Types of Consultations

There are three main types of medical consultations, in person where you attend a clinic or a medical personal attends your home as well as telehealth consultations, which are conducted remotely via telephone or video. As of April 2020, everyone with a Medicare card is eligible for Medicare-funded telehealth.
Telehealth can also be accessed through private insurance as well. This increased shift to telehealth is to aid in social distancing measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19, where previously it was mostly used to reduce travelling for rural and remote citizens. Not all consultations should be shifted to a remote format,
but it can be hard to know which types of consults are appropriate for telehealth. To address this uncertainty we have summarized the different types of providers and types of consultations they offer and when it is appropriate to utilize these different types of consults.

Provider

Type of Consult

When to Utilize Consult

General Practitioner (GP) &
Nurse Practitioner (NP)
In person in a clinic
  • Conditions where a doctor might need to conduct a physical examination, such as listening to your heart or lungs, feel your abdomen, assess a joint or limb, take your temperature, or conduct an internal examination (e.g. gynecological exam)
  • Changing medical conditions where a description or photo may not be enough.
  • Procedures, such as excising skin lesions, taking swabs or smears, injections, and inserting contraceptive devices.
Remotely via telehealth (Phone or Video)
  • Routine chronic disease check-ups, especially if condition is stable and patient has access to monitoring equipment (e.g. high blood pressure, diabetes)
  • Administrative reasons (e.g. repeat prescriptions, re-issuing sick notes, writing referral letters)
  • Counseling and similar services
  • Some COVID-19 related consultations
In person, at your home
  • If you are unwell and think you might have COVID-19, let your provider know before your appointment
Specialist In person in a clinic
  • Conditions where a doctor might need to conduct a physical examination, such as listening to your heart or lungs, feel your abdomen, assess a joint or limb, or take your temperature
  • Changing medical conditions where a description or photo may not be enough
Remotely, via telehealth (phone or video) at your home or with your GP in their clinic
  • Chronic disease management, especially if condition is fairly stable
  • If you live far away from specialist
  • Talk to doctor to see if appropriate – may be helpful to have GP present for consultation
Nurse Nurse On Call
(1300 60 60 64)
  • A phone service that provides immediate, expert health advice from a registered nurse, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • The phone service is for non-emergency health advice only
  • Uses:
    • If you or someone you’re caring for is feeling unwell,
    • If you are not sure if you should seek medical help,
    • You’re away from home or situated far away from medical help, and
    • If you want advice or information on health services in your area
    • In person, at your home

Aged care services to monitor and treat medical conditions – must qualify for these services

Pharmacist  Pharmacy
  • To fill prescriptions
  • Advice on medications and over the counter medication and its interactions with other medication
Physiotherapist  In person in a clinic
  • Rehabilitation post-injury or deficit
  • Help to maintain movement and mobility
Occupational Therapist In person in a clinic

Home visit if qualify, e.g. aged care services

  • Suggest modifications to the home visit
  • home to improve mobility and safety
Speech Pathologist  In person in a clinic
  • Assess and treat speech impairments and swallowing difficulties, e.g. post stroke deficits
Podiatrist  In person in a clinic

Home visit if qualify, e.g. aged care services
  • Treat and diagnose conditions of the lower limbs and feet
  • Prevent and correct deformity, keep people mobile and active, relieve pain and treat infections.
  • Diabetic foot check-ups
Psychologist Counseling, in person or via telehealth
  • Treatment of mental health issues

How Should You Prepare For Your Video Consultation?
It is important to be prepared for your video consultation to ensure the consultation runs smoothly and all your questions can be answered. Below is a guide describing how to prepare for video consultations taken from BJGP Life.

Video Consultation Guide from BJGP life: https://bjgplife.com/2020/03/18/video-consultations-guide-for-practice/