Seeing your doctor virtually comes with so many benefits. You don't have to worry about traffic, risk being exposed to pathogens from other sick patients, or find a parking spot. However, if you want to have a productive, helpful virtual doctor's visit, you do want to prepare ahead of time for your appointment in the following ways.

Test your camera and microphone

You will need a camera and microphone in order to connect to your doctor's system and participate in the appointment. You don't want to try to log into your session and discover your equipment does not work. So, do a trial run with your camera and microphone the day before your appointment so you have time to troubleshoot any issues.

Write down notes about the reason for your visit

Maybe you scheduled this visit because you have a sore throat. Or perhaps you've been worried about a mole on your back. When your appointment arrives and you feel a little nervous, you may forget the details about the reason for your call. At virtual visits when your doctor is not directly meeting with you physically, the details are even more important. So, it's wise to prepare for your appointment by writing down some notes. Make a list of points you want to mention so you can reference this list during the visit.

Let your family members know you need quiet time

If you live with family members or roommates, let them know about your doctor's visit, and tell them you'll need some quiet time while the visit is occurring. You don't want them to play any loud music or videos that would make it harder for you and your doctor to hear each other, or that would distract you from focusing on the call.

Gather your insurance and payment information

Depending on the system your doctor uses, you might be asked for your insurance and payment information before or after the visit. In any case, you want to have this information on hand so you don't waste valuable appointment time scrambling to find it. So, gather the relevant documents, and set them on your desk in preparation for the visit.

A virtual doctor's visit can be really convenient and productive. Just make sure you follow the tips above in the days leading up to your visit. Doing so will save you some stress and maybe even a few headaches.