Telehealth
Information for Patients
Telehealth is the use of video or phone call consultation between you and your clinician.
Telehealth benefits rural and remote patients, patients who are not easily transported or those living in aged care facilities, who would otherwise need to travel long distances for specialist advice. Medicare item numbers are available to support a number of services to be delivered by telehealth and many health providers are increasing their use of telehealth.
Telehealth services are currently available to the entire community to be able to continue to access GPs while isolating at home. This service is being facilitated through the Healthdirect Video Calling platform which allows healthcare professionals to engage with their patients in their clinic’s online waiting area, rather than a physical one.
Telehealth waiting rooms
It is essential that you ring and make an appointment with the practice. The practice will then advise what time you need to click on the telehealth button to get in the appointment queue.
You must book an appointment with your GP before accessing telehealth services. Once you have an appointment, following the instructions below.
Five minutes prior to your appointment time, log into the Waiting Room by clicking on the button for the appropriate general practice.
You will be required to enter your name and telephone number.
Click on the button for the Telehealth Waiting room button
The GP will join you for the consultation.
Telehealth: Specialist video consultations under Medicare (MBS Online)
PLEASE NOTE : Telehealth services are supported in the following web browsers - Google Chrome Version 72+ (Windows, Android, MacOS) Apple Safari Version 12+ (MacOS, iOS), Firefox Version 68+ (Windows, Android), Microsoft Edge Version 79+ (Windows, MacOS) and Microsoft Edge Version 44+ (Android).
Information for Practices
Expansion of Telehealth Services
Temporary Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) and Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) items will allow doctors, nurses and mental health professionals to deliver services via telehealth, provided those services are bulk billed. Find out more on the MBS webpage.
An MBS Changes Factsheet is available that explains the recent changes to temporary MBS Telehhealth Services and Items.
MBS Telehealth services changes
From Monday 6 April it became a legislative requirement that the new telehealth services must be bulk billed for Commonwealth concession card holders, children under 16 years old and patients who are more vulnerable to COVID-19.
Health providers may apply their usual billing practices to the telehealth items for patients who do not fit the above criteria. Providers are expected to obtain informed financial consent from patients prior to providing the service; providing details regarding their fees, including any out-of-pocket costs. Read the latest MBS Telehealth changes and information online.
Effective telephone and video consultations
The RACGP have created resources to help GPs navigate these changes with the current COVID-19 situation. General practices are rapidly changing the way care is accessed and delivered to ensure the safety of their practice teams, patients and the broader community. One of these changes is increasing the ability for general practice consultations to be conducted via telehealth, these include:
The Guide to providing telephone and video consultations in general practice will help general practices provide safe and effective video consultations.
The Telephone and video consultations in general practice: Flowcharts provide practical steps to take in setting up your practice for telephone and video consultations.
Telehealth in your practice
MPHN have surveyed all General Practices within our region and found that there is a variety of platforms used for telehealth, from Skype and Zoom, to GP Connect and others. It is important that practices use what works for them, but also to know what else might be available. One good and free option is Healthdirect video call.
Healthdirect video call
Healthdirect video call is a free, easy-to-use, trusted and reliable telehealth option for both GPs and patients to conduct video consultations. Download the New Organisation setup details to get started.
Healthdirect video call service resources include:
Healthdirect Video Call factsheet
Customisable Video Call Patient Information Leaflet
Video Call Clinician How To and Troubleshooting Guide
Video Call Patient How To and Troubleshooting Guide
View this short video to learn more about the Healthdirect Video Call service
Telehealth online learning for practice nurses
APNA telehealth online training is now available for nurses interested in learning more about providing telehealth consults during the COVID-19 pandemic. This interactive module will provide you with the knowledge and skills to facilitate telehealth consults, within a primary health care setting.
