What is Telehealth?
Through audio and video over the internet, you can meet with our clinicians from your desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile device (iOS or Android)—it’s your choice! Telehealth allows us to connect with secure and convenient appointments that save you time and hassle. There’s no need to deal with traffic when you can schedule and attend your appointments directly from a laptop or mobile device.
Equipment Needed for Telehealth
To participate in Telehealth appointments from your home, you need one of the following devices:
1. Desktop computer with a webcam and speakers
2. Laptop computer with built-in webcam and speakers
3. Tablet device with built-in webcam and speakers
4. Smartphone (Note: To use a smartphone, you must first download Telehealth by SimplePractice - available for iOS or Android in the app store)
You will also need an internet connection that is at least 10mbps. For optimal results, a reliable, highspeed internet connection with a bandwidth of at least 10 mbps will minimize connection issues and provide the best quality.
Your Location During Sessions
While you will not be in our Norfolk office for telehealth sessions, you will need to be physically in the State of Virginia. There are regulations requiring patients to be in state where the clinicians is licensed, and all of our clinicians are licensed only in Virginia. During the pandemic, exceptions have been made to this regulation, but those exceptions have been temporary and not universal.
If you must be out of the state at the time of your scheduled appointment, you will most likely need to reschedule for a time when you will be back in Virginia. Ask your clinician directly if you have questions about this matter before you leave the state.
Telehealth FAQ's
Q. What should I do if I didn’t get the
reminder with the link?
Contact me if you did not get the link so I can send
it to you via email or secure messaging.
Q. What is SimplePractice?
SimplePractice, LLC is my practice management
software for scheduling, case management,
telehealth, and therapy notes. SimplePractice,
LLC, uses a HIPAA compliant software so your
information will be securely kept.
Q. What can I do to improve the quality of
the connection?
If you live in an area with slow internet, this can
really affect the speed of your connection.
Here are some basic steps that can improve the
overall quality:
• Use wired Ethernet instead of wifi whenever
possible. Wifi will work, but you may experience a
lag and interference, which can make your video
and audio choppy. Wired internet will give you a
much smoother, more consistent experience.
• Test your internet connection speed. Google
provides an easy way to test your internet
connection directly from the google homepage.
Simply search: internet speed test. Click the
blue button that says Run Speed Test. If it
is under 10mbps and you’re using wifi, try
using a wired internet connection or restarting
your router.
• Close other programs. If you have several
programs running in the background, closing
them will almost certainly improve the quality.
Also, make sure you’re not downloading any
large files.
If you are unable to connect, please contact
me as soon as possible to see if I can help you
troubleshoot.
Q. Where’s the best place to do a video call?
When deciding the best place in your home, you
will want to choose a space that is private and
away from household members, coworkers, pets
or any other potential distractions. Here are some
additional recommendations:
• Adjust your light. Some small lighting tweaks that
can have a huge impact include placing a lamp or
other light source behind your monitor, pointed
toward you. Also, make sure you don’t have too
much light behind you. If you’re on a laptop, make
sure the camera is at eye level and not pointing up
at the ceiling lights, or down at the floor.
• Choose a quiet, private location. Identify a
suitable room that is quiet, private, and free
of distractions. To keep background noise to a
minimum, close any doors and shut any windows.
Q. Is Telehealth private?
Just like a face-to-face appointment, your
Telehealth visit will be private and confidential.