Frequently Asked Questions about Virtual Visits

Telemedicine uses a video conferencing platform, much like Skype or FaceTime, to connect providers with patients in different locations for an outpatient appointment. Patients report great satisfaction with receiving care this way and most would recommend it to their friends and family.

“Telemedicine” is the practice of medicine using electronic communications and typically involves the use of secure videoconferencing to replicate a traditional in-person appointment between a provider and a patient.

“Telehealth” is more broadly defined as the use of medical information exchanged via electronic communications and may include telephone or “audio only” services, secure email or other methods of transmission.

Telemedicine virtual visits allow patients to get care from the comfort of their home, eliminating the time and cost of traveling for an in-person visit. By seeing your provider from home, you are limiting your exposure and helping to slow the spread of COVID-19.

During a telemedicine virtual visit, you may experience technical difficulty with your connection or the software. If this happens, you or your provider can decide to stop the telemedicine visit and connect instead by telephone. It’s important to remember that if you choose to use data with your mobile phone carrier, depending on your phone plan, you may incur data usage fees.

Telemedicine has been used for decades and is a safe and cost-effective way to attend your medical appointments. Telemedicine is subject to the same privacy rules and regulations as in-person healthcare services. Our telemedicine technology is safe, secure, and HIPAA compliant.

During the COVID-19 emergency, government regulations are allowing for the use of some videoconferencing platforms that are not HIPAA compliant. We are continuing to use our standard secure and HIPAA compliant tools to the greatest extent possible; however, to expand our ability to offer telemedicine services to our patients as broadly and as efficiently as possible, we may introduce other platforms. In this case, please be assured that we will do everything we can to protect your privacy and will always comply with the current governmental regulations.

Yes. If you or a family member need interpreting services, they will be made available to you, with an interpreter participating in your video visit. Be sure to let the scheduler know when making your appointment, and note your language preferences. This also applies to members of our deaf community.

If, after your virtual visit, your provider determines that you need to be seen in person, the office staff will work with you to find a convenient time for you to come in.

Yes, those who participate in your care may be present in your visit.

Many of our providers are offering telemedicine appointments. To schedule an appointment, you can contact your provider’s office the same as you would for an in-person appointment.

• You can attend your telemedicine appointment with one of our physicians or providers from home using a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or computer.
• Make sure your device has a built-in camera/microphone or one that you can attach.
• Preferred internet connections:
  • Wired Ethernet (cable plugged into a router or wall jack)
  • WiFi (wireless network in-home or office)
  • Cellular Network: 5G recommended; 3G or 4G not recommended unless the only option available

To get ready for your virtual visit you will:

1. If you are using a mobile device or iPad/tablet, download myChart.
2. At the time of your visit, log in to your myDH portal, find the visit in your appointments list, click Details and then click Video Visit. This will place you in a virtual waiting room, where you will wait for your provider to connect with you and you will chat via video, just like you would in a Skype or FaceTime session.

We strongly recommend you sign up for a myDH account. With myDH you can check-in for your appointments in advance, request medication refills, access your medical record and billing information, and communicate with your healthcare team.

The process to create a myDH account is quick and easy.

We are committed to providing healthcare remotely whenever possible and clinically appropriate to keep patients and staff safe. Your provider may also be able to offer a telephone office visit option if you are unable to connect by video.

We have a dedicated technical support line to help patients with their telemedicine appointments. If you need help, please call our Telehealth Technology Help Line at 603-650-0499, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Please note that during the COVID-19 emergency, there are special waivers expanding telehealth coverage. Under usual circumstances, Medicare, New Hampshire, and Vermont Medicaid, and most commercial health insurance plans* cover many telehealth services. For Medicare, there are some restrictions related to where you live and eligible locations for receiving care by telemedicine (for example, telemedicine appointments for Medicare patients at home are typically not covered). There may be limitations related to what kinds of services providers may deliver by telehealth.

It is always best to contact your insurance company to ask about their coverage of telehealth appointments.