Telehealth
COVID-19: Video Call Exemplar Program
Healthdirect Australia Video Call COVID-19 GP Program ceased on 31 December 2021 and was replaced by the healthdirect Australia Video Call Exemplar Program.
Healthdirect Australia Video Call Exemplar Program
Video Call healthdirect Exemplar Program has been extended to 30 June 2022.
Video Call is a secure video conferencing service purpose-built for health consultations. The Video Call suite of services, tools, and resources makes it easy for clinicians to provide video consultations on any device with a good internet connection. Video Call is website-based, no software or application downloads necessary.
Healthdirect Video Call is free to use for eligible health services and their staff.
Healthdirect Video Call is easy to use. Patients can connect with their GP from a smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer (with webcam) with internet access.
How healthdirect Video Call works
Visit the healthdirect Video Call website for set-up instructions, guides and support. Or call the healthdirect Video Call team on 1800 580 771.
MBS Video Consultation Items
There are eleven MBS items for video consultations in telehealth.
Visit the Video Consultation Items page at MBS Online for details:
RACGP Accredited Video Call Training
In collaboration with the RACGP, healthdirect is offering CPD courses that support GPs and Practice Managers to use Video Call more confidently and effectively. The following free courses are run by healthdirect RACGP Education Activity Representatives:
Essential Video Call training one-hour
2 CPD points for RACGP or 1 hour ACCRM credit
This module is for GPs new to Video Call and covers the basic functionality of the platform. The course will also suit Practice Managers who may be implementing telehealth into their practice workflows.
Register for RACGP Essential Video Call Training
Advanced Video Call training one-hour
2 CPD points for RACGP or 1 hour ACCRM credit
This module covers more advanced use of the platform. The course will also suit Practice Managers and anyone interested in how Video Call can reshape the provision of services to patients or clients.
Register for RACGP Advanced Video Call Training
COVID-19: Telehealth and telephone MBS items expanded services
Telehealth services use information and communications technologies (ICTs) to deliver health services and transmit health information over both long and short distances. It is about transmitting voice, data, images and information rather than moving care recipients, health professionals or educators. It encompasses diagnosis, treatment, preventive (educational) and curative aspects of healthcare services and typically involves care recipient(s), care providers or educators in the provision of these services directed to the care recipient.
Telehealth is being used in the South Western Sydney region by many healthcare services and for more information on telehealth see the following resources:
Telehealth Solutions
SWSPHN encourage health services providing telehealth services to align with RACGP and MBS guidelines; telehealth solutions should be secure, encrypted and align with each practice’s policies. Below is a non-exhaustive list of telehealth solutions available and their contact details. SWSPHN encourages all health services to comprehensively conduct their own research before choosing a telehealth solution.
SWSPHN recommends: Healthdirect Video Call
- Free
- Web-based (no software installation required for both clinicians and patients)
- Will work on smartphones, tablets, laptops and PCs (minimum requirements apply)
- Allows screen sharing
- Allows document sharing
- Quick and easy onboarding of practices
- Accounts managed by PHNs
- Purpose-built for health providers to offer to their patients for teleconsultations
- Developed by Healthdirect Australia - a national, government-owned, not-for-profit organisation.
For more information please contact the Digital Partnerships team on digitalhealth@swsphn.com.au or call SWSPHN on (02) 4632 3000.
For other solutions see: Technology resources for COVID-19 (updated regularly from PulseIT+)
Telehealth Programs
- Department of Health - Telehealth
- Better Access - Telehealth Services for people in rural and remote areas
- NSW Health - Telehealth Strategy
- Consultant Psychiatry Service available in South Western Sydney
MBS Items for Telehealth
- Medicare - MBS and Telehealth (Rural)
