Virtual Visit Frequently Asked Questions

The Mass General Virtual Visits Program will allow you to conduct secure, video visits with your care provider from a computer, tablet or smartphone. It is the same world-class Mass General care from the comfort of your home, the convenience of work or from any other private location.

Of course! You and your clinician will develop a plan of care that will work for both of you.

Yes, you may conduct these visits from your workplace, but you should check with your IT department about any firewall/network restrictions. You should also confirm that you have a reliable internet/Wi-Fi connection from your workplace location.

Please check with your Mass General provider to find out if they are participating in the Virtual Visits program and if your visit would be appropriate to conduct virtually.

In-person care is always available for emergencies or as needed to meet your medical needs. If you choose to conduct a virtual visit with your provider, your insurance will be billed for the visit and standard co-pays/deductibles will apply.

Depending on your insurance coverage, you will be charged your usual co-pay/deductible. For more information, please contact your insurance company.

If you cancel your virtual visit, you will not be charged.

Following your virtual visit, you will receive a bill by mail or electronically via Patient Gateway. You may pay by phone, mail or electronically through Patient Gateway. All major credit cards and personal checks are accepted.

Most patient payments or co-pays for medical services are eligible expenses for most HSAs or FSAs. However, we recommend that you check with your employer or health insurance company to confirm.

Please contact the Mass General Billing Office at 617-726-3884 if you believe you have received a bill in error.

We are using a special version of Zoom used for health care visits that has several security features that are not available with other versions of Zoom. Each individual appointment creates a new meeting link between provider and patient. There is also a waiting room function providers use to admit people into the Zoom meeting so that no uninvited guests may join. All the video calls are encrypted, video and chat cannot be recorded and personal health information is not saved by the video system. Connecting to the visit through Patient Gateway provides another layer of security. Patient Gateway Zoom virtual visits are designed to make seeing your provider easy, while keeping you and your health information safe and secure.

Please find instructions for disabling popup blockers here (PDF).

To sign up for a new account, reset your password, or access your existing account visit Patient Gateway. You can also download the Mass General Brigham Patient Gateway app to your mobile device or tablet.

• A Patient Gateway account
• A Zoom video application downloaded and installed to your device
• A reliable internet connection
• A reliable device that meets the following minimum requirements:
  • PC/Mac with:
    1. Chrome or Firefox as an internet browser
    2. Webcam
    3. Microphone
    4. Speakers or headphones
  •  iPhone/iPad/Android Device with:
    1. The Mass General Brigham Patient Gateway Application
    2. Front-facing camera

Yes, just like a regular doctor’s appointment, your virtual visit is entirely private and confidential. Virtual visits are never recorded or shared. However, it is very important that you conduct your visits in a private, secure location.

A few minutes before your scheduled visit, log into Patient Gateway and hit the button to start your appointment. Your care provider will meet with you shortly.

Depending on your device, there may be physical buttons you can use to adjust the volume, an icon on the desktop of your computer or it can be raised or lowered in the virtual visit once you are connected with your provider.

Yes, you can invite a third party to join your appointment. Please let your clinician know that you would like someone else to join at the beginning of your visit. Your clinician will send you a link to the visit, which you can pass on to the third party.