What is a Telehealth Appointment?

Telehealth Appointments are healthcare appointments that happen remotely. There are different types of telehealth appointments, and they can be scheduled with or without a clinician.

One of the highest rates of telehealth consultations in the world is in Australia. It is expected to rise by more than 50% over the next five years.

Phenixhealth is a leading healthcare provider offering telehealth appointments in every postcode in Australia, metro locations in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Darwin, Perth and Canberra as well as remote and regional locations. As a leading provider of telehealth services, they make it easy for patients with chronic medical conditions or mental health issues to have access to care without having to leave home.

Telehealth Career opportunities and training 

Telehealth is gaining momentum with the increase in both public and private sector interest. With that demand comes growth in employment of specially trained Telehealth administration and virtual teams. It is not the same as having a job in a face to face clinic where you are able to see a patient in person. These skilled areas require people to undertake specific training on the nuances of this sector.

With its growing popularity, there are many opportunities for people who are interested in pursuing careers in this field.

Types of Telehealth Appointments  

The following are various types of telehealth appointments:

• Patient-end with a carer or other medical professional appointments: This type of appointment allows patients to connect with their doctors or other professionals via video  without traveling long distances. A patient may have mobility issues. Seeing a specialist is sometimes not practical for them.
• Remote consultations: These types of appointments allow patients to connect with a healthcare professionals without having them physically present at their homes or office. Anytime anywhere.
• Telemedicine consultations: This type of appointment allows a patient to view a specialist remotely using videoconferencing technology and potentially medical devices that can aid a doctor or a specialists with their diagnosis.

Telehealth appointments are a great way to provide care for patients without physical or geographical limitations. This type of appointment is geared towards both the patient and the provider.

Telehealth appointments can be broken down into two main categories – clinic or aged care facility with a carer and entirely remote where the patient engages with the healthcare professional directly. clinic or aged care facility with a carer are those that take place within the patient location with a health professional or specialist at the other end of a telehealth video consultation. The majority of telehealth happens with where a patient in their location either an office or home and the doctor or nurse is in a place that is convenient for them. 

Remote telehealth providers typically have a more extensive patient care plan than office-based providers, typically requiring more time to develop a personal treatment plan with their patients.

Services provided via remote providers include:

1. Chronic disease management
2. Psychiatric or mental health care
3. Physical therapy
4. Speech therapy
5. Nutrition consultations, etc.

Telehealth appointment software is used by doctors in the hospital or office to schedule appointments with patients remotely. Physicians can schedule patient appointments, order imaging or pathology tests, and send emails for follow-up communication.

It has become an important tool in healthcare, especially for patients with chronic conditions. With the help of a telehealth appointment, patients and providers can communicate via phone, video chat, or text message during the appointment and check vitals data is tracking in the right parameters.

Telehealth is the use of technology, particularly the Internet and telecommunications, to transmit health care information, images, and other data between providers.

This health care is gaining momentum with the increase in both public and private sector interest. With its growing popularity, there are many opportunities for people who are interested in pursuing careers in this field.

Telehealth is a growing trend in healthcare, and the future of it looks bright. The five types of telehealth appointments are:

1. diagnosis, 
2. consultation, 
3. consultation with a specialist,
4.  treatment, and 
5. treatment with a specialist.

How to Schedule an Online Telehealth Appointment

You can schedule your online telehealth appointments by using an online booking platform like Phenix Health that outlines choice of services, explains their profiles and their available appointment times. Or you can book directly through your favourite Telehealth provider that you may have used before , been recommended or seen on a social media platform. 

Often you will be asked to complete some initial booking information such as your name, date of birth and contact details and Medicare card details. 

Telehealth consultations can be conducted over the mobile app on your phone, video call, or online through a telemedicine website. For these appointments, you will need to register before your first visit.

A scheduled appointment is a time-specific encounter that happens on a specific date and time. If one has an appointment and cannot come in during that time slot, then you will be removed from the system for booking appointments until that timeframe has passed. As doctors sometimes run over time you may need to keep your phone handy for this service.

Telehealth appointments in Australia have become a very common type of healthcare service. There are many doctors who provide this service, and they can be very helpful for patients who aren’t physically able to attend their appointments or want to save time undertaking a consultation from the convenience of their home.

What are Telehealth’s benefits?

Telehealth is a term that refers to the use of advanced technologies to deliver and support healthcare-related services.

Telehealth is also associated with Virtual Reality, which has been used for various purposes in recent years, such as medical training and surgical procedures. This type of technology generally allows doctors and nurses to work remotely, providing the same level of care as if they were in the same room.

The benefits that Telehealth provides are wide-ranging – from lowering treatment costs to improving health outcomes – yet it all comes down to one important factor: convenience.

Telemedical appointments are typically made over the phone or the Internet. A medical professional may call in or send an email appointment to their patients from anywhere in the world through telemedicine services. The appointment will typically last for about 20-45 minutes, depending on what needs to be discussed.

With rising health concerns about physical and mental health conditions and increasing insurance costs, this is turning into the most sought out form of healthcare for individuals looking for cost-effective solutions to their health problems

Telehealth appointments are a great way to provide care for patients without physical or geographical limitations. This type of appointment is geared towards both the patient and the provider.

Telehealth appointments can be broken down into two main categories – office visits and remote visits. Office visits are those that take place within the same office space as the provider. Remote visits are those that take place outside of an office setting but still offer some form of telecommunication between the patient and provider.

Experienced remote telehealth providers typically have a more extensive patient care plan than clinic-based providers, as they have developed skills in diagnosis and treatment plans due to their need to enquire and take longer with a patient during discovery. 

Future of Telehealth

What is the future of Telehealth in Australia?

Telehealth is increasingly being adopted by Australian health providers in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. This trend has been supported by legislation and reimbursement policies which have sought to encourage the adoption of telehealth services within Australia

In December 2021 the Australian Federal government provided permanent Medicare rebate item numbers for GPs, Nurse Practitioners, Allied Health providers to bill patients. This will undoubtedly position the future and the escalation of Telehealth. 

The government is allowing both forms of telehealth Video and phone call. It is up to the provider and the patient as to which method they prefer.  Telehealth aims to deliver healthcare services in ways that are more convenient for patients.

The future of Telehealth in Australia looks promising. Telehealth organizations are already working to improve healthcare access for people with chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma, cancer, heart disease, and mental health issues while also providing accessible care for people who, perhaps, are not able to afford it.

Telehealth organizations are now able to offer virtual visits with video consultations on your smartphone, providing you with convenient access and a relaxing experience.