If you've never done a Telehealth visit before, it's normal to feel a little unsure about how it all works — especially for something as personal as addiction treatment. Telehealth is a well-established, evidence-based way to deliver Suboxone (Buprenorphine) treatment for opioid use disorder, used by clinics across the country. This article isn't about whether Telehealth is allowed (we cover that separately) — it's a plain walkthrough of what actually happens, step by step, from booking your appointment to picking up your prescription.
Before Your Visit: Getting Ready
Getting set up takes just a few minutes:
Book your appointment. Use the /book link on our website to choose a time that works for you. You'll fill out some basic intake information beforehand so your provider has context going into the visit.
Check your device. You'll need a smartphone, tablet, or computer with a working camera and microphone, plus a stable internet connection. Most people use their phone. If your video connection is unreliable on the day of your visit, we can typically switch to an audio (phone) call so a technical hiccup doesn't derail your appointment.
Find a private, quiet space. Plan to join from somewhere you won't be interrupted and can speak openly — a bedroom, a parked car, or anywhere with a door you can close. This helps you have an honest conversation with your provider and helps them hear you clearly.
Have your ID and pharmacy information handy. You'll need a valid photo ID and the name and location of the pharmacy where you'd like any prescriptions sent.
Be ready to talk openly. Your provider will ask about your health history and your substance use history — what you've used, how often, and for how long. Honest answers here are what let your provider build a treatment plan that actually fits your situation.
A charged device with camera and microphone · a stable internet or data connection · a private space · a photo ID · your pharmacy's name and address · a list of current medications, if you take any.
During Your Visit: What Actually Happens
Your appointment is a real-time conversation with a licensed provider — typically Jaewon Lee, AGACNP-BC, or another Acorn TeleMAT provider — over live video, or by phone if video isn't available to you. During the visit, your provider will:
Review your history and current symptoms. This includes your substance use history, any withdrawal symptoms you're experiencing, other health conditions, and medications you're taking.
Ask you to describe relevant physical symptoms. Since a hands-on exam isn't possible over video, your provider will ask you to describe things like pain, tremor, sweating, or nausea, and may ask you to show something on camera (like your pupils or an area of concern) if it's useful.
Discuss a treatment plan with you. If Buprenorphine treatment is appropriate for you, your provider will walk through how it works, dosing, and what to expect in the first days and weeks.
Answer your questions. This is your time to ask anything — about side effects, how the medication works, what happens if you miss a dose, or anything else on your mind.
What's Different From an In-Person Visit
The biggest difference is the physical exam. In an office visit, a provider might check your blood pressure, listen to your heart and lungs, or physically examine an area of concern. Over Telehealth, that's not possible, so your provider relies more heavily on what you report and what can be observed on camera. In most cases, this works well for ongoing Suboxone management. If something comes up that genuinely needs hands-on evaluation — a physical injury, a concerning finding that needs to be examined directly, or a lab test that requires an in-person draw — your provider will tell you and help arrange an in-person follow-up or referral.
A SAMHSA evidence-based resource guide on telehealth for serious mental illness and substance use disorders reviewed studies of telehealth-delivered medication treatment for opioid use disorder and found no significant difference in positive urine drug screens between telehealth and in-person groups, along with comparable treatment retention — supporting Telehealth as a legitimate way to receive ongoing OUD care.
After Your Visit: Prescriptions and Follow-Up
Once your visit wraps up, here's what happens next:
Prescriptions go out electronically. If Suboxone or another medication is appropriate for you, your provider sends the prescription directly to the pharmacy you provided — no paper script to carry around.
You'll have a follow-up plan. Your provider will let you know when to schedule your next visit, which is typically more frequent early in treatment and spaces out as your plan stabilizes.
You can reach the clinic between visits. If you have questions, side effects, or concerns before your next scheduled appointment, you don't have to wait — contact the clinic and our team can help or get you in touch with your provider.
How Long Does a Visit Take?
Visit length varies by appointment type. A new patient visit is more thorough — your provider needs time to take a full history, understand your goals, and build an initial treatment plan — so it generally runs longer than a routine follow-up, which is often a shorter check-in on how you're doing and whether any adjustments are needed. Your booking confirmation will give you a sense of what to expect for your specific appointment type.
Privacy and Confidentiality
Your Telehealth visit is a confidential conversation between you and your provider, held on a secure platform, just like an in-person appointment would be. You're welcome to join from wherever feels private and comfortable to you — that's part of what makes Telehealth convenient for a sensitive topic like substance use treatment.
This article is for general educational purposes and isn't a substitute for individualized medical advice. Your specific visit format, timing, and treatment plan will be determined by your provider based on your situation.