Virtual Care 101: How It Works and Saves You Time

We know it’s not always easy to go to a doctor’s office, but that doesn’t have to stop you from getting the care you need for yourself or a family member. Through the AdventHealth app, you can see a provider without leaving home and get a personalized treatment plan so you can start feeling better sooner.

We’re here as your virtual care guide to walk you through what to expect with a virtual visit, what can be treated online and tips to help you get the most out of your appointment.

Virtual Care Basics: What You Need to Know

In a virtual health care appointment — also called telehealth, telemedicine or video visits — you can see a provider through a video call on your computer, smartphone or tablet using the AdventHealth app.

Video visits are similar to in-person visits in several ways and different in others. To set your virtual care expectations, video visits are designed for:

• Adults and kids accompanied by an adult
• Easy access to care when an in-person visit isn’t possible
• Face-to-face time with a health care provider
• Minor illnesses and injuries and follow-up care

Sometimes, an in-person visit is necessary to get the kind of care you need. Virtual care is not appropriate for:

• Annual physicals and well-child checkups
• Illnesses that need a physical exam to diagnose
• Life-threatening illnesses or injuries
• Most health screenings

During your video visit, a doctor, nurse or other board-certified health care provider can treat you or a family member for minor illnesses or injuries, give you a specific treatment plan to follow and fill or refill prescriptions as needed. Plus, we’ll follow up to make sure you’re doing well.

What Can Be Treated Virtually?

A video visit is a great way to access remote health care services from the comfort of home. You can get care for most minor health concerns, including:

• Asthma
• Coughs, colds, bronchitis and flu
• Digestive issues like acid reflux and constipation
• Lower back pain
• Minor burns, cuts, bumps and scrapes
• Minor COVID-19 symptoms
• Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
• Rashes or hives
• Seasonal allergies like hay fever
• Sinus and upper-respiratory infections
• Skin infections or other conditions
• Urinary tract infections

Depending on your needs, your provider may also offer chronic disease management care, mental health care, medication management, nutrition guidance and referrals to specialists during your video visit.

When to Go to the ER Instead

Remember, for anything life-threatening, don’t seek virtual care. Get in-person care right away for medical emergencies like:

• Allergic reactions
• Animal bites
• Chest pain
• Concussions
• Coughing up blood
• Difficulty breathing
• Heart attack or stroke symptoms
• Poisoning
• Seizures
• Severe stomach or abdominal pain
• Severe burns
• Shortness of breath
• Uncontrolled vomiting

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, call 911 right away to get expert care at your nearest ER. Our teams are always ready to deliver the lifesaving care you need at a moment’s notice.

How Online Doctor Visits Work

It’s quick and easy to see a health care provider through the AdventHealth app. Here’s how virtual visits work:

1. Create your AdventHealth Account if you don’t have one already.
2. Download the AdventHealth app for your smartphone or tablet or log in to your AdventHealth Account on your computer.
3. Click or tap on “Find Care,” and then “Virtual Urgent Care” to get started.
4. After completing your location and personal information for yourself or a child, you can select from a list of conditions or explain what health condition you’re experiencing.
5. You have the option to choose an on-demand appointment, or you can schedule an appointment for a specific time.
6. Please allow up to two minutes after clicking the join button for the video connection to launch. You will have the option to wait for the provider, or be alerted via a text message, phone call or email.
7. When the video conference starts, you’ll see and talk to your provider to explain what you’re experiencing and get a diagnosis and treatment plan. Rest assured that the AdventHealth app uses secure technology, encrypting all communication over the internet.
8. After your visit is complete, your visit summary will appear on screen. If you're unable to view it, you’ll receive directions on how to access your post-visit summary via secure email to the email account you have on file. This will provide details of your visit, follow-up instructions from the provider, prescribed prescriptions and additional information on what to do if your condition doesn’t improve.

If you have technical questions about the AdventHealth app or want to see answers to frequently asked questions about our virtual care, our video visits page has all the information you need.

Benefits of Virtual Health Care for Families

With your busy work and home schedules, getting health care for your family needs to be as simple and convenient as possible. That’s where video visits can help. Telehealth for families means you can see a health care provider from anywhere in your home, whether you’re bundled up on the couch or sitting with your child as they rest in their bedroom.

For parents, especially those with young kids, a virtual visit can save time and relieve stress. Digital health care benefits for families can include:

• Getting care quickly through the app instead of calling an office
• Greater comfort for kids as they can be seen where they feel most safe
• No time spent sitting in a waiting room
• Reduced risk of spreading germs from sick family members to others in public
• Staying at home to care for other children or family members
• Zero time spent loading kids into the car or driving to an appointment

Booking a Virtual Visit for Your Child

If you’re the parent and/or guardian, you’ll have to create a primary AdventHealth Account (which you can use for visit requests) and add multiple users. Each member of your family will need their own account. If your dependent is under the age of 18, the legal guardian will need to fill out the guarantor section and be present with the patient during the video visit.

Our virtual visit providers are caring, compassionate and experienced in working with families. We’re committed to helping you and the ones you love feel your best again, all while saving you valuable time and energy.

How Telehealth Visits Save You Time

When you feel like you’re coming down with something or are already sick, you want care quickly — and you can often save time with telemedicine. Visiting a health care provider in a video visit means you can see them on your schedule, with no travel time and no waiting room delays.

In the AdventHealth app, our 24/7 virtual urgent care gives you the option to choose an on-demand appointment (seeing the first available provider) or you can schedule an appointment for a time that’s convenient to you. Our video visits can save you time by:

• Eliminating the need to travel to a physical office location
• Giving you answers sooner about concerning symptoms
• Letting you request a prescription or refill one, if needed, without an office visit
• Not having to wait for an appointment for days or weeks
• Not having to sit and wait in a physical waiting room
• Seeing a provider outside of conventional business hours

Your time is precious, so we’re dedicated to making it as quick and easy as possible to get the care you need from your first video visit with us.

Preparing for Your First Virtual Visit

As you get ready for your video visit, follow our tried-and-true online doctor visit tips to get the most out of your virtual appointment:

• Make a list beforehand: Write down any questions for your provider before the visit so you’re well-prepared.
• Choose a quiet room: Conduct your virtual visit in a well-lit room so your provider can see you, and make sure the space is private so you can discuss personal medical information.
• Prop up your device: Set the camera of your smartphone, tablet or laptop at eye level.
• Reduce distractions: Turn off your television or music to reduce background noise and close any unnecessary programs on your device.
• Have a few things on hand: Have a paper and pen ready to take notes, and have your doctor’s office phone number handy.
• Connect early, if possible: If you can connect 10 minutes early, you can address any technical issues on your device before your visit starts.

And as always, we’re here to support you. Find answers to technical questions about the AdventHealth app, if you need them.

Get the Care You Need in a Video Visit

When you need care quickly for yourself or a family member, you can count on us. Our board-certified virtual care providers are ready to see you in a video visit, deliver a diagnosis and get you back to feeling your best. Learn more about video visits and how we make it quick and easy to get the care you need.