A telehealth visit is a scheduled appointment with one of our physicians or advanced practice clinicians by secure video or by phone. It is the same physician, the same medical record and the same follow-up as an office visit; only the room is different. For many of the reasons people come to a doctor, that is enough, and it saves a trip into Midtown or across Queens.
Telehealth is available to patients who are in New York State at the time of the visit. That is a licensing requirement rather than a preference, and it applies wherever in the state you happen to be.
What works well by telehealth
Follow-up visits are the most common use. If you have already been examined and are being treated for a condition, checking in on how the treatment is going rarely requires another physical exam. Blood pressure, thyroid, cholesterol, testosterone, overactive bladder medication, hormone therapy and most chronic-condition follow-ups can be reviewed and adjusted on a call.
Medication management is a second category: renewals, dose changes, side effects and questions about interactions. Your physician can send a new or revised prescription to your pharmacy during the visit.
Results review is a third. When lab work, imaging or a biopsy comes back, a video visit lets your physician walk you through what it shows and what it means, and plan the next step, without your having to take a morning off work to hear it.
The virtual UTI/STI clinic handles two of the most time-sensitive problems in urology remotely. A clinician takes your history, orders testing at a lab near you where needed, and prescribes treatment. For sexual health more broadly, including erectile dysfunction, libido and hormonal questions, our sexual wellness telehealth service at SexyGummy is built entirely around remote care.
Finally, telehealth is a good first step for triaging a new problem. If you are not sure whether a symptom needs urgent attention, a specialist visit or simple reassurance, a short call with a clinician answers that question and gets the right in-person visit booked if one is needed.
What cannot be done remotely
We are direct about the limits. Procedures, obviously, require you to be here. So do most new-problem examinations: a urologist evaluating a new urinary symptom usually needs a urine sample, a bladder scan and often an ultrasound; a gynecologist evaluating new pelvic pain needs an exam; a vascular evaluation depends on ultrasound. In those cases the clinician will tell you plainly that the visit needs to be in person and the front desk will book it at Manhattan or Forest Hills, usually within the week. Lab work can be ordered to a location near you, and EKG, ultrasound and rapid lab testing are done in either office.
Some prescriptions, particularly controlled substances, carry legal requirements that may mean an in-person visit. Your physician will tell you if that applies.
How to prepare
A little preparation makes the visit more useful.
- Have your photo ID and insurance card at hand; we verify both, as we would at the front desk.
- Find a quiet, private place with a reliable connection. A phone works, but video is better when your physician wants to see something.
- Write down your current medications, including doses and anything over the counter, and have the bottles nearby.
- Note your main question and any recent readings you track at home, such as blood pressure, weight or blood sugar.
- If you have had testing done elsewhere, have the results ready to share.
When you book, you will receive a link or a call-in time. Log in a few minutes early so that any technical problem can be solved before your appointment slot. If video fails, we switch to phone rather than reschedule.
Booking a telehealth visit
Call either office or request an appointment online and ask for a telehealth visit; the front desk will confirm that the visit type is appropriate for what you need and match you with a clinician in the right specialty. New patients can complete forms online beforehand, and the new patient guide applies to a first telehealth visit as much as to a first office visit. Most major insurance plans cover telehealth, and self-pay is available.
Conditions & services
Questions patients ask
Who can have a telehealth visit?
Telehealth visits are available to patients who are physically in New York State at the time of the visit, which is where our physicians are licensed. You do not need to be an existing patient for every type of visit, but some new-problem visits require an in-person exam first. If you are unsure, call and the front desk will tell you which visit type fits.
Is a telehealth visit covered by insurance?
Most major insurance plans cover video and phone visits, but coverage rules differ by plan and by the type of visit. We verify eligibility when you book, the same way we do for an office visit. Self-pay is available if your plan does not cover telehealth or if you prefer not to use insurance.
What if the doctor decides I need to be seen in person?
Then we book it. Some problems can be sorted out on a call and some cannot, and your physician will say so directly rather than guessing. When an exam, ultrasound, lab draw or procedure is needed, the front desk schedules it at the Manhattan or Forest Hills office, usually within the week, and the telehealth visit becomes the first step rather than a wasted one.
Can prescriptions be sent after a video visit?
Yes, for most medications. Your physician sends prescriptions electronically to the pharmacy you choose. Controlled substances have additional legal requirements and may require an in-person visit. Lab orders can also be sent to a location near you, so blood work or a urine test ordered during a telehealth visit does not require a trip to our office.
Make an appointment
Manhattan (212) 991-9991 · Forest Hills (718) 360-9550 · same-week visits, most major insurance accepted.