Telehealth

How to run a telehealth visit

Other platforms explain it with text and video. In VMS you practice it on the patient.

MD / DOPANursing (NCLEX)
Practice it in VR with Blocky

A video visit needs a few extra steps that an in-person visit does not. These follow the HHS telehealth best practices.

Step by step

  1. Before the visit

    Test your camera, sound and connection, and use a private, quiet room. [1]

  2. Identity and location

    Confirm the patient's identity and where they are right now, in case emergency help is needed. [1]

  3. Consent and privacy

    Get consent for telehealth as required, ask who else is in the room and if they can speak freely. [1]

  4. History

    Same structure as in person; look at the camera when you speak. [1]

  5. Guided exam

    Ask the patient to show the area, press where it hurts, move a joint, and use home devices such as a blood pressure cuff, thermometer or pulse oximeter. [1]

  6. Know when to switch

    If the patient needs a hands-on exam or emergency care, arrange it now. [1]

  7. Close

    Summarize the plan, use teach-back, say how to reach you, and document that the visit was by video. [1]

Common errors

Practice it in VMS

In VMS you do this on the patient, not on paper: every step goes on the checklist with a score, and in Teach mode Blocky tells you what comes next.

VMS cases that train this skill

506 VMS cases train this skill: open the case library

Sources

  1. HHS, telehealth.hhs.gov best practices

Facts and steps follow HHS, telehealth.hhs.gov best practices. VMS is not affiliated with these organizations. Updated: 2026-10-11.