Get virtual care from your home.
You don't have to travel to a medical office every time you need care with a UC San Diego Health provider. Video visits are just like a regular appointment with your doctor, only more convenient. Friends or family members can also sit in if they're in the same location as you.
We offer video visits for primary care and Express Care for minor health concerns via your computer, smartphone or tablet. You must have an appointment.
What's a Video Visit?
A video visit is a live, two-way audiovisual appointment on your computer or mobile device (smartphone or tablet). You can talk to your UC San Diego Health provider from your home, workplace or another convenient location.
Before your online doctor appointment, you'll need to complete questionnaires online and digitally sign consent forms. At the scheduled time, you log into your MyUCSDChart app and discuss your health concerns face-to-face with your provider in real time.
You describe your condition, answer your provider's questions and show your symptoms, such as a red eye, skin rash or a visible wound. We evaluate your symptoms and make a diagnosis.
Depending on your condition, we can recommend the best possible treatment for a smooth recovery, adjust your medications, order lab tests or send prescriptions to your pharmacy.
Express Care Video Visits
If you want virtual care for minor health concerns on the same day, next day or during extended hours, try Express Care video visits — available seven days a week from 8 a.m. and 7 p.m.
You must be 18 years or older to use this service. You'll be able to consult one of our experienced, board-certified nurse practitioners or physician assistants.
This online care is available for minor injuries and illnesses, like coughs, colds, sore throats, ear infections, simple fractures or sprains.
Check Conditions and Symptoms Treated
Online Primary and Specialty Care
Video visits with your primary care physician (PCP) are a good option for care that doesn’t require a physical examination in person, for medication questions and follow-up appointments. Our PCPs offer video visits during office hours on weekdays.
You may get faster access to your family medicine doctor or internal medicine doctor by scheduling a virtual visit instead of an in-person visit.
Video visits may also be offered by some medical specialties. Ask your specialist’s office whether it’s an option.
How to Schedule a Video Visit
Scheduling a virtual appointment with your PCP or Express Care is easy. You can do it yourself online or ask your doctor's office for help.
Schedule Online Through MyUCSDChart
You will need to activate your account on our MyUCSDChart patient portal. Then follow these steps on your computer or mobile device.
- Log into your MyUCSDChart account.
- Select the "Visits" icon.
- Click the "Schedule an Appointment" button.
- Then select "Video Visit: Primary Care" or "Express Care Video Visit."
Schedule by Phone
If you would like to see a specialist or a primary care provider you haven't seen before, or if you prefer making appointments by phone, ask your provider's office if a video visit is a possibility. The office will help you schedule a telehealth appointment.
Private, Safe and Convenient
Video visits with your health care provider — part of UC San Diego Health's Telemedicine services — offer significant patient benefits:
- Privacy and security: Your remote appointment will start only after you've signed in to MyUCSDChart, a safe and secure online patient portal. Your personal health information is treated in the same confidential way as during an in-person visit.
- Safety and time savings: Save the time and travel expenses of going to your doctor's office. You can skip crowded waiting rooms and not worry about infection risk from other sick people.
- Convenience: You can consult the doctor from your home or another convenient place if you have difficulty traveling to receive care.
- Relaxed atmosphere: Without the distractions often present at a clinic, you can focus on getting all your questions answered. You can even have a family member or friend join your appointment.
Prescriptions
You can get or refill prescriptions during a video visit. Your doctor or other health care provider can send the prescription electronically to your pharmacy.
Note: We can't prescribe controlled substances — such as narcotic and pain medicine and medications for anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), sleep and weight loss — through this telemedicine service.
Telehealth Payments
We accept a variety of insurance plans for video visits. But please check with your insurance company to ensure that video visits are covered. You may still be liable for your typical copays and coinsurance for online appointments.
You may also be able to use your employer-provided flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA) to pay for Express Care. Check with your plan.
Video Visit FAQs
Yes, we have interpreters available to join video visits. This does not need to be requested in advance; simply ask your provider once the virtual consult begins.
Yes. However, they must be physically in the same room as you. Please let your provider know who else is present during your virtual visit.
No, this is an optional service offered for your convenience, and it won’t affect any future appointments. Video visits are just another way to more easily manage your health care needs.
You always have the option to make an in-person appointment by calling your doctor's office or scheduling online through your MyUCSDChart account.
- Use a computer or a mobile device (smartphone or tablet) with the MyUCSDHealth app downloaded — check which device brand/model you can use.
- Log into your MyUCSDChart account for secure access.
- Read tips to ensure a successful virtual visit.
Call your clinic if your provider is more than 15 minutes late or if there's an issue in starting your video visit.
If you're having technical issues, please contact MyUCSDChart customer support at 619-543-5220 — from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. any day of the week.
