What each kind of visit feels like
| Format | Question to ask |
|---|---|
| Live video | You and the clinician, a health professional, talk while both are online. Ask how to send records and what happens if the connection fails. |
| Phone | You talk without a picture. Ask whether this format is suitable for your health concern. |
| Written exchange | You send answers for the clinician to read later. Ask how they can come back with questions and how you can reply. |
A form needs a real assessment behind it
[a]The advice from medical boards and the state rules below are dated September 26, 2026.
In the Federation of State Medical Boards, the members are state boards that license doctors. It advises against writing a prescription using only a form with set questions and answers.
Its advice allows a written visit if a clinician can read your answers, ask more questions and learn enough to assess your health concern.
These are recommendations from medical boards, not a law for the whole country; the rules in your state may differ.
Ask who will read your answers, who can write back with more questions and how you can reply.
What if a screen is not enough?
[b]Under that advice, a clinician must arrange any tests your care needs or make a referral so someone else can arrange them.
It also says to arrange a visit in person if your concern needs an examination or treatment that cannot happen online.
Ask what a test result would change about your care.
Bring the same questions to any format
- What information is missing from my history?
- Who can I reach after this visit?
- How will we judge whether this plan helps me?
Keep this in mind
The useful comparison is whether the visit can answer your health question and gather what is needed for an assessment.
Choose questions for the conversationPage notes
- [a]Medical board advice: online visits
This advice is for state medical boards; each state decides which rules apply to doctors there.
- [b]