What Is Telehealth? How Online Medical Visits Work
Telehealth connects you with licensed providers remotely. Here's how online intake, clinician review, and live follow-up visits fit together in modern telehealth care.
Key Takeaways
- Telehealth is the delivery of healthcare services remotely using technology instead of in-person visits.
- Many telehealth programs begin with asynchronous intake, but some states, treatments, or clinical situations require a live consult before prescribing.
- Telehealth providers are held to the same licensing and clinical standards as in-person providers.
- You are only charged if a provider approves your treatment; if they determine it isn't appropriate, you pay nothing.
Telehealth has moved from a pandemic convenience to a standard way millions of Americans access healthcare. If you haven't used it before, here's what to expect. You can also see how the Varus process works step by step.
What Telehealth Is
Telehealth is the delivery of healthcare services remotely, using technology instead of an in-person office visit. It includes video consultations, phone calls, and asynchronous (message-based) visits.
Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Telehealth
Synchronous telehealth happens in real time. You schedule a video or phone call with a provider, just like an office visit but from home.
Asynchronous telehealth (also called "store-and-forward") doesn't require a live appointment. You submit your medical information through a questionnaire, and a provider reviews it on their own schedule. They then make a clinical determination and communicate the outcome to you.
Many telehealth platforms, including Varus, begin with asynchronous intake. You complete a detailed medical questionnaire, and a licensed provider reviews your responses and health history. Depending on state law, the treatment involved, or the clinician's judgment, that review may be followed by a live phone or video consultation before any prescription is written.
How Online Prescriptions Work
When a telehealth provider determines that a medication is appropriate for you, they write a prescription just as they would in an office visit. The prescription is sent electronically to a pharmacy for fulfillment.
For Varus, prescriptions are sent to licensed pharmacies, including compounding pharmacies when applicable. The provider retains clinical authority throughout this process. If they determine that a treatment isn't appropriate, no prescription is written and you aren't charged.
Is Telehealth Safe?
Telehealth providers are held to the same licensing, ethical, and clinical standards as in-person providers. They must be licensed in the state where the patient resides, and they exercise independent medical judgment.
For conditions that can be effectively evaluated through patient-reported information and medical history, asynchronous review can be an efficient starting point. But it is not always the final step, and telehealth programs still need to follow state-specific prescribing rules.
Telehealth is not appropriate for emergencies, conditions requiring physical examination, or situations where in-person care is clinically necessary.
What to Look For in a Telehealth Platform
When evaluating a telehealth service, consider:
- Provider licensing: Are providers licensed in your state?
- Clinical independence: Do providers exercise independent judgment, or are they pressured to prescribe?
- Transparency: Is the platform upfront about what treatments cost, what the evidence says, and what the limitations are?
- Privacy: Is the platform HIPAA-compliant? How is your medical information handled?
- Pharmacy quality: Who compounds or dispenses the medications?
The Bottom Line
Telehealth makes healthcare more accessible by removing the barriers of scheduling, travel, and waiting rooms. When done right, it maintains clinical standards while giving patients more control over when and how they access care.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is asynchronous telehealth?
Asynchronous telehealth (also called store-and-forward) lets you submit medical information through a questionnaire for clinician review. In some states, for some treatments, or when the clinician needs more information, that review is followed by a live phone or video consultation before prescribing.
Is telehealth as safe as seeing a doctor in person?
Telehealth providers are held to the same licensing, ethical, and clinical standards as in-person providers. For conditions that can be effectively evaluated through patient-reported information and medical history, asynchronous visits are both safe and effective. Telehealth is not appropriate for emergencies or conditions requiring physical examination.
How do online prescriptions work?
When a telehealth provider determines a medication is appropriate, they write a prescription electronically and send it to a pharmacy. At Varus, prescriptions go to licensed compounding pharmacies that prepare and ship your medication directly to you. The provider retains clinical authority throughout the process.
Medical services are provided by independent licensed clinicians using the Varus platform. Varus does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Compounded medications are prepared by licensed pharmacies and are not FDA-approved. This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.