Can you ask more questions and get answers?
Compare the way you exchange questions.
| Format | Ask before choosing |
|---|---|
| In a room | Who will assess me, and what can be discussed or examined during the visit? |
| Live video | How do I send records, and what happens if the connection fails? |
| Phone | Can this call give the person treating me enough information about my problem? |
| Messages or a form | Who reviews my answers, and what lets both of us ask further questions? |
A clinician is the doctor, nurse or other health professional who assesses or treats you.
Message-based care is sometimes called asynchronous care. It means you and the clinician may reply at different times.
A form needs a way to ask more questions.
Medical boards are state bodies that license doctors and can take action over their conduct.
As of September 2026, the national group for medical boards advises against treatment based only on a form with preset answers and no exchange of questions. [A]
That advice allows a form that leads to more questions, reviewed by a clinician who can ask you for further details. [A]
Ask how you can reply and how you can ask your own questions. A checkout page gives no answer to that.
Ask why a phone call fits the assessment.
As of September 2026, the group’s advice allows phone care when you cannot or do not want to use live video, or when a phone call is the usual level of care for that service. [A]
Ask the person treating you whether the call gives them enough information about your problem, and how they would arrange a needed exam or test.
The state can change the format rules.
As of September 2026, US states differ on whether and how online forms or phone visits can support prescribing. [B]
The format alone cannot settle whether the service can assess and prescribe for you.
Next: take a short question sheetSource notes for this page
- [A]Medical boards: forms, calls and follow-up
As of September 2026, this is advice to state boards, not a nationwide law. A form must gather enough information for care and allow the clinician to ask more.
- [B]US Health and Human Services: state licence rules
As of September 2026, states have different rules for care by phone or online form. Ask which rules cover the place you will be during the visit.