What is Telehealth?

Happy Telehealth Awareness Week! Telehealth is an important way for teens to access health care services without making a trip to the doctor’s office or clinic. Telehealth – also known as “virtual” or “remote” care - allows people to receive care through a phone call or video chat with their health provider. Not only is it more flexible, but it gives teens the opportunity to be independent and speak about their health care needs from a safe and comfortable environment, like their own home or a friend’s house. 

Virtual care is important for those who don’t live near a clinic, don’t have reliable transportation, or can’t take time off work or school. 

Teens can get the same health care they need without going into a clinic, including sexual and reproductive care like: 

• Birth control options counseling
• Birth control prescriptions + refills
• STI screening + treatment
• Emergency contraception (Plan B) prescriptions

Telehealth can be difficult to use for some, especially if they don’t have access to a phone, computer or stable internet connection. It can also be challenging if there is a lack of private spaces at home. Maybe teens share a room or are monitored by parents. Based on our survey of California teens, almost half of teens did not have a quiet, private space for a telehealth visit. (You can take our new teens and telehealth survey here!) If this is the case for you, make sure to let your doctor know so they can ask more yes/no questions or find ways to take a walk or go somewhere else during your telehealth visit.

Overall, both adults and teens report positive experiences using telehealth, and it has changed the way we think about and receive health care. You can learn more about telehealth on TeenSource.

Have you had a telehealth visit? If not, are you interested in telehealth? Either way, we want to hear from you! Take our survey here!

If you are interested in telehealth or other sexual and reproductive health services, contact a clinic near you!