Telehealth vs In-Person Visits: When to Choose Each

Video consultation or clinic visit? The answer depends on your specific situation—what's wrong, what you need, and what's practical. Both have genuine advantages. Knowing when each works best helps you make better healthcare choices.

The Case for Telehealth

Telehealth—video or phone consultations with doctors—offers significant benefits for appropriate situations.

Convenience. No travel, no waiting room, no time off work. Consult from home during lunch break or after kids are in bed. Speed. Telehealth appointments are often available same-day or next-day when GP appointments are weeks out. Reduced exposure. No sitting in a waiting room with other sick people. Relevant during infectious disease seasons. Comfort. Some conversations are easier from your own space. Mental health discussions, sensitive topics, routine check-ins. Access. Rural areas with limited providers, mobility limitations, or conditions making travel difficult—telehealth removes barriers. Continuity. When traveling, you can still see your regular doctor for ongoing issues.

Research shows that for appropriate conditions, telehealth achieves similar outcomes to in-person care with high patient satisfaction.

The Case for In-Person Visits

Some situations genuinely require physical presence.

Physical examination. Doctors gather crucial information through touch—feeling lymph nodes, pressing on abdomen, assessing joint range of motion. Cameras can't replicate this. Auscultation. Listening to heart, lungs, and bowel sounds requires a stethoscope on your body. Procedures. Anything requiring hands—vaccinations, blood draws, wound care, minor surgeries. Equipment. Some assessments require clinic equipment—ECGs, certain vision tests, specific measurements. Complex presentations. When the diagnosis is unclear, thorough physical examination might reveal the cause. Subtle signs noticed in person may be invisible on video. Building relationship. For establishing care with a new provider, in-person visits build rapport and trust more effectively.

Condition-by-Condition Guide

Works well via telehealth:

• Mental health consultations (therapy, medication management)

• Chronic condition check-ins (diabetes, hypertension reviews)

• Prescription renewals for stable medications

• Simple infections when symptoms are clear (UTI with classic symptoms)

• Skin conditions visible on camera

• Cold and flu symptom assessment

• Health questions and advice

• Post-operative follow-ups when healing is visible

• Test result discussions

• Second opinions

Usually needs in-person:

• New or unclear abdominal pain

• Chest pain requiring examination

• Shortness of breath needing auscultation

• Lumps that need to be felt

• Musculoskeletal problems requiring physical assessment

• Ear, nose, throat issues needing direct visualisation

• Initial evaluation of new symptoms when diagnosis is uncertain

• Any condition requiring procedures or tests

• Childhood illness in young children (harder to assess remotely)

Could go either way:

• Headaches (depends on features and history)

• Back pain (may need examination or may not)

• Anxiety about symptoms (telehealth may suffice for reassurance)

• Rashes (depends on clarity of video image)

Making the Decision

Ask yourself these questions:

Does this require physical examination? Think about what a doctor would do in person. If they'd mainly talk and look at you, telehealth works. If they'd feel, press, listen, or measure, consider in-person. Do I need a procedure? Any physical intervention requires presence. Is the diagnosis clear? For straightforward presentations (classic UTI symptoms, prescription renewal), telehealth is efficient. For "something's wrong but I'm not sure what," in-person enables thorough evaluation. What's practical? Sometimes telehealth is the only realistic option—time constraints, distance, mobility. A good telehealth visit may be better than a delayed or missed in-person visit. What feels right? Trust your instinct. Some people prefer in-person for certain issues. That preference is valid.

The Hybrid Approach

The best approach often combines both:

Start with telehealth or AI consultation. Discuss symptoms, get initial guidance, determine what's needed. Escalate to in-person when appropriate. If telehealth consultation reveals need for examination, schedule appropriately. Use telehealth for follow-up. After in-person evaluation, many follow-ups work fine remotely.

This approach maximises convenience while ensuring you get hands-on care when necessary.

AI as the First Step

AI health assistants provide an even earlier triage point.

Before deciding between telehealth and in-person, AI consultation can help you understand your symptoms and what level of care you need. Sometimes the answer is neither—just information and reassurance. Sometimes it's "see a doctor soon, and here's whether video would work."

The Wellness A\ provides this triage function. Consult mode helps you understand your situation. If physician evaluation is needed, you can choose video or in-person based on what the AI guidance suggests.

Quality Considerations

Both telehealth and in-person care vary in quality. What matters:

Appropriate case selection. Using telehealth for telehealth-appropriate conditions. Good communication. Clear symptom description, thorough history-taking. Qualified providers. Licensed, regulated healthcare professionals. Follow-up capability. Ability to escalate to different care levels if needed.

How The Wellness A\ Helps

The Wellness A\ helps you navigate these choices.

AI consultation in consult mode helps you understand your symptoms and what level of care is appropriate.

When physician evaluation is needed, you can book same-day appointments with London-based doctors.

It's an integrated approach that starts with understanding and connects to care when needed.

Key Takeaways

• Telehealth excels for convenience, speed, and conditions not requiring physical examination

• In-person care is necessary for physical examination, procedures, and complex or unclear presentations

• Many conditions could reasonably go either way—let circumstances guide your choice

• A hybrid approach maximises convenience while ensuring appropriate care

• AI consultation can help determine what level of care your situation requires

Try The Wellness A\ free at thewellnesslondon.com/ai-doctor

FAQ Section

Is telehealth as good as seeing a doctor in person?

For appropriate conditions (those not requiring physical examination), research shows similar outcomes and often higher patient satisfaction. For conditions requiring examination, in-person is necessary.

Can doctors prescribe via telehealth?

Yes. Doctors conducting video consultations can prescribe medications when clinically appropriate. Some controlled substances and certain situations may require in-person evaluation.

What if the doctor decides I need to be seen in person after telehealth?

This happens appropriately when examination is needed. The telehealth consultation still provides value—clarifying the situation and expediting appropriate care.

Is telehealth covered by insurance?

Increasingly, yes. Many insurers cover telehealth equivalent to in-person visits. Check your specific coverage.

How do I know if my condition is appropriate for telehealth?

Consider whether physical examination would be essential. AI health assistants can help assess this. When uncertain, starting with telehealth consultation can determine whether in-person is needed.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for personal medical concerns.