Telehealth Visits

What telehealth handles well

Follow up visits. Blood pressure recheck when you have a home cuff, diabetes follow up, thyroid dose discussion, asthma control check in, medication tolerance and side effect review.

Lab and imaging result reviews. A results conversation needs explanation and questions, not a stethoscope.

Many acute complaints. Cold and flu symptoms, sinus pressure, seasonal allergies, cough without shortness of breath, pink eye, many rashes, urinary symptoms in patients without complicating factors, minor skin concerns.

Medication management. Refills, adjustments, and transitions, with the limits described below.

Mental health check ins. Mood, anxiety, sleep, and stress follow up.

Care coordination. Reviewing specialist recommendations, deciding next steps, and answering the questions you thought of after your last visit.

Logistics. Discussing whether an in person visit is needed at all, which is sometimes the most useful thing a short video visit can do.

What needs an in office visit

Video has real limits. Expect to be brought in for:

• Anything requiring a physical exam with hands: abdominal pain, a lump, a joint injury needing stability testing, ear pain requiring an otoscope, a heart murmur evaluation
• Annual physicals and preventive exams
• Sports and school physicals, which require an in person exam and signed form
• Anything requiring a specimen collected in office, a point of care test, an injection, or a procedure
• Wounds needing cleaning, closure, or assessment for infection
• Chest pain, shortness of breath, severe pain, or any symptom that could be an emergency, which needs 911 or an emergency department rather than any office visit
• New or complex problems where the exam is likely to change the answer

If you book a video visit and your provider determines you need to be seen, she will tell you during the visit and the office will get you scheduled.

Florida rules that affect your visit

You must be in Florida. Florida law governs where the patient is located, not where the provider is. If you are traveling out of state, a Florida telehealth visit is generally not available to you. Tell the office if you will not be in Florida.

Controlled substances have limits. Prescribing controlled medications by telehealth is subject to specific state and federal restrictions, and some prescriptions require an in person evaluation. Your provider will tell you what applies to your situation. Do not assume a controlled medication can be handled by video.

Standard of care does not change. A telehealth visit is a real medical visit held to the same standard as an in office visit, including documentation in your chart.

How a telehealth visit works

1. Schedule. Call (772) 678-0011. Appointments are booked by phone. Online self scheduling is not available.
2. Get set up. You will receive a link and instructions. Telehealth visits run through the healow app, which connects directly to our electronic medical record. Download healow on your phone or tablet before your appointment, or use the link we send you. Test your camera, microphone, and connection before your appointment time, not at it.
3. Prepare. See the checklist below.
4. Join on time. Log in a few minutes early. Late joins may not leave enough time to be useful.
5. The visit. Your provider reviews your history and symptoms, guides you through anything visual she needs to see, and discusses the plan.
6. After. Prescriptions are sent to your pharmacy, orders are placed, documentation goes into your chart, and follow up is scheduled.

How to prepare

• Find a private, well lit space. Light in front of you, not behind you, or you will be a silhouette.
• Use the best connection you have. Wifi generally beats cellular data for video stability.
• Have your medications physically with you. The bottles, not a list from memory.
• Bring your numbers. Home blood pressure readings, glucose readings, weight, temperature, and pulse oximeter readings if you have one.
• Write your questions down first. Video visits run efficiently, and it is easy to hang up and then remember the thing you called about.
• Know your pharmacy. Name and location.
• Be somewhere you can talk. Not driving. Never driving.
• If it is a skin issue, take clear, well lit photos in advance in case the live video quality is not good enough.

Payment

Seaside Family Wellness participates with some insurance plans, but not all. Participating plans change frequently, so call (772) 678-0011 before your visit to confirm whether we currently participate with your specific plan. Self-pay options are available, and labs and diagnostics can sometimes be billed through your insurance when medically appropriate.

Contact

Seaside Family Wellness 1657 SE Port St Lucie Blvd, Port St. Lucie, FL 34952 Phone: (772) 678-0011 Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Common questions

This page is general health education. It is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified provider who knows your history. Always talk with your provider about your own health questions. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

Reviewed by Amy Weber, APRN and Stephanie Hoppy, APRN, September 2026.