Microsoft Teams telehealth instructions

Your Penn Medicine clinician may use Microsoft Teams for telehealth appointments. Follow these instructions for an easy, secure virtual visit with your provider.

Telehealth instructions: desktop or mobile

You can join a Microsoft Teams telehealth call on your desktop or mobile device. You don't need a Microsoft Teams account for the virtual visit. However, you need a device with a:

  • Front-facing camera
  • Internet connection
  • Speakers
  • Updated operating system

Set up and join a Teams meeting

Step 1: Before your visit, you’ll receive an email invitation to join the Microsoft Teams meeting.

Step 2: Select "Click here to join the meeting" in the email. You can also use the dial-in number and conference ID to call into the meeting.

Step 3: When joining a meeting, you have three choices:

  • Continue on a desktop browser: Join a Teams meeting on the web. This choice is appropriate if you don’t have a Teams account.
  • Download the Windows app: Download the Teams desktop app.
  • Download the Teams app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. If you already have the Teams app, go right to your meeting. This choice is appropriate if you're joining from a mobile device, including a smartphone or tablet.

Step 4: Type your name. Type "guest" if you'd like to remain anonymous.

Step 5: Select your audio and video settings.

Step 6: Select "Join now."

Step 7: Depending on the meeting settings, you'll get in immediately or go to a virtual lobby where someone will admit you.

Adjust the audio and visual settings

Before joining a meeting, you can adjust the following settings:

Step 1: Video

  • Select the camera icon to preview your video.
  • Preview how you'd like to appear. Select "Background filters" and choose a custom background or blur.

Step 2: Audio

Once in a meeting, you can adjust the same settings by using the banner at the top of the screen.

Microsoft Teams for desktop join call options highlighted with red box

Select a virtual background

Once in a meeting, you can change your virtual background.

Step 1: Adjust your background by clicking "More" and selecting "Video Effects."

Step 2. Select the background you'd like to use.

Step 3: Select "Apply and turn on video."

Microsoft Teams for desktop background options menu highlighted with red box

Share content during meeting

You can easily share files with meeting participants.

Step 1: Select "Share."

Step 2: Select the type of content you’d like to share:

  • Screen lets you show everything on your screen.
  • Powerpoint lets you share presentations.
  • Microsoft Whiteboard and Freehand by Invision let you share a virtual whiteboard where participants can sketch together.
  • Window lets you share an open browser window.
  • You can also choose to share your computer sound.

Step 3: After you select what you want to show, a red border surrounds what you're sharing. Meeting participants won't see any notifications that may come in.

Step 4: Select "Stop sharing" to stop showing your screen.

Microsoft Teams for desktop sharing options window highlighted with red box

Show reactions

Under reactions, choose how you want to engage in a meeting:

  • Select “Raise” to let others know you’d like to speak up without interrupting the conversation.
  • Choose a reaction like “Applause” or “Heart” to show how you feel.

Microsoft Teams for desktop raise and react features highlighted with red box

Other settings

Step 1: Select “People” to view other people in the meeting.

Microsoft Teams for desktop people feature highlighted with red box

Step 2: Select “Chat” to view the two-way chat for the meeting.

Microsoft Teams for desktop chat feature highlighted with red box

Note: Your chat will be visible to all participants unless otherwise noted. Chat will only be available during the meeting and will be locked once the meeting ends. As a participant, you must preserve the privacy of other patients in group settings. Chat transcripts and any other patient information can’t be copied or used beyond the meeting’s purpose.