What is Telehealth?

Telehealth is the use of telecommunications such as a phone, tablet, or PC to provide real-time health care to patients at a distance.

Who participates in telehealth?

Healthcare professionals can use telehealth to see patients or to consult with other care providers for more convenient, available treatment options. 

What can telehealth be used for?

Telehealth has many applications in healthcare, including standard clinical care, counseling or therapy, patient education, professional consultant or supervision, and more.

Where can telehealth be provided?

Telehealth can be provided to a patient at home or work, or at another clinic or hospital. Now with mobile devices, you or the patient can be anywhere with access to the internet.

Is telehealth private information secure?

Yes, telehealth is subject to the same privacy rules and regulations as in-person healthcare services. At CommonHealth, we use TherapyNotes, a telehealth service that is HIPAA-, GDPR-, PHIPA/PIPEDA-, and HITECH-compliant and meets worldwide security requirements.

Is TherapyNotes difficult to use?

No. TherapyNotes is as simple as typing in the CommonHealth Recovery web address and your name. Once you complete those steps, you will begin the call with a scheduled provider.

What devices are compatible with TherapyNotes? 

• Any PC with a webcam and speakers, or;
• Any tablet devices with a built-in webcam and speakers, or; 
• Any smartphone (Android or IOS) with a built in camera and speakers.
• Device must have stable internet connection. 

How do I prepare for a telehealth appointment?

Identify a suitable room that is quiet, private, and free of distractions. To keep background noise at a minimum, close any doors, shut windows, turn off the television, and keep loud pets in another room. We aim for this to for a short time remain as a distraction free zone. If you live with family members or roommates, you may want to consider hanging a “do not disturb” sign on the door to avoid interruptions.

Is telehealth private?

Just like a face-to-face appointment, your telehealth visit is private and confidential. To further ensure confidentiality, you may want to consider using headphones and choosing a space where you can close the door. On our end, telehealth providers abide by the strictest confidentiality measures. We ensure that our telehealth spaces are private, secluded, and confidential. 

How do I log on to my session?

Before your session begins, you will receive a patient flyer titled “Getting Started for Clients” with login instructions. Here’s how you log on:

• Sign into the CommonHealth Recovery Patient Portal
• Click the Join Session button for your appointment.
• Once the therapist has arrived, they will check you into the session.
• Use any extra time before the session begins to test your device settings, including your microphone, speaker, and webcam.

If you have any questions before the group session begins, you can use the chat feature to communicate with the provider.

Will the appointment be recorded?

We never record or store our telehealth appointments and all communication is confidential. 

Download or fill out the telehealth consent form here.