Austin Regional Clinic offers telemedicine visits for primary and specialty care. Doctors can evaluate you for a new health issue or follow up with you via a phone call or video visit, from the comfort of your home. Check with your health plan benefits for specific telehealth costs.
How to prepare for your video visit
You can start preparing for your visit within 3 hrs prior to your appointment time, or 1.5 hrs after your appointment time in case the provider is running behind.
- Use the right device. This might be a mobile phone, tablet, or computer where you can receive a text and is equipped with a camera and audio tools.
- Use cellular/mobile data for your video visit instead of Wi-Fi to minimize technical issues. You can turn off Wi-Fi in your smartphone settings.
Complete Pre-Visit Steps
- If you have MyChart, verify your demographics, complete or sign needed forms and questionnaires, update medications and allergies, and pay your copay before your visit.
- Go to your upcoming appointments in ARC MyChart and click Pre-Visit Steps.
Allow calls from your ARC clinic
Please make sure your ARC clinic phone number is in your phone's contact list so you don't miss the call.
Next, a nurse/medical assistant will call you to collect some information and instruct you on how to start the video portion. Be sure to end the call before staring the video.
Please WAIT to do the following steps after you have spoken to the nurse/MA.
How to start your video visit
Your care team will text a link to your mobile number when they call you with instructions. You do not need to have ARC MyChart to proceed.
- Turn on "do not disturb" on your phone.
- To begin, tap on the link from your text message. Then tap on [Allow Camera & Mic Access].
- Take your vitals. If you are able to do a home blood pressure reading, please do so and report it to the medical assistant or nurse.
- Please be patient. Just like in the clinic, we will try to call you as close to your visit time as possible.
Recommendations:
Video visits work best on a mobile device. If you prefer a desktop or laptop, you can test your connection by tapping the "Test Video" button.
Video visits work best when you use the strongest signal you have in your house – either cellular/mobile or WiFi. If your cellular signal is strong, it is often best to turn off Wi-Fi in your smartphone settings. (See instructions under Troubleshooting Tips).
Troubleshooting tips
Poor video connection? Turn on cellular data on Apple and Android devices.
Apple devices
First, check if Wi-Fi is on and turn it off.
- Check if Wi-Fi is on. You'll know Wi-Fi is on if you see the Wi-Fi icon at the top of the screen, left side.
- Tap Settings.
- Tap Wi-Fi.
- Tap the toggle button so that the color switches from green to gray.
Then, turn on Cellular:
- Tap Settings
- Tap Cellular
- Verify that Cellular is turned on – the toggle button will be green
Check that you have a data connection. Next to your reception bars in the Notification bar at the top left, you will see either "3G", "4G" or "5G".
Android devices
First, check if Wi-Fi is on and turn it off.
- Check if Wi-Fi is on. You'll know Wi-Fi is on if you see the Wi-Fi icon at the top of the screen, right side.
- Tap Settings.
- Tap the Connections. This should be located towards the top of the menu.
- Other versions of Android may have a "Mobile Networks" or "Data usage" option instead.
- Tap the Wi-Fi toggle button. This will toggle your mobile data ON.
- On older versions of Android, check the "Data enabled" box.
- Check that you have a data connection. Next to your reception bars in the Notification bar, you may be able to see either "3G", "4G" or "5G". The Wi-Fi icon will be gray.
Note: The best way to test is to open the web browser on your mobile device and try to visit a website.
Technical requirements
You must have a mobile phone or tablet with iOS or Android operating system
A front facing camera
The device must be able to receive a text message