Telehealth Information
What is a Psychology Telehealth Consultation?A telehealth consultation is a consultation where you and your Psychologist are not in the same room as each other. Instead, technology is used to be able to see and hear each other using a screen. This allows people to access psychology sessions from their homes and reduce their risk of exposure to COVID-19 within the community. It