The COVID-19 pandemic brought certain reconfiguration on the healthcare system and on how it should deliver its services. It is a must for every practitioner and patient to secure his or her safety at this time. This led the healthcare sector to change its approach to healthcare provision. One of the results is telehealth. Currently, the Australian Government is enacting measures to support the emergence of the new platform and how practitioners could efficiently maximise it. Hence, the introduction of new Medicare Benefits Schedule item numbers.
Specific guidelines were provided to general practitioners to follow in executing telehealth and delivering services through such a platform.
Such mode offers video and telephone consultation that should be subjected to careful consideration since health conditions should be appropriately dealt with proper measures. This entails that every general practitioner should have these guidelines followed strictly.
Managing clinical paperwork is another concern. Considering that the set up for this kind of consultation is done virtually, through technological mediums, practitioners should observe proper procedures when it comes to prescriptions, referrals, and requests.
Some circumstances challenge the pleasant utilisation of the strategy that could be problematic for both parties. It is here that the practitioner should be guided by proper instructions.
One of the main advantages of telehealth is that it could better support the patients especially in this time of crisis. Despite the social distancing rule imposed by the National Government, health workers should ensure that they continue in providing appropriate and high-quality healthcare to their patients.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners expressed its commitment to such kind of practice for the sustainability of the sector. The college also maintained that they support such kind of telehealth service as long as the relationship between the GP and the patient is already established and does not tolerate any telehealth service between unknown doctors and patients.
Read the RACGP’s Full Guide here.