Before the Visit: Tips for Setting up for a Successful Telehealth Visit

In preparation for your upcoming telehealth appointment, here are some tips to ensure a smooth virtual visit.

For Adolescents and Families:

Encourage the adolescent and family to:

• Assure that the room is well-lit. Indirect lighting makes for a clearer visual during the telehealth visit.
• Limit noise interference, when possible.
• To the extent possible, conduct the visit from a location with reliable internet connection.
• Make sure that all devices (phone, computer, wireless headphones, etc.) are charged or plugged in. The adolescent can use headphones for privacy.
• To the extent possible, make sure that there is a quiet and private space where the adolescent can speak with the clinician privately during one-on-one time. Brainstorm on finding a private space for the telehealth visit.
• Make a list of the things they would like to talk about during the visit and have it nearby.

For Clinicians

• Make sure that there is no patient information visible within your camera’s view.
• Ensure that adolescent and family/caregiver are aware that the adolescent will spend time alone with the clinician during the visit.
• If the family/caregiver will not be with the adolescent physically, document where they will be, and how best to reach them.
• If you want to connect with the family/caregiver after the visit, establish that understanding in advance.

Bright Futures is a national health promotion and prevention initiative, led by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and supported by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration. The Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents, 4th Edition, provides theory-based and evidence-driven guidance for all preventive care screenings and well-child visits. Bright Futures content can be incorporated into many public health programs such as home visiting, child care, school-based health clinics, and many others. Materials developed especially for families are also available. Learn more about Bright Futures and get Bright Futures materials by visiting brightfutures.aap.org.

Funding Acknowledgements

Supporting Providers and Families to Access Telehealth and Distant Care Services for Pediatric Care
This resource is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $6,000,000 with no percentage financed with nongovernmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

Bright Futures National Center
This resource is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $5,000,000 with 10 percent financed with nongovernmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the US Government.

For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.