Connecting Health Services With the Future: Clinical Practice for Telehealth
From 1 July 2011, Medicare and DVA Rebates and Financial Incentives will be available for telehealth under the
Connecting Health Services With the Future initiative. This page contains information on clinical practice for telehealth.
Telehealth is a new way of practising for most medical practitioners, and it presents new clinical and technological challenges.
The Medical Board of Australia and the Australian Medical Association have both issued guidance on the use of online technology to deliver consultations. These documents and information about a range of other clinical guidance for doctors participating in video consultation is available below.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners has been funded by the Government to develop specific guidance for GPs, and to develop a safety and quality framework for patients and GPs. The RACGP is working on a number of telehealth initiatives, including the development of standards for general practices offering video consultations and an online training and education module on video consultations that will be available next year.
Details of this work can be found here (http://www.racgp.org.au/telehealth).
The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) has also been funded by the Government to develop a framework for GPs that will include a suite of professional, technical and patient guidance regarding code of conduct, consumer information and other protocols to provide a quality, safe, high standard of care to patients via video-based consultations. ACRRM has established a national Telehealth Interest Group. Details of this, as well as information about ACRRM’s telehealth work can be found here (http://www.acrrm.org.au/news/join-acrrm-national-telehealth-interest-group)
Useful Documents
The documents below have been provided to assist practitioners in identifying the issues that may need to be considered when establishing telehealth capability
. The documents contain views and opinions provided by a range of organisations which do not necessarily reflect the views of the Australian Government.
It is important that individual clinical settings and requirements are taken into account by practitioners considering providing telehealth services. Practitioners may also wish to consult their College or other professional association about these issues.
Technology and Technical Issues
Government of Western Australia, Department of Health
The Government of Western Australia, Department of Health has kindly provided access to material that has been developed for the delivery of video conferencing in the Western Australian public health setting. The principles discussed may be useful for private practitioners considering setting up video conferencing facilities.
Information from the Government of Western Australia, Department of Health
Quality Practice Guidelines for Telepsychiatry
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists has developed Quality Practice Guidelines for Telepsychiatry as part of their Position Statement (number 44) on Telepsychiatry. Other Colleges are currently developing guidelines and standards and they will be referenced on this web site as they become available.
Quality Practice Guidelines for Telepsychiatry
AMA Position Statement on Online and Other Broadband Connected Medical Consultations
The Australian Medical Association has developed a position statement regarding online and other broadband connected medical consultations.
AMA Position Statement on online and other broadband connected medical consultations
Medical Board of Australia Communique on Telehealth
The Medical Board of Australia has issued a communique from a meeting in April 2011 identifying important considerations for medical practitioners undertaking technology based consultations.
Medical Board of Australia communique on telehealth