What telehealth involves
Telehealth uses electronic communication for clinical assessment, treatment, follow-up, education or coordination when suitable. Depending on the service and applicable rules, communication may include real-time video, audio or secure text. Information can include the selected concern, history, medications, allergies, images, uploaded PDFs/records and relevant measurements. An online questionnaire alone may be insufficient for diagnosis or prescribing.
Your clinician explains their name, credentials and role, including applicable NP/PA supervision or collaboration. You can ask who else is present and why. Support or technical personnel do not make clinical decisions. Request a private setting or ask unnecessary participants to leave; any effect on care should be discussed with you.
Identity, location and a safe connection
Before care, the clinician confirms the patient’s identity, current city and state, a callback number and any representative’s authority. A saved verification badge does not replace confirming who is attending today. If identity, legal authority or location cannot be established, the clinician may pause the visit and offer a safe next step. For a child or dependent, information and consent must relate to that patient and the person authorized to act for them, subject to any separate rights the patient has by law.
Use a private place where you can participate safely. Tell the clinician if you change location or cannot speak privately. If the connection fails, try reconnecting and use the agreed callback method. The clinician may switch to an appropriate available format, reschedule or recommend in-person care. A disconnected or unread message is not an emergency response.
Benefits, limitations and alternatives
Telehealth can improve access, reduce travel and make follow-up more convenient. It cannot always replace a hands-on examination, diagnostic test or in-person assessment. Video/audio quality, missing records, inaccurate information, equipment failure or an interrupted connection can delay care or affect evaluation. Electronic communication also carries privacy and security risks despite safeguards. There is no guarantee of a diagnosis, a prescription, symptom improvement or a particular outcome.
Alternatives include an in-person visit, another appropriate clinician, urgent care or emergency care. The clinician may recommend an alternative or require testing. You may ask questions about these choices, decline telehealth or stop a visit. Withdrawing telehealth consent does not remove access to care otherwise available to you, but the clinician may need an in-person or other suitable arrangement. It does not automatically cancel a membership or reverse a charge for services already provided; applicable billing and legal rights remain in place.
Georgia and Alabama care requirements
Care is governed by the patient’s physical location and the clinician’s authorization. In Georgia, the clinician must have an adequate history and examination, provide practitioner credentials and follow-up instructions, and make diligent efforts toward an in-person examination at least annually as required by the applicable rule. Technology must support the necessary standard of care; remote-only care is not promised for every condition.
In Alabama, identity, city/state, clinician identity and credentials, consent and the visit record must be addressed. For the same unresolved condition treated by a physician/practice more than four times in 12 months, an in-person visit or appropriate referral is generally required within the legally specified period; the statutory mental-health exception applies where appropriate. Your clinician determines which rule applies and arranges appropriate follow-up.
Treatment and prescription decisions
The clinician reviews available information and determines whether a medication or other treatment is appropriate. Share current medicines, allergies, medical/surgical history, pregnancy-related information relevant to treatment, and changes in health. An electronic prescription is not a promise that a pharmacy can dispense or that insurance will cover it. The current program does not offer controlled-substance prescribing.
Privacy, recordings and your record
The laws protecting medical information also apply to telehealth. Read the Privacy Policy and the treating provider’s applicable Notice of Privacy Practices. Relevant information can be used or shared for authorized care, payment and operations, or as otherwise permitted or required by law. Extra protections for sensitive records still apply. This consent does not authorize marketing use, research participation, sale of information or disclosures needing a separate authorization.
Audio/video recording is not enabled by default. Any proposed recording requires explanation and applicable consent first. Clinical chat, uploaded records and the clinician’s notes can be retained as part of the medical record even without a recording. You can request your record and corrections; signed notes are preserved with later corrections documented as addenda. Parent/guardian access is subject to the patient’s legal confidentiality rights.
Emergency care and follow-up
For an emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number; do not wait for a portal reply. In the United States, call or text 988 for suicide/crisis support; call 911 if there is immediate danger. If you worsen, follow your clinician’s instructions and seek appropriate in-person or emergency care. The clinician will explain follow-up and contact options relevant to the visit. Routine messages, prescription requests and reminders are not continuously monitored emergency services.
Your decision and acknowledgment
Before agreeing, you have the opportunity to read this document, ask questions and consider in-person alternatives. Tell the clinician if something is unclear or if you do not wish to proceed. When you actively check the telehealth-consent box in the visit flow, you indicate that you understand the nature and limits of telehealth and agree to this visit for yourself or the patient you are authorized to represent. An unchecked box, opening the document or scrolling through it is not consent.
Your clinical consent, account terms, recurring-payment authorization and any optional recording or information-use authorization are distinct. You may request an accessible or paper copy and may withdraw telehealth consent by telling the clinician or contacting Support. The clinical record should identify the applicable consent and your decision; the document’s revision date alone is not evidence that an individual consented.
Contact DoctorsBeyond Support for account, billing, accessibility or document requests. For a privacy request, use admin@doctorsbeyond.com with the subject “Privacy request,” or write to DoctorsBeyond Inc., Attn: Privacy / Member Support, 388 Bullsboro Drive, Suite 354, Newnan, GA 30263. Do not include medical details, identification documents or payment card numbers in ordinary email; ask for a secure way to provide them.