All Medicare-eligible consultations are bulk billed for patients with a valid Medicare card. Some items, including privately purchased vaccines and consumables, attract a fee.
A telehealth consultation is a real appointment, and it goes much better with a little setting up. Tap each one.
Four things worth doing first
For most telehealth items, Medicare requires that you have seen a doctor at this practice in person within the last twelve months. Reception can check before you book, which saves the awkward discovery afterwards.
“Have I been seen here recently enough for telehealth?”You are going to be asked about your symptoms, your mood, your medication. Somewhere private, quiet, with reception — a call that drops out halfway through a mental health review helps nobody.
“I'll be somewhere quiet and private.”Your medication boxes, your blood pressure or blood sugar readings, and anything you have been asked to have ready. On the phone your GP cannot look at the shelf behind you.
“I've got my medications and readings ready.”The call may come from a number you do not recognise, and it may be a little before or after the booked time. Keep the phone with you for the half hour around it.
“I'll keep my phone on me around the appointment time.”Open any of these for what to expect. If a problem needs looking at, listening to or feeling, we will tell you clearly and book you in properly instead.
Results
What happens Your GP goes through what the test showed, what it means and what if anything happens next. No examination is involved, so a phone call loses nothing.
Blood tests, imaging reports, screening results. This is probably the single best use of telehealth in general practice.
If the result changes something, your GP will say so and arrange the next step — sometimes that is an appointment in person, and that is the point of the call.
Scripts
What happens A short call where your GP reviews the medicine, checks nothing has changed, and sends an electronic script straight to your phone.
This works well for stable, long-standing medicines. It works less well where a blood pressure reading or a blood test is due, which is often the honest answer.
Some medicines are restricted by NSW regulations and cannot be prescribed by telehealth at all. Reception will tell you which.
Mental health
What happens A longer call where your GP asks how you are, how the treatment is going, and what should change. For plenty of people, saying difficult things is easier down a phone line than across a desk.
If you are in crisis, don't wait for a booked call. Ring us and say so, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or 000 if you are in immediate danger.
Reviews, medication adjustments, and checking in after starting something new all work well remotely.
Make sure you are somewhere private with the whole appointment free. This is not a call to take between meetings.
Follow-ups
What happens A short call to see whether a treatment worked, whether symptoms settled, or whether the plan needs changing. Quick, and it saves a trip for something that may take four minutes.
After starting a new medicine, after an infection, after a specialist appointment, or simply to see whether something has resolved.
If it has not settled as expected, that call usually ends with an in-person appointment — which is exactly what it was for.
Not by phone
What happens Some things simply cannot be assessed remotely, and a phone call would give you false reassurance. We would rather say so than pretend otherwise.
Anything that needs looking at, listening to, pressing on or measuring. Chest pain, abdominal pain, a rash, a lump, a skin spot, an ear, a wound, breathlessness, dizziness, an injury.
Ring us and we will find you an in-person appointment. Being told a phone call is not appropriate is a clinical judgement in your favour.
Telehealth rebates come with eligibility conditions, and they catch people out. Worth checking before you book. Tap a card.
For most telehealth items, Medicare requires you to have seen a doctor at this practice in person in the last twelve months.
A few other things determine whether telehealth is the right call.
Telehealth rules have changed several times in recent years. Reception works with the current ones — please ring and ask rather than relying on what applied last time.
It is a real appointment, not a phone call. Here is how one runs. Tap any card.
Ring reception and ask. The twelve-month rule catches out more people than anything else about telehealth.
Flip backYou will be given a slot, the same as an in-person appointment. It is a booking, not a callback.
Flip backSomewhere private and quiet, good reception, medications and readings in front of you.
Flip backThe call may come from a withheld number, and a little before or after the booked time. Keep it with you for that half hour.
Flip backThe same conversation you would have in the room. Say everything you would have said sitting down.
Flip backElectronic scripts go straight to your phone. Referrals and request forms can be emailed or sent to the rooms.
Flip backYour GP will say so and arrange an appointment. That is the call working as intended, not failing.
Flip backIt goes into your file like any other visit, so whoever sees you next knows exactly what was discussed.
Flip backTap whatever applies and print the list. It also helps reception judge whether a phone call is genuinely the right format.
Telehealth works best with the doctor who already knows you. Ask for them by name and reception will find a slot.
Our GPs hold general registration with AHPRA. Areas listed are special interests within general practice rather than recognised specialist registration. Every one of our doctors provides this. If the GP you usually see is booked, any of the others can help — your records are shared across the practice, so nobody is starting from scratch.
Pick your situation and what you're coming in for. We'll show you what to expect before you book.
What are you coming in for?
Figures shown are what you pay at the clinic for the appointment itself. Medicines, devices, imaging and specialist fees are set elsewhere. Reception will always confirm the cost with you before anything goes ahead.
Where you meet the Medicare eligibility rules, yes, on weekdays with a valid Medicare card. Where you don't, the call is charged privately, and reception will tell you before booking rather than afterwards.
For most telehealth items, Medicare requires that you have been seen in person by a doctor at this practice within the last twelve months. It exists so telehealth supports ongoing care rather than replacing it. There are some exemptions, including certain mental health items.
Most of ours are phone calls, which are simpler and work regardless of the internet connection. Video is available where it genuinely adds something — ask reception.
The doctor will usually try again, but a missed call may mean rebooking. Keep your phone with you around the appointment time and be ready for a withheld number.
Sometimes, where your GP can properly assess you remotely and you meet the eligibility rules. Not everything can be assessed down a phone line — ask reception and they will tell you honestly.
Most, but not all. Some medicines are restricted under NSW regulations and require an in-person appointment. Reception can tell you which applies to yours.
They will arrange an appointment, often the same day. That is the call doing its job — deciding what you actually need is part of the consultation.
Yes, if you are eligible and the problem suits it. If you become unwell while travelling, a local practice or healthdirect on 1800 022 222 may be quicker.
For results, scripts, follow-ups and mental health reviews, it is genuinely equivalent. For anything that needs examining, it isn't, and we will say so rather than pretend otherwise.
Ring reception on (02) 4008 4400 and say you would like a telehealth appointment. They will check your eligibility and book you a time.
Reception will check your eligibility and tell you honestly whether the phone is the right format. If it isn't, they will find you an appointment instead.
Phone appointments suit results, script reviews and follow-ups when you have been seen at the practice in the last twelve months. Your own GP calls you, with your full history in front of them.
The clinic is inside Salamander Bay Shopping Centre at Shop 5, 2 Town Centre Circuit, with free parking, and is a short drive from Nelson Bay, Corlette, Soldiers Point, Anna Bay, Shoal Bay, Fingal Bay and Medowie.
Book online with HotDoc at any hour, or call (02) 4008 4400.
From the health journal
