GLOSSARY · VISITS
Store-and-forward, photos and forms a provider reviews later.
Store-and-forward is a telehealth method that captures a patient's information, such as photos, forms, or test results, and sends it to a provider to review later.
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What it means
It is the technology behind most asynchronous care. A patient uploads photos of a rash or a hairline, fills in a questionnaire, or shares a lab report; the platform stores it securely and forwards it to a licensed provider, who reviews it when available. Dermatology, hair loss, and eye care use it heavily.
States define store-and-forward in their telehealth laws, and some limit when it can be used to start care or to prescribe.
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Why it matters to a brand operator
Store-and-forward is what makes low-cost, high-volume programs possible. Providers review files in batches, patients never wait for an appointment, and a brand can accept new patients around the clock.
The quality of what is stored decides the quality of the decision. Photo instructions, required angles, and lighting guidance belong in the intake design, because an unreadable photo turns into a follow-up request or a declined patient. The photos are PHI and have to be stored and sent under HIPAA safeguards.
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How Tessic Health handles it
A completed consult on Tessic Health costs a flat $25, and the photos and forms patients submit are protected under the BAA Tessic signs with every client.
See the published termsRELATED TERMS
Words that come up next.
Asynchronous care
Asynchronous care is a telehealth model that lets a patient and a provider exchange information at different times, so a treatment decision can be made without a live call.
Intake questionnaire
An intake questionnaire is a structured medical form that collects a patient's history, symptoms, medications, and goals before a telehealth provider reviews the case.
BAA
A BAA (business associate agreement) is a HIPAA contract that binds any vendor handling patient health information to protect it, limit how it is used, and report breaches.