Session 1

The Nuts & Bolts of Telehealth

Learning Outcomes

  • Understand the basic requirements of telehealth including eligibility and consent 

  • Explore medico-legal considerations around patient safety 

  • Understand Medicare, AHPRA and billing requirements that relate to telehealth 

  • Identify effective communication skills with patients around telehealth processes, parameters and choices 


Session Outline

Pre-session references 

Ahead of the workshop look at the references for Session 1. These references that provide a baseline understanding of requirements for telehealth, billing items, and ways in which communication is different via telehealth compared to in person consultations.

The complete list of references can be found in the Session References section of this page.

Activity 1: Discussion (10 mins)

How do I use telehealth in my practice? 

This is a brief discussion to gather contextual information for the workshop, including your experience with telehealth and the range of modes being used.

Activity 2: Video A + Discussion (15 mins)

How do GPs use Telehealth

Video A demonstrates the variety of ways in which telehealth is used in general practice. 

Questions for discussion:

  • What are the challenges of telehealth specific to the practice I work in? 

  • What supports telehealth to happen well in my practice? 

  • Who decides if a consultation is conducted via telehealth and when is that decision made?

Activity 3: Video B + Discussion (15 mins)

Starting a Telehealth Consultation

Video B illustrates one way to start a telehealth consultation. 

Questions for discussion:

  • How do I build trust over the phone or over video? 

  • How do I document consent during a telehealth consultation? 

  • Do I need to document third party people in the room? How do I find out about them? 

  • If I use Artificial Intelligence to record the consult, how do I obtain patient consent to use it? 

Activity 4: Video C + Discussion (10 mins)

Discussing Results via Telehealth

Video C illustrates one way to discuss results over the phone. 

Questions for discussion:

  • How do I initiate a consultation about results over the phone?  

  • How do I describe results over the phone? Would I do anything differently if it was a video consultation? 

  • How does a results discussion via telehealth differ to a results discussion in person?

Activity 5: Discussion (10 mins)

Wrap up

  • Identify one thing I will keep doing 

  • Identify one thing that I might change 

Post-session reading

The post-session reading is the Session 1 Key Learnings Summary, downloadable from Session Resources.


Session Resources

Facilitator Guide
CPD Summary Form.docx
PowerPoint Presentation
Key Learnings Summary

Session References