Important: This article is general information, not medical advice. Virtual care is not appropriate for every concern. For a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Privacy starts with the setting you choose
Before a virtual conversation, choose a private place where you can speak openly and hear the clinician clearly. Avoid driving during an appointment, and consider using a secure personal connection rather than public Wi-Fi when practical.
If another person is with you, tell the clinician who is present. You can ask questions about the communication method, privacy, and whether you are comfortable continuing virtually.
What a clinic may confirm before or during a visit
A clinic may ask for your identity, current physical location, a phone number in case a connection fails, the reason for the visit, and your consent to proceed. Confirming location and a backup contact method matters because the appropriate response can change if symptoms worsen or technology fails.
Only share health information through the clinic’s approved care workflow. AlbertaMD’s public callback request collects callback, location, and eligibility details only; it does not ask for symptoms, health history, a health-card number, or document uploads, and it does not replace the clinic’s broader clinical-record and privacy process.
Consent and an in-person option
Consent is an ongoing conversation, not just a checkbox. You can ask how virtual care works, whether an in-person assessment is available or more appropriate, and what will happen if the clinician decides the concern cannot be assessed safely online.
A virtual visit may lead to advice, follow-up, testing, a referral, an in-person recommendation, or another clinically appropriate next step. No particular outcome is guaranteed before an assessment.
Keep an emergency backup plan in mind
Virtual care is not an emergency service. If you develop severe, rapidly worsening, or possible emergency symptoms, do not wait for a message, a callback, or a video link. Call 911 or seek immediate emergency assessment.
If the right non-emergency care setting is unclear, contact an appropriate in-person healthcare professional or care setting for individual guidance. AlbertaMD does not provide emergency dispatch or individual urgency assessment through this guide.
Learn more from Alberta resources.
These public resources offer additional context on virtual-care preparation, safety, and professional standards.
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For non-emergency health concerns only. For requests submitted during open hours, the clinic reviews each request and contacts you about the next step.