The coronavirus pandemic has completely transformed nearly every aspect of the way we live … including the way we access healthcare.
As the crisis unfolded, the Federal Government rushed through changes to the Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS) which allowed Australians to access bulk-billed telehealth consultations with their doctors and other health professionals.
For grey nomads sitting out the health crisis on farms or in regional camping areas or caravan parks or similar, this is of course a major boon.
When a physical examination isn’t required, it means that they can talk to their doctor on the phone or via a video platform, such as FaceTime, instead of having to travel to a surgery. Telehealth reduces the risks associated with a face-to-face consultation and can be used for everything from prescriptions, referrals and medical certificates to treatment of minor ailments.
While this expanded telehealth coverage has been billed as a temporary measure which is due to be reviewed in September, some experts suspect it may ultimately be difficult for the Government to roll back.
“What will be fascinating will be the extent to which our world is permanently changed by the current crisis,” said Rod Sims, the Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
It seems that the remarkable circumstances that have effectively forced Australians to use telehealth services has helped them overcome an element of suspicion about it. As of April 20, more than 4.3 million health and medical services had been delivered to a total of more than three million patients through telehealth, including 700,000 consultations in a single week.
For grey nomads who spend a lot of time in the Outback, the advantages of a more established and more widespread telehealth system are clear, well beyond the current crisis.
“Australians are adapting to a new way of speaking to their doctor, of speaking to their medical advisers and their health advisers,’’ said Health Minister, Greg Hunt.
• Have you tried a telehealth consultation? Can you see the advantages? Comment below.
How the heck can you consult a problem without prodding and pocking, I don’t believe that you can, my wife had 2 phone consults but is still in Bl**** PAIN & discomfort.
Beware the limitations of a video link. there are benefits indeed, but there are some significant limitations. For decades many doctors have refused to come out the back door of their practice to examine a patient in the ambulance, despite significant struggles by all concerned to get the patient into the doctors rooms, all the while being told by the doctor :” I can’t possibly do a proper examination unless the patient is in my rooms, under my lights, on my examination bed, and with my equipment etc”…seriously, and not be facetious, but if it was problematic doing a clinical consult and examination in the back of an ambulance, imagine how much more limiting it will be doing a consult on a video link….there are indeed some occasions when tele health is amazingly useful and appropriate, but beware the limitations. “poking and prodding, touching, smelling, observing a patient walk into and out of the room, the occasional grimace etc…all very important to providing thorough clinical examination in many cases, not all, but many.