Telehealth: how to get a remote medical consultation
What a remote consultation is, how to get one from your family doctor or a private service, what it can and can't do, and how to prepare for an online appointment.
In short
- Many family doctors and public health systems now offer phone or video consultations.
- Private telehealth services offer video appointments, often the same day, for a fee or by subscription.
- Telehealth suits minor problems, repeat prescriptions and reviewing test results, not emergencies.
- Prepare: readings taken at home, your medicine list, symptoms written down in order.
Telehealth means medical care delivered at a distance, by phone, video or online platforms. It grew rapidly after 2020 and is now part of mainstream healthcare in many countries. For crisis preparedness it matters because it lets you speak to a doctor even when you can’t get to a clinic: blocked roads, quarantine, overwhelmed hospitals.
What a doctor can do remotely
- assess minor symptoms and tell you whether you need to see someone in person or go to the emergency department;
- review test results and readings you take at home;
- adjust long-term treatment and renew prescriptions;
- issue electronic prescriptions, referrals and, in some systems, sick notes;
- follow up after an illness or operation.
What they can’t do
They can’t examine you physically: they can’t listen to your lungs, feel your abdomen or run an ECG. For many problems, a remote consultation is a first step, not a replacement.
The options
Your family doctor
Many family doctors and general practices offer phone or video appointments to registered patients, often covered by the public health system or your insurance. Ask your doctor whether they do, and how to book one, before a crisis.
Private services
Private clinics, insurers and dedicated platforms offer video consultations with GPs and specialists, often the same day. You pay directly, by subscription or through private health insurance.
Emergency services
For emergencies, always call your local emergency number. Medical dispatchers can give first aid advice by phone until help arrives. Some countries also have non-emergency health lines (such as NHS 111 in England).
How to prepare for a remote consultation
- Write down your symptoms in the order they appeared: when they started, how they’ve changed, what makes them better or worse.
- Take readings of temperature, blood pressure, pulse and oxygen saturation, if you have the devices.
- Have your medicine list and allergies ready.
- Keep recent test results and medical letters to hand.
- Choose a quiet, well-lit place with good signal and a charged phone.
- Write down what the doctor says, including the warning signs that mean you should call back or call the emergency number.
Crisis preparedness
Save your family doctor’s number, and perhaps the details of a private telehealth service, on your phone and on paper. If someone in the family has a chronic condition, ask their doctor how to reach them when the practice is closed.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a prescription after an online consultation?
In most countries, yes: doctors can issue electronic prescriptions after a remote consultation, within the rules that apply where you live. Some medicines may require an in-person visit.
When is telehealth not appropriate?
Chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, signs of stroke (drooping face, weakness on one side, slurred speech), heavy bleeding, loss of consciousness or serious injury. Call the emergency number immediately.
Sources and further reading
Preper is for general education and does not replace instructions from your local authorities or advice from a doctor. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.