An in-person starting point
You could bring the question to a clinician you already see, or discuss it with an in-person medical practice. Explain the concern you would like assessed, then discuss possible treatments.
- Can we discuss what is behind this concern?
- Is a medicine part of the conversation, or are other approaches worth exploring?
- If this falls outside your work, what kind of clinician could assess it?
An online starting point
Telehealth means getting care at a distance, rather than sharing a room with the clinician.
During an online visit, the clinician must have a licence or another lawful basis for practice in the state you are physically in.
- Ask who will assess you and what their role is.
- Ask how the visit allows questions in both directions.
- Ask what arrangements would be made for any needed test or examination.
- Ask who handles follow-up after the first conversation.
Compare what the care actually includes
Use the same questions for each service you consider. Keep unanswered items blank rather than filling them in with guesses from the website.
- Name and role of the person assessing me.
- How to check their authority to practise where I am.
- The medicine being considered and the reason for it.
- The named pharmacy, if a prescription is proposed.
- A named person to contact with questions and a written list of costs.