The patient completes a structured intake, the provider reviews it, and a decision is issued without the two ever being on a call at the same time. It is the workhorse model of direct-to-consumer telehealth.
Async is what makes the economics work. There is no scheduling, no no-shows, no provider idle time, and conversion does not depend on a patient finding a free half hour.
It is not universally permitted. Some states require a synchronous visit before an initial prescription, and controlled substances carry their own requirements regardless of state.
Async removes the single largest source of funnel drop-off in telehealth. A brand that can serve a category asynchronously has structurally better conversion than one that cannot.
Asynchronous telehealth, in practice
In most states for most non-controlled therapies, yes. Several states require a synchronous visit before an initial prescription, and scheduled medications have additional requirements. Intake should route by patient state automatically rather than relying on your team to know the map.