include scheduling another appointment, making a payment, picking up a prescription, or receiving a visit summary in your email or patient portal. 

You’ll usually have access to this summary to review the recommendations anytime.

Technology Requirements for Telehealth

Telehealth has become a go-to option for patients seeking care without the hassle of travel, long waits, or crowded clinics. However, for telehealth to work smoothly, patients and providers must have specific technology. 

While the technology requirements aren’t overly complicated, each plays a crucial role in ensuring a productive and secure virtual visit. Here’s what’s involved:

Reliable and High-Speed Internet Connection

A strong internet connection is the foundation of any telehealth visit. Without it, even the best software and equipment won’t function properly.

Sufficient bandwidth is essential for smooth video and audio transmission. A poor connection can lead to pixelated visuals, audio lag, or dropped calls. It interrupts the flow of the conversation and makes it difficult to deliver or receive accurate care.

Recommended setup

A minimum of 10 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload speed ensures that both video and sound remain stable. Wired Ethernet connections are more consistent than Wi-Fi, but strong wireless connections are typically sufficient for individual users.

Run a speed test before the call and avoid downloading large files or streaming videos during the session.

2. Device With Camera, Microphone, and Speakers

Most modern smartphones, tablets, and laptops are telehealth-ready. However, the device should be capable of producing clear video and audio.

• Camera. This is used for visual examinations. Providers may ask you to show specific areas of concern, like a skin condition or swelling. Good lighting helps, so sit near a window or use a lamp if needed.
  
• Microphone and speakers. Clear sound is critical. Mishearing medication instructions or symptoms can lead to misunderstandings. Built-in mics and speakers usually work well, but using headphones with a mic improves clarity if your environment is noisy.
  
• Note for older devices. Some older desktops don’t have built-in cameras or microphones. External webcams and USB microphones are affordable and widely available in such cases.
  

3. Secure, HIPAA-Compliant Video Platform

The video conferencing platform used in telehealth must protect your health information and comply with privacy laws.

Healthcare providers are legally required to safeguard Protected Health Information (PHI) or personal health information. Using regular versions of video apps (like Zoom or FaceTime) without a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) could violate HIPAA regulations.

PatientCalls, Curogram, and Zoom for Healthcare are designed for secure patient-provider communication. These platforms use encryption and secure data handling to keep your personal information confidential.

4. Call Management Technology

For telehealth to work well, providers need a healthcare system that helps manage care from start to finish. The right software should handle everything from appointment scheduling and clinical notes to consent forms and secure messaging, all while keeping patient data safe and HIPAA-compliant.

Handling incoming patient calls can be time-consuming, especially when staff are already stretched thin. This is where professional answering services like PatientCalls can make a big difference. These services route patient calls to trained agents who can:

• Answer questions about appointments or medical services
• Collect preliminary patient information
• Direct urgent calls to the appropriate team members
• Help manage high call volumes during peak hours
  

Our healthcare-focused answering team ensures patients always reach a real person, not a voicemail. This improves patient satisfaction, reduces staff workload, and ensures no medical information gets missed.

5. Remote Patient Monitoring Tools (When Applicable)

Some patients may use connected health devices to share vital signs and metrics with their providers for chronic disease management or post-treatment follow-ups.

Examples of tools:

• Digital blood pressure monitors
• Glucose monitors for blood sugar
• Pulse oximeters
• Smartwatches or wearable trackers
  

These tools allow providers to track changes in real time and make informed decisions without requiring the patient to travel. This is particularly helpful for elderly patients or those with mobility restrictions in rural areas.

6. Optional Recording Features

Some practices may offer to record telehealth visits for internal documentation, health insurance or patient review. If patients provide explicit consent, recordings can help with follow-ups, training, or legal documentation.

If sessions are recorded, they must be stored securely and handled by privacy and public health laws. Not all platforms support secure recording, so providers must choose carefully.

7. Basic Technical Support or Troubleshooting Help

Not everyone is comfortable with technology, and glitches happen. A proper health care system ensures that small issues don’t derail the virtual visit.

The provider’s office should offer:

• Handling health insurance company
• A step-by-step setup guide for patients
• A support number or live chat for tech issues
• Test sessions or practice log-ins for first-time users
  

Patients should prepare:

• Log in early to test the camera and audio
• Keep device chargers handy
• Use headphones to reduce echo or background noise
  

8. Optional Peripherals for Clinical Accuracy

Telehealth providers may use additional digital tools for more precise assessments in some specialties, like dermatology, ENT, or cardiology.

Examples:

• Digital otoscopes for ear exams
• Dermatoscopes for skin analysis
• High-resolution external cameras for detailed visuals
  

These tools are more common in specialty care and can often be found at remote clinics where patients have virtual visits for assisted telehealth services.

The Future of Telehealth

Telehealth is becoming a core part of how health care services work worldwide. Telehealth is evolving in new and impactful ways. Here’s what the near future is expected to bring:

Expanding Global Reach

With better connectivity and the gradual alignment of healthcare regulations, virtual care is becoming more feasible across countries. 

This opens the door for patients in underserved or remote areas to consult specialists beyond their region, even internationally. 

While licensing and medical laws still present some hurdles, the path toward global telehealth collaboration is steadily taking shape.

Smarter, AI-Driven Care

Artificial intelligence is already part of the telehealth toolkit, but its role is expected to deepen. In the coming years, AI will likely be used to support more precise diagnostics, predict patient needs, and guide treatment decisions. 

In fact, a recent study revealed that 62% of patients reported improved care due to AI tools, and 46% noted enhancements in physician-patient relationships by the provider.

Blended Models of Care

We’re also moving toward a more flexible mix of in-person visits and virtual care. Routine follow-ups, check-ins, and prescription renewals can be handled remotely, while in-person visits focus on complex or physical examinations.

Recent developments highlight the effectiveness of this approach. For instance, Massachusetts General Hospital’s cardiology division implemented a hybrid model combining virtual and in-person visits, facilitating continuous care delivery. 

Similarly, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services emphasizes that a well-structured hybrid care strategy ensures seamless telehealth and in-person services integration, optimizing patient outcomes.

Get Started With HIPAA Compliant Medical Answering Service With PatientCalls

Strong, secure communication is key to delivering quality care in telehealth. While tools like remote monitoring and EHRs are now part of everyday workflows.

Providers and patients don’t need to be tech experts to benefit from telehealth. What matters most is having dependable systems that ensure patient information stays protected, and that’s where PatientCalls come in.

PatientCalls has supported healthcare providers with HIPAA-compliant medical answering services for over two decades. 

It could be managing after-hours calls, reducing the receptionist’s workload, or ensuring urgent messages reach the right person immediately. Our services are built to match the needs of hospitals, clinics, and private practices.

From custom call-handling workflows to 24/7 live agent support, we help streamline communication so doctors and nurse practitioners can focus on patient care.

Want to see how it works? Take a tour of our platform and discover how PatientCalls can securely and efficiently support your telehealth operations.

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