Telehealth vs In-Person Visits: Which Do You Need?

Many concerns can be handled well by video. Some need hands-on care. Here is how to tell the difference.

Sagebrooke Family Medicine · November 2026

A smiling woman in a pink hijab sits on a light sofa at home, talking on a laptop video call.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Factor

Telehealth Visit

In-Person Visit

Effectiveness

Works well for many concerns that can be assessed by talking, looking on video, and reviewing home readings or lab results, such as colds, sinus symptoms, pink eye, many rashes, medication refills and follow-up for ongoing conditions.

Needed when the answer depends on touch, sound or a test done during the visit, such as listening to the lungs, looking in the ears, examining a joint or the abdomen, or a rapid strep swab.

Side Effects & Risks

Some findings cannot be seen or heard on video, so a telehealth visit may lead to a lab test or an in-person exam. A steady connection and a private, well-lit space help the visit go smoothly.

Requires travel and time away from work or school, and you may be around other people who are sick while you wait.

Cost

Typically billed to your insurance, with copays, deductibles or coinsurance depending on your plan. Coverage for telehealth varies by plan, so contact the practice to check your plan.

Typically billed to your insurance, with copays, deductibles or coinsurance depending on your plan. Tests, vaccines or X-rays done at the visit may be billed separately.

Time Commitment

No travel. You join a video visit from home or wherever you are located in Utah, with time for your questions.

Includes travel, check-in and any wait, plus time for the exam and any testing done during the visit.

Best For

Common illnesses, UTI symptoms (with a urine test at a local lab when needed), medication management, chronic condition follow-up using home readings, mental health check-ins, birth control counseling, lab result reviews, and many women's health and teen health conversations.

Pap tests and pelvic exams, vaccines, rapid strep swabs, newborn and infant weight checks, ear, lung, joint or abdominal exams, stitches and X-rays.

Telehealth Visit

A telehealth visit is a video visit with your provider. You talk through your symptoms, history and medications, and your provider can look at things on camera, like a rash, a red eye or a swollen ankle. Photos you share and home readings, such as blood pressure, blood sugar, temperature or weight, add useful detail.

When a test is needed, your provider can order labs at a local lab or imaging at a local imaging center, then go over the results with you by video. Prescriptions, when appropriate, are sent to your pharmacy.

Sagebrooke Family Medicine starts as a telehealth-only practice for patients located in Utah, with an in-person clinic planned for later. Common reasons for a telehealth visit include everyday illnesses, medication management, follow-up for ongoing conditions, mental health check-ins, birth control counseling, and many women's health and teen health conversations.

In-Person Visit

Some care depends on hands-on contact. Listening to the lungs, looking in the ears, pressing on the abdomen, or checking how a joint moves cannot be done well on video.

Other care is in person by its nature: Pap tests and pelvic exams, vaccines, rapid strep swabs, newborn and infant weight checks, stitches and X-rays.

While Sagebrooke is telehealth only, your provider will tell you plainly when something needs to be done in person. When a hands-on exam is needed, we will help you arrange an in-person visit, a lab or an imaging test nearby.

How to Decide

Choose telehealth if...

You have cold, sinus or pink eye symptoms
You need a medication refill or a medication check
You are following up on an ongoing condition and have home readings to share
You want to review lab results or talk through birth control options
You would like a mental health check-in from home

Choose an in-person visit if...

You are due for a Pap test, a pelvic exam or vaccines
Your child needs a strep test, an ear check or a weight check
You have an injury that may need stitches or an X-ray
Your provider needs to listen to your lungs or examine your belly or a joint

For severe or life-threatening symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a telehealth visit as good as an in-person visit?

For many concerns, yes. Common illnesses, medication management and follow-up for ongoing conditions often work well by video. Some care needs hands-on contact, such as listening to the lungs or a Pap test. When a hands-on exam is needed, we will help you arrange it.

What do I need for a telehealth visit?

A phone, tablet or computer with a camera, a reliable internet connection and a private, well-lit space. Have your medication list handy, along with any home readings, like blood pressure or blood sugar, and photos of a rash or other visible concern.

Do I need to be in Utah for my visit?

Sagebrooke Family Medicine offers telehealth visits for patients located in Utah. If you will be outside Utah at the time of your visit, contact the practice before you schedule.

Does insurance cover telehealth visits?

Coverage for telehealth varies by plan. Sagebrooke Family Medicine is an insurance-based practice, and we are in the process of joining insurance plans. What you pay depends on your plan, including any copay, deductible or coinsurance. Contact the practice to check whether your plan is accepted, and check with your insurer about coverage for telehealth, labs and imaging.

What if I need an exam, a test or a vaccine?

Your provider will explain what needs to happen in person and why. Labs can be ordered to a local lab, and imaging to a local imaging center. For hands-on exams, Pap tests and vaccines, we will help you arrange an in-person visit nearby. For an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Not Sure Which Fits You?

Reach out to ask whether your concern is a good fit for telehealth, and what to expect from a visit.

Discuss Your Options