Video appointments
What you will need
- A charged up computer, tablet or smartphone with built in camera and microphone.
- A good internet connection - you can use data but Wi-Fi offers a better experience.
- Find a quiet, well-lit space where you won't be disturbed during your appointment.
- Join your Telehealth appointment with any of the following browsers - Chrome, Firefox or Safari.
- For smart devices, we recommend that you can download and install the zoom app before your appointment.
Things to prepare for the appointment
- A pen and paper to note things down during your appointment.
- A prescription card, a list of medications or your medications in their packaging.
- A list of questions or issues to help you get the most from your appointment.
- A support person. You are welcome to have a family member/whānau or friend with you during the appointment. Just remember to tell the clinician who is with you when you join your appointment.
Starting your video appointment
- 5-10 minutes before your appointment, find and open your video appointment email or text message.
- If you would like to test your internet connection and setup using Zoom click here.
- At the time of your video appointment click Join your video call appointment via Zoom link. The Zoom software will automatically start. Please remember to select Join with video and Join with audio. If joining from an iPad or similar device select Call using internet audio or Call using device audio.
- Once joined, you should be in the video waiting room ready to start your appointment
- Your doctor, nurse or healthcare professional will join your video call when they are ready
- Say "hello" and wave when connected
- Clinicians can sometimes be late due to a previous appointment. If you're concerned please telephone the clinic to enquire.
What to expect during your video appointment
- You may be asked to confirm your identity
- If another person is with you, introduce them to the clinician
- When you are ready you can talk to your clinician about your health
- If you want to show the clinician something, you can try to use the screen camera
- You may receive important information like changes to your medication
- You can ask the clinician to repeat information to confirm you both have it correctly
- If something goes wrong with the call, we will call you back by Zoom or telephone
- After the clinician has finished talking with you, they will arrange things like letters, tests and other appointments if needed
- Do not record your appointment, instead inform the clinician of any concerns.
- We will say "goodbye" before we go
If all goes well, the call will feel like a face-to-face appointment
After the clinician has finished talking to you, they will arrange various things like letters, blood test forms and other appointments if required.
Before completing your appointment together, discuss with your clinician about whether your next appointment should be face-to-face or via telephone or video.
Take note of the clinician's advice. Just because you felt the appointment went fine by video doesn't mean the clinician was confident that everything clinically necessary was achieved.
If they are uneasy about another video appointment, ask why.
It is likely that you will become more familiar and confident with the technology over time. So, if it seems strange or difficult for the first appointment, it may get easier for your following appointments.