Your first telemedicine appointment shouldn’t feel scary. It should feel like relief.
Your first telemedicine visit at Recovery Care of Columbia is designed to be calm, private, and medically safe, even if you’ve been struggling with addiction for many years, even if you feel ashamed, and even if you’ve tried to quit on your own before.
Your first telemedicine visit at Recovery Care of Columbia is designed to be calm, private, and medically safe, even if you’ve been struggling with addiction for many years, even if you feel ashamed, and even if you’ve tried to quit on your own before.
Many people tell us they weren’t expecting this first visit to feel as easy, welcoming, or hopeful as it actually is.
That’s the whole point: getting help should feel like a turning point, not another source of stress.
Start now with the option that fits you best:
You Will Never Have to Come In-Person — Ever
Most people don’t know this, but Recovery Care of Columbia operates under a unique, state-approved virtual OBOT medical license — the first of its kind in Tennessee.
This matters because:
You won’t travel anywhere
You don’t need transportation
You don’t need time off work
You don’t sit in waiting rooms
Your treatment stays fully online for the lifetime of your care
Even pharmacy communication, follow-ups, and documentation are handled remotely
This program was built for real Tennesseans with real-life barriers.
You deserve access to treatment no matter where you live or work.
How Your First Suboxone Telemedicine Appointment Actually Works
Your appointment is private, structured, and clinically guided. It’s also emotionally safe, supportive, and designed entirely around making you feel comfortable.
Here’s exactly what will happen:
Step 1 — You Join the Telehealth Session
You send us a message: “I’m ready for my appointment.”
Most patients say the moment they connect, their anxiety drops.
You’re not walking into an office. You’re not surrounded by strangers. You’re simply connecting with a team whose only job is to help you feel better.
Step 2 — You Meet a Friendly Staff Member Who Puts You at Ease
Your intake specialist will:
Review your intake forms
Ask what brought you here
Answer initial questions
Walk you through what happens next
Make sure you feel safe and supported
Many patients tell us this feels more like talking to a supportive friend than starting “treatment.”
If you’d like to see who you’ll meet:
Meet our incredible team
Step 3 — Your Medical Provider Creates Your Personal Treatment Plan
Your clinician will review:
Your opioid use history
Your symptoms
Your withdrawal pattern
Your medical background
Any past Suboxone experiences
Your personal goals
Then, they will explain:
How Suboxone works
When and how you should take your first dose
What withdrawal relief typically feels like
What cravings improvement looks like
How follow-up appointments will work
You will not:
Be judged.
Be interrogated.
Be pressured to taper.
Your provider wants one thing: to help you feel stable and safe.
Step 4 — No Drug Test During Your First Appointment
This is one of the most common fears patients have.
Here’s the truth:
No drug screening is required during your first telemedicine appointment.
You do not need a clean test to start.
You do not need to stop opioids “cold turkey.”
We meet you exactly where you are.
This reduces embarrassment, anxiety, and the feeling of being “evaluated” or “judged.”
Your recovery should start with dignity — not pressure.
Step 5 — You Receive Your Suboxone Prescription
If Suboxone is appropriate, your provider sends your prescription electronically to your chosen pharmacy. You may also choose to have your medication shipped to your home for a small delivery fee. (Delivery fees are imposed by the dispensing pharmacy, not the clinic.)
Most patients begin recovery on the same day of their appointment.
Questions about timing your first dose, avoiding precipitated withdrawal, and how to take your medications effectively will all be discussed at your appointment.
Step 6 — Follow-Ups Are Shorter, Supportive, and 100% Online
Follow-ups are simple:
Quick check-ins
a 20-30 minute counseling session
Dosage adjustments (if needed)
Emotional support
Progress tracking
You will never be pressured to taper your medication.
Stay on Suboxone for as long as you feel stable — months, years, or longer.
Stability and increasing quality of life are the goals, not rushing.
Why Suboxone Helps So Much — Clinically & Emotionally
Suboxone is one of the safest, most effective treatments for opioid addiction because it:
Relieves withdrawal symptoms
Reduces cravings
Protects against relapse
Stabilizes mood and cognition
Helps restore sleep
Allows patients to regain routine and purpose
Makes life predictable again
If you’re using:
Then, Suboxone and counseling can help interrupt the cycle and change your life forever.
What Happens If You Don’t Start Treatment? (A Clinical Reality Check)
Without treatment, most people continue the same painful pattern:
Using opioids or Kratom “just to feel normal”
Getting stuck in the withdrawal → relief → withdrawal loop
Feeling shame, fear, or hopelessness
Struggling with sleep, energy, and mental clarity
Pushing off work, relationships, and goals
Spending money that hurts the family budget
Opioid addiction rarely improves on its own.
