Graphic courtesy of University Health Services.

Since Florida State University made the transition to remote learning for the remaining Spring 2020 semester, many departments and programs are working diligently to bring the services and amenities offered by the University to the homes of students. University Health Services (UHS), FSU’s on campus health and wellness organization, is no exception as they announce their new Telehealth services since online courses began.

Telehealth at FSU went live in March of this year. “We always explore our student’s requests, and this has been a popular one,” said Mari Kay Avant, UHS’s Marketing & Outreach Coordinator, about the highly-anticipated health service. 

So, what exactly is Telehealth? Telehealth is a remote resource available to bridge the gap between patients and their provider, whether they are located locally or outside the Tallahassee area. “Continuity of care is important and by offering this service, our providers are able to continue to provide healthcare, virtually.” Avant explained. 

The care students receive through Telehealth will match the great healthcare originally offered when visiting FSU’s Health and Wellness Center. “The same smiling, caring and passionate people are on the other end of the device,” said Avant. 

Telehealth can currently be utilized by students experiencing the following: upper respiratory infections, flu-like symptoms, heartaches, nausea/vomiting, UTI’s, tooth pain, ortho injuries, back pain, psychiatry, and more. A full list of services offered by Telehealth can be found here. While questions or concerns may arise about other conditions and circumstances, Avant reminds students and families that “when in doubt, reach out.”

“If you are unsure, please call. Our triage nurses are able to assess you over the phone and provide you with a plan of care,” said Avant. 

UHS is open to assisting students for any health-related questions or concerns and reminds the community that their services aren’t limited to sick visits. “This is also a good time to utilize your patient portal where you can receive lab results and send messages to your provider.” Avant added. This feature is located under the ‘My Health’ tab on the UHS website. 

While Telehealth is being introduced in a period of remote learning, Avant assures the community that it is here to remain a constant resource for FSU students. “At this time, the plan is to continue using Telehealth along with our face to face visits,” she spoke.

Telehealth uses a platform called Zoom to conduct remote appointments, so students must have access to a personal device that is equipped with audio and visual components. Services provided by Telehealth are available Monday-Friday from 8am to 4pm, with staffing available until 5pm. These services are not available on weekends, but UHS does provide special After Hours Care information.

To schedule an appointment via Telehealth, students must follow these steps:

Step 1: Download Zoom to your personal device.

Step 2: Call 850.644.4567 to schedule with a UHS representative.

Step 3: Await email confirmation from uhs-telehealth@fsu.edu. This email will contain your consent form, appointment link, and password. Please note, your consent form must be completed prior to the appointment.

Step 4: At your scheduled appointment time, open your email confirmation containing your zoom link and password. Enter the appointment by clicking “join meeting”.  You will need to use both audio and video functions.

Graphic courtesy of University Health Services.

For any additional questions about Telehealth or University Health Services, FSU students and families can reference the UHS website. To stay updated on UHS and its resources, follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.