Telehealth has meaningfully expanded access to care, but as the space has grown, so has the number of platforms competing on speed and convenience rather than safety and clinical rigor. Access matters, but it only makes a positive difference when the quality of care that people receive is high.
As a digital health platform, we feel it’s our responsibility to help consumers navigate the evolving world of modern medicine. You deserve to know the difference between a platform focused on your health and a platform focused on making a sale. Whether you're looking for help with a new or chronic condition, or simply trying to find a provider you can trust, these five criteria will help you identify a telehealth platform that’s actually built for your health.
01 They Take Your Medical History Seriously, Before Anything Else
A legitimate telehealth platform always involves a licensed clinician. Before recommending any treatment, your provider needs to know your full health picture, including your medical history, current medications, symptoms, goals, and lifestyle. They use this to check whether a treatment is safe for you and won't interfere with anything else you're taking. You should also be properly verified before receiving care – not just your health information, but who you actually are. Legitimate platforms confirm your identity in a way that follows the rules in your state.
At Hims & Hers: We enable a dynamic intake process that adapts to your responses. For example, if you mention taking a specific medication, you may be asked follow-up questions to get a fuller picture of your health. 86% of customers say the intake process was more efficient and less stressful than a traditional in-person visit, and 80% rated it as clinically thorough.1
02 A Prescription Is Never Guaranteed
The clinical decision to prescribe a medication belongs only to a licensed medical provider.
Responsible telehealth works the same way a trusted in-person clinician does: a licensed provider thoroughly evaluates your information from the intake process, assesses whether treatment through the platform is clinically appropriate for you specifically, and may determine that the medication you requested is, and in some cases is not, the right fit. If a provider determines that a patient’s needs cannot be safely or appropriately addressed through the platform, they recommend that the patient seek care off-platform or other channels of support.
A provider should always have the opportunity to follow up if there are questions or the provider determines they need additional information prior to making any type of treatment determination. That kind of clinical independence is what makes a platform trustworthy.
At Hims & Hers: 83% of customers felt the intake clearly explained their treatment options and 83% said the intake helped them understand potential side effects. In comparison to traditional in-person care, 92% noted how well the medical provider listened and responded to their concerns, and was the same or better than traditional in-person care.1
03 Your Provider Is Licensed, Independent, and Accountable
Ask any telehealth platform: who, exactly, is reviewing your health information and making treatment decisions? Providers furnishing care through a telehealth platform should be fully licensed in your state and held to rigorous ongoing quality standards — reviewed continuously, not just checked off at onboarding. You should be able to check your provider is real and their credentials are up to date. Providers should operate with full clinical autonomy, free from business pressure to prescribe. Their decisions should be based entirely on your health, not on commercial incentives.
Through Hims & Hers: Licensed providers are accessible for every state. Providers on our platform follow evidence-based clinical guidelines, regularly reviewed and vetted by experts in their field. You can check credentials on all providers here.
04 Your Medication Arrives Safely, with Everything You Need to Use It
What arrives at your door says a lot about the source. Every prescription should come with clear labeling, dosage instructions, a full list of active ingredients, and safety information. Receiving medication in an unmarked vial with no documentation is a serious warning sign, regardless of the price.
For compounded medications in particular, look for platforms that work with licensed pharmacies and outsourcing facilities that operate under applicable federal and state standards, including requirements related to ingredient quality, sterility, and potency testing.
At Hims & Hers: Every prescription ships directly to your door with required safety information and instructions. Our affiliated pharmacies follow a robust quality and compliance program, working to ensure compliance with applicable FDA, U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP), and state pharmacy laws, rules, and regulations. We treat those requirements as a starting point, not a finish line.
05 The Relationship Doesn't End at the Checkout Screen
Being prescribed a treatment is the beginning of a care journey. Reputable telehealth platforms build in structured touchpoints after you start treatment: check-ins to assess how you're responding, clear channels to report side effects, and direct access to a licensed provider when something changes. A platform that goes quiet after the sale isn't delivering healthcare. They’re just looking to make a buck.
The best platforms make it genuinely easy to reach your care team, ensure ongoing access with licensed providers who may adjust your treatment over time, and help you feel supported throughout the process. That kind of ongoing access requires real infrastructure with real providers on the other end.
At Hims & Hers: Our platform enables unlimited messaging between customers and providers throughout their entire care journey. 94% of customers rated the overall quality of care accessed through Hims & Hers as good as or better than their prior in-person healthcare experiences, and 83% said they received clear treatment instructions and follow-up communications from providers.1
1 Hims & Hers Health, Inc. “Understanding Hims & Hers' Approach to Clinical Excellence, Quality, and Safety.” Hims & Hers, October 2025. https://cloudinary.forhims.com/image/upload/v1759944899/cms/shared/newsroom/10-08-2025/Understanding-Hims-Hers-Approach-to-Clinical-Excellence-Quality-Safety.pdf
