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Telehealth
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Health System

Telehealth

Telehealth utilizes communications technology to provide health care services from a distance, offering a flexible alternative to traditional in-person visits.

What is telehealth?

Telehealth is the use of communications technologies to provide health care from a distance. These technologies may include computers, cameras, videoconferencing, the Internet, and satellite and wireless communications. Some examples of telehealth include:

  • A "virtual visit" with a health care provider, through a phone call or video chat
  • Remote patient monitoring, which lets your provider check on you while you are at home. For example, you might wear a device that measures your heart rate and sends that information to your provider.
  • A surgeon using robotic technology to do surgery from a different location
  • Sensors that can alert caregivers if a person with dementia leaves the house
  • Sending your provider a message through your electronic health record (EHR)
  • Watching an online video that your provider sent you about how to use an inhaler
  • Getting an email, phone, or text reminder that it's time for a cancer screening

What is the difference between telemedicine and telehealth?

Sometimes people use the term telemedicine to mean the same thing as telehealth. Telehealth is a broader term. It includes telemedicine. But it also includes things like training for health care providers, health care administrative meetings, and services provided by pharmacists and social workers.

What are the benefits of telehealth?

Some of the benefits of telehealth include:

  • Getting care at home, especially for people who can't easily get to their providers' offices
  • Getting care from a specialist who is not close by
  • Getting care after office hours
  • More communication with your providers
  • Better communication and coordination between health care providers
  • More support for people who are managing their health conditions, especially chronic conditions such as diabetes
  • Lower cost, since virtual visits may be cheaper than in-person visits

What are the problems with telehealth?

Some of the problems with telehealth include:

  • If your virtual visit is with someone who is not your regular provider, he or she may not have all of your medical history
  • After a virtual visit, it may be up to you to coordinate your care with your regular provider
  • In some cases, the provider may not be able to make the right diagnosis without examining you in person. Or your provider may need you to come in for a lab test.
  • There may be problems with the technology, for example, if you lose the connection, there is a problem with the software, etc.
  • Some insurance companies may not cover telehealth visits

What types of care can I get using telehealth?

The types of care that you can get using telehealth may include:

  • General health care, like wellness visits
  • Prescriptions for medicine
  • Dermatology (skin care)
  • Eye exams
  • Nutrition counseling
  • Mental health counseling
  • Urgent care conditions, such as sinusitis, urinary tract infections, common rashes, etc.

For telehealth visits, just like with an in-person visit, it is important to be prepared and have good communication with the provider.

Frequently Asked Questions

Start by ensuring you have the necessary devices, such as a Bluetooth-enabled blood pressure cuff, scale, or glucose meter, as recommended by your care team. Practice using the devices and syncing them to the app or portal your provider uses. Set up a daily routine to record your readings at the same time each day to provide consistent data. If you are unsure how to use the technology, ask your provider or a nurse to schedule a brief training call before your first monitoring period begins.
You need a device with a camera and microphone, such as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. For reliable video, aim for an internet connection with at least 10 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload speeds. If you have limited data or poor Wi-Fi, ask your provider if they offer a phone-only visit option, which requires less bandwidth. Ensure your device is charged and in a quiet, well-lit room to improve audio and video quality.
Yes, most providers can issue prescriptions electronically during a telehealth visit, which can be sent directly to your preferred pharmacy. For lab orders, your provider can send the order to a local lab or a mail-in service. You may need to pay for the lab work upfront or have it billed to your insurance, just as you would for an in-person test. Always confirm with your provider which specific tests can be ordered remotely and where you can have them performed.
If you have technical issues, try switching from Wi-Fi to mobile data or restarting your device. If the connection fails completely, call the clinic’s main number to reschedule or ask if a phone-only visit is possible. If the appointment is canceled by the provider, ask for a make-up time within 24 to 48 hours to maintain continuity of care. Keep a list of your current medications and recent symptoms ready to share quickly if you need to reschedule or switch to a different format.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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