Telemedicine specifically refers to remote clinical care – a provider diagnosing and treating you over video. Telehealth is the broader term that also includes non-clinical services such as remote monitoring, provider education and care coordination. At Instant Urgent Care, your virtual visit is a true telemedicine appointment with a licensed provider who can diagnose, advise, order labs and prescribe when appropriate.

Telemedicine, also called telehealth or a virtual visit, uses secure video technology to connect you with a real, licensed clinician. You describe your symptoms, the provider asks questions and examines what they can over video, and together you build a treatment plan – just like an in-office visit, without the trip to the office. For many everyday illnesses and follow-ups, an online physician visit is faster, more convenient and just as thorough. A telemedicine visit is just like an office visit in terms of time, scheduling, cost and care.

Ensure you have a stable internet connection, test your device camera and microphone beforehand, have any relevant medical records or current medication information on hand, and find a quiet, private space for your appointment. This helps your provider give you the best possible care during your virtual visit.

Telehealth is a valuable alternative in many cases, offering convenience and accessibility. However, whether it is better than in-person care depends on the nature of your medical issue, your personal preferences, and your provider recommendation. Some conditions may require a physical examination that is not possible via telehealth – in those cases we will guide you to walk in to one of our locations.

Yes. When clinically appropriate, our board-certified providers can send prescriptions electronically to the pharmacy of your choice during your telemedicine visit. Please note that certain controlled substances cannot be prescribed through an online visit, in line with state and federal regulations.

No. There is no app to download. We send you a secure video link by text or email that opens in any modern browser on your phone, tablet or computer. Just click the link at your appointment time and you are connected.

Telemedicine appointments can be recorded, but this typically requires your consent. Recording can be useful for both the patient and the healthcare provider for future reference or documentation. All telemedicine visits are conducted over a HIPAA-secure connection to protect your privacy.

Yes, telehealth can reduce costs in several ways – saving on travel expenses and reducing the burden on physical healthcare facilities. It can also lead to earlier interventions, potentially preventing more costly health issues in the long run. The extent of savings varies depending on your healthcare plan and circumstances.

Instant Urgent Care is in-network with almost all nationwide mainstream health insurance plans including Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, Cigna, HealthNet, Medicare, United Healthcare and many more. We recommend confirming with your insurance company whether your specific plan covers telemedicine. Affordable self-pay rates are also available.

Yes. Established patients are welcome to schedule follow-up telemedicine visits for most concerns. New patients are asked a short series of screening questions so our team can confirm that a telehealth appointment will provide the right level of care for the issue. Either way, you are getting a genuine telemedicine appointment with a provider who can diagnose, advise, order labs and prescribe when appropriate.

Any patient physically located in California at the time of the visit can use our telemedicine service. Established patients can schedule follow-up telehealth visits for most concerns, and new patients are welcomed after a short screening to confirm telemedicine is appropriate for their needs.