Virtual primary care has matured significantly from its early urgent-care-only days. Today, many people manage their entire primary care relationship online — routine exams, chronic disease management, prescription refills, lab ordering, and specialist referrals — without ever visiting a physical clinic. If you are new to virtual primary care, understanding how it works helps you get the most out of it.
Your First Virtual Primary Care Visit
Before the Visit
Most virtual primary care platforms require you to complete a health intake before your first visit. This typically includes:
- Medical history (past diagnoses, surgeries, hospitalizations)
- Current medications and allergies
- Family history of significant conditions
- Reason for visit
- Insurance information (or payment method for self-pay)
Gather any recent lab results or medical records you have. While not required, bringing prior care documentation helps your new provider give better-informed recommendations.
The Consultation
Most first visits are live video consultations (some platforms also offer asynchronous text-based care for simpler concerns). Expect the first visit to run 20–40 minutes for a new patient evaluation, or 10–20 minutes for a specific concern.
The clinician will review your intake, ask follow-up questions, assess the presenting concern, and discuss recommendations. For chronic condition management, they will review current treatments and labs, assess control, and make adjustments as needed.
After the Visit
Your provider will typically send a visit summary through the platform's secure messaging system. Prescriptions are sent electronically to your pharmacy of choice. Lab orders are sent to a lab network where you can walk in at a location near you. Referrals are coordinated as needed.
What Virtual Primary Care Handles Well
- Preventive care and health maintenance: Annual wellness visits, preventive screenings (ordered and reviewed), vaccination records review and scheduling coordination
- Chronic disease management: Diabetes, hypertension, hypothyroidism, hyperlipidemia, asthma — medication management and monitoring
- Acute illness: Respiratory infections, UTIs, skin infections, allergies, minor injuries evaluated through history and visual assessment
- Mental health coordination: Screening, mild-moderate depression and anxiety management, referrals for more complex needs
- Medication management: Refills, dose adjustments, medication reviews
What Requires In-Person Care
- Physical procedures (injections, wound care, biopsies)
- Conditions requiring hands-on examination (abdominal pain evaluation, musculoskeletal assessment)
- Pap smears and pelvic examinations
- Urgent or emergency presentations
Good virtual primary care providers are explicit about these boundaries and will direct you to appropriate in-person care when needed rather than attempting to manage everything remotely.
Building a Virtual Primary Care Relationship
The quality of primary care — virtual or in-person — improves significantly when you have a consistent relationship with a provider who knows your history. When choosing a virtual primary care platform, prioritize those that assign you a consistent provider rather than routing you to whoever is available at the time of each visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a virtual primary care doctor order blood work?
Yes. Virtual primary care providers can order lab work through affiliated lab networks (Quest, LabCorp, or regional labs). You receive an electronic lab order, walk in to a nearby lab location, and results are delivered through the patient portal for provider review.
Can I get a physical exam done virtually?
Annual wellness visits can be conducted virtually — covering health history, medication review, preventive care recommendations, and documentation. Physical examination components (auscultation, abdominal palpation, pelvic exam) cannot be performed virtually. Some insurance plans accept virtual annual wellness visits for preventive care credit; others require in-person exams for this.
What if I need a specialist referral?
Virtual primary care providers can write specialist referrals. Coordination with in-person specialists works the same as referrals from a traditional PCP. Some platforms have integrated specialist networks that allow specialist consultations to occur virtually as well.
Find a Virtual Primary Care Provider That Fits Your Life
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