But the moment treatment begins, everything can shift:
Withdrawal stops
Cravings fade
Life settles
Anxiety drops
Confidence returns
You feel in control again
This is how people rebuild families, careers, stability — and their sense of self.
What a Recent Graduate-Level Study Revealed About Other Suboxone Clinics
A recent research project conducted by one of our counselors—completed as part of her doctoral thesis—revealed something important about addiction treatment experiences in Tennessee:
Not all Suboxone clinics treat their patients in the same manner.
As part of her study, she surveyed patients who had previously received treatment at other addiction programs before transferring to Recovery Care of Columbia. What she discovered was heartbreaking, and it helps explain why so many patients nearly gave up on recovery before finding us.
Here’s what the patients reported from their previous clinics:
Long wait times, with some appointments stretching to three hours or more
Waiting up to four days after an appointment to receive their Suboxone prescription
Receiving partial prescriptions without a clear explanation or communication
Feelings of being dismissed, talked down to, or made to feel guilty about their addiction
Providers appearing rushed, irritated, or unavailable when patients needed help
Little or no emotional support, leaving patients to “figure it out on their own”
- No direction on how to take their Suboxone medications safely and effectively.
These experiences don’t just make recovery harder—they push people closer to relapse.
⭐ What patients said after transferring to Recovery Care of Columbia
While the first part of her study revealed the struggle, the second half revealed hope.
The same patients who described negative experiences elsewhere reported that their time at Recovery Care of Columbia felt completely different.
They described feeling:
Genuinely cared for
Respected and never judged
Supported emotionally and medically
Helped in a compassionate, human way
Able to get their Suboxone medication predictably and on time
Safe, stable, and valued as a patient
- Have a clear understanding of how to take their Suboxone medications
Recovery should never feel like punishment.
We take that responsibility seriously—every visit, every message, every prescription, and every patient interaction. From your very first telemedicine appointment, our goal is to make you feel welcomed and cared for.
Insurance, Medicaid, Sliding-Scale, and Self-Pay Options
We work with nearly every patient.
✔ All TennCare Medicaid plans accepted
BlueCare, Wellpoint, UHC Community Plan, Amerigroup Community Care — every single one.
✔ Most commercial insurance accepted
BlueCross BlueShield (all states), Aetna, Ambetter, Anthem, Ascension, Automated Benefit Services (ABS), Behavioral Health Systems (BHS), Centene, Cigna, Employee Benefit Management Systems (EBMS), Oscar, Surest, and United Healthcare.
✔ Self-Pay Program
Affordable, predictable, private.
✔ Sliding-Scale Program
Click here to apply for our Sliding-Scale Program
You are never turned away for financial reasons without options.
Returning Patients: Welcome Back
Not your first telemedicine appointment with Recovery Care? Click here to restart your treatment – anytime.
Patient Reviews That Speak for Themselves
Read over 100 five-star Google reviews from Tennesseans we’ve helped with virtual addiction treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens during my first Suboxone telemedicine appointment?
You’ll meet with a friendly staff member, review your history, talk with a licensed medical provider, discuss your symptoms, and receive a Suboxone prescription if appropriate—all online.
Do I need to stop using opioids before my appointment?
No. Treatment begins by meeting you exactly where you are. You do not need to be drug-free to start.
Will I be drug tested at my first appointment?
No. Your initial visit does not include a drug test.
Can I start Suboxone the same day?
Yes, your first telemedicine appointment can often be on the same day you register for treatment.
Do I ever have to come in-person?
No. Recovery Care of Columbia operates under a special state-approved virtual OBOT license—you never need an in-person visit.
Do you accept TennCare Medicaid?
Yes. We accept all TennCare Medicaid plans.
Do you accept commercial insurance?
Yes. Most commercial plans are accepted.
What if I don’t have insurance?
You may qualify for our sliding-scale program or self-pay program.
Can Suboxone help if I’m using Kratom or 7-OH?
Yes. Suboxone is highly effective for people dependent on opioids or Kratom-derived alkaloids like 7-OH and 7-hydroxymitragynine.
Will I be pressured to taper or stop Suboxone later?
No. You can stay on Suboxone as long as it helps you stay stable. Stopping or tapering off Suboxone is entirely up to you.
Ready to Start Your First Telemedicine Appointment?
Choose the option that fits your life:
Your first Suboxone telemedicine appointment may be the moment everything changes.
We’re here to make sure that moment is safe, comfortable, and life-changing.
External Addiction Resources
