Tips for a Successful Telehealth Appointment

Are you one of the many DaVita home dialysis patients using the DaVita Care Connect™ mobile app for convenient, virtual care appointments? If you are, or if you’d like to try it, follow these tips to help get the most from your appointment.

Days or Weeks Before Your Appointment

  • Schedule a practice appointment with your nurse (before the first appointment with your doctor).
  • Check with your care partner on scheduling if you’d both like to attend your appointments.
  • Ensure your Wi-Fi or cellular signal is sufficient to connect. Note: Cellular data can work but is not ideal.
  • Consider getting headphones with a microphone for optimal sound quality, if you don’t already have some.

An Hour or Two Before Your Appointment

  • Dress so you can easily show your exit site, feet and shins.
  • Set up your visit space:
    - Choose a quiet, private, well-lit indoor area. (You may be asked to move around a little bit, so be sure to have space to do so.)
    - Aim to have the brightest lights or a window in front of you, not behind you.
    - Set up your phone or tablet so the camera is eye level, it’s stable and you can step back from it.

15 Minutes Before Your Appointment

  • Review your most recent vitals and be ready to share them with the care team.
  • Have the patient support number handy for assistance: 1-833-803-5542.
  • Make sure you’ve allowed the app access to your smartphone’s camera and microphone.
  • Turn off TVs and other devices.
  • Join the appointment early in case you need extra time connecting or troubleshooting.

During Your Appointment

  • Be ready with your vitals and share them with your care team.
  • Try to speak loudly into the microphone.
  • Share any changes you’ve experienced, such as:
    - Decreased urine output since your last visit
    - Food tasting differently or unpleasant
    - Breathing problems or shortness of breath
    - Appetite changes
    - Swelling
    - Dialysis questions or issues
    - Sleeping problems
    - Decreased energy and productivity

More than 75% of DaVita home dialysis patients use the Care Connect app to keep track of their appointments and health data, securely message their care teams, and have care appointments from the comfort of home. Click here to learn more about the app.

Take a Deeper Look at Treatment & Services

Dialysis Treatments

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Home Dialysis

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Insurance Coverage for Dialysis

When you are diagnosed with kidney disease and need dialysis or a transplant, you’ll want to understand your insurance options, how to receive financial assistance and more.

Prescription Management

Understand how to keep track of your prescribed medications.

Travel Support

From tips to helping set up treatments when you travel, DaVita has resources to keep you on the move.

Emergency Services

When you need emergency support or dialysis placement, look no further than DaVita® Guest Services.

Quality Programs

See how the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recognized many DaVita centers with top marks in its Five-Star Quality Rating program.

Better Care with DaVita

With a kidney disease diagnosis, what do you do next? Find your way to better care in 3 steps.