Planning considerations for GPiT conducting telehealth consultations

Planning considerations for GPiT conducting telehealth consultations

• Confirm whether telehealth will be provided on site or off site or a combination of both
• Confirm whether telehealth will be provided via telephone or video or a combination of both
• Provide appropriate training on relevant technology to be utilised for telehealth and run test consults for those who will be using it. Ensure a clear plan is in place to review the technology being used and manage any issues that may arise with it
• Ensure clear practice policy about those patients and issues suitable for telehealth
• Ensure clear practice policy about how patients will be booked in for telehealth consultations
• Ensure clear practice policy about how care plans will be completed via telehealth especially if nurse support is utilised for these • Ensure clear practice policy about how patients will be reviewed in person if deemed necessary during the telehealth consultation
• If a trainee or another GP in the practice is working off site then ensure clear practice policy about how the patients of those doctors working from home will be reviewed in person if needed and an appropriate process for handover to the reviewing doctor. It may be appropriate to have reserved consultation slots for this purpose.
• Ensure clear practice policy about sharing of clinical images if needed to aid diagnostic reasoning during telehealth consultations
• Ensure clear practice policy about administration support and lines of responsibility when it comes to sending communications eg faxing, emailing, texting or posting of prescriptions, referrals, investigation requests, medical certifcates and patient information handouts
• Ensure discussion and agreement between trainee and supervisor of how many patients will be booked per hour based on stage of training, competence and confdence with telehealth delivery. Set a review date to monitor workload and adapt where needed
• Ensure discussion and agreement on dedicated catch up and administration time for such actions as checking results and fnalising paperwork
• Provide support for correct MBS billing for telehealth consultations
• Where required with an RTO, ensure paperwork for telehealth supervision is completed