Purpose, who it is for and how to use it
Purpose: get a phone, tablet or computer ready so a video visit starts on time and you can see, hear and be heard.
Who it is for: anyone with a video visit coming up, and family members or helpers who set up the device for someone else. It is written for U.S. readers and works with any device or visit app, because it does not depend on one brand.
How to use it:
- Print this page. Fill in "My visit details" when you book the visit.
- Work through "The day before" the evening before the visit.
- Use "Ten minutes before" and "Beside me" right before you sign on.
- If something goes wrong, go to "If the video fails."
Do not write on this page: passwords, sign-in codes, your Social Security number, your Medicare Number or card numbers.
Get help now
A video visit is not for emergencies. For severe chest pain or pressure, severe shortness of breath, sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the body, sudden trouble speaking, seeing or walking, or heavy bleeding, call 911. For thoughts of suicide or of hurting someone, call or text 988.
My visit details
| Item | Write it here |
|---|---|
| Date and time of the visit | |
| Clinician or clinic | |
| Where the link or app comes from (portal, text, email, app name) | |
| Clinic phone number, from a bill, card or the portal | |
| Help I asked for (captions, interpreter and language, extra time, a helper joining) | |
| What my plan said the visit will cost |
The day before
- I found the visit link or app in the clinic's own reminder, portal or app.
- I installed or updated the app, or checked that my web browser is up to date.
- I signed in once and my password works.
- The app or browser is allowed to use my camera and microphone.
- I tested the camera, microphone and sound (with the clinic's test, or a call with a friend).
- My device is charged and the charger is where I will sit.
- I picked a quiet, private spot with good internet signal.
- I asked ahead for captions, an interpreter, screen-reader help, extra time or a helper, if I need them.
- I wrote down my questions, most important first.
Ten minutes before
- Other apps and programs are closed.
- I am on home Wi-Fi or cellular data, not public Wi-Fi.
- Headphones or earbuds are on, if I have them.
- A lamp or window is in front of me, not behind me.
- The device is steady, with the camera at eye level.
- My ID and insurance card are within reach.
- I am not driving.
- I signed on a few minutes early.
Beside me
- My medicine list, with doses (prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, supplements)
- Home readings with dates and times, if they relate to the visit (blood pressure, blood sugar, weight, temperature)
- My allergies
- My pharmacy's name, address and phone number
- Notes on my symptoms: when they started, how often, what makes them better or worse
- Paper and a pen
If the video fails
| Problem | Try this |
|---|---|
| They cannot hear me | Check that the microphone button has no slash. Reconnect or remove headphones. Check microphone permission. |
| I cannot hear them | Turn up the volume on the device and in the app. Check which speaker or headphones the sound goes to. |
| Video freezes | Move closer to the router, ask others at home to stop streaming, or switch between Wi-Fi and cellular data. |
| The link will not open | Close and reopen it, restart the device, or try another device or browser. |
| Nothing works | Call the clinic. Ask to finish by phone, reschedule or come in person. |
Safety reminders
- Open visits only from the clinic's own reminder, portal or app. If a message looks wrong, call the clinic at a number you already have.
- No real clinic asks you to pay with a gift card.
- You can ask for an in-person visit instead.
- Coverage for video and phone visits depends on your plan and changes with the law. Ask your plan or call the number on your card.
Limitations
This checklist is general information for getting a device ready. It is not medical advice and does not describe any one visit app. Your clinic's instructions come first. It does not say whether your plan covers a visit. For coverage and consent rules as of October 26, 2026, see Getting ready for a telehealth visit: a phone and computer checklist.
Sources
- Preparing for a video visit — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, telehealth.hhs.gov, last updated July 29, 2025.
- Telehealth Privacy Tips for Patients — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, telehealth.hhs.gov, accessed October 26, 2026.
- Guidance on Nondiscrimination in Telehealth — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, and U.S. Department of Justice, July 26, 2022.
- Only scammers tell you to buy a gift card to pay them — Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Advice, October 4, 2024.
- When to use the emergency room - adult — MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, review date July 15, 2026.
Printed from kpsgill.com. Check the page online for the latest version.