Choose how the assessment will happen.

Choose the setting for the assessment.

Compare a visit in a clinic with care through a licensed online service. Care through a screen or messages is called telehealth.

• Ask the clinic to name the person you will see, and to explain where tests happen.
• Ask an online service how you can reach the clinician and how it arranges an examination in person.
• For either route, ask which pharmacy would fill a prescription.

A telehealth doctor treating someone located in California needs a current California licence, even if the doctor lives elsewhere.

Expect a medical assessment before medicine.

California requires an appropriate prior assessment and a medical reason before internet prescribing for delivery in the state.

A questionnaire may be enough under California law, but only if the clinician can properly assess your medical needs that way.

Before paying, ask the clinician: ‘Can you assess my needs from this form, or do you need an examination or tests?’ Ask how they will get missing health details and how to send questions of your own.

For California telehealth, the clinician has to get your agreement, spoken or written, after explaining the format; that agreement must be recorded.

Agreeing to telehealth leaves the option of later in-person care open.

Bring a short account of your health.

Use your notes to give the visit a clear focus.

• The change you hope to make.
• Medicines and supplements you already use.
• Allergies and past treatment you want to discuss.
• Recent results or records you already have.
• The questions you most want answered.

Leave with the next conversation arranged.

Ask who will review the plan, how to reach them and when the next review happens.

The advice for medical boards calls for the doctor to arrange needed tests, either directly or through another health professional.

It also calls for an in-person visit when the doctor needs to examine you or arrange tests that cannot happen online.

• Who will review any test results with me?
• If the clinician needs to examine me in a room, who arranges that visit?
• Who answers questions between reviews?
• What is the plan if this option does not fit my needs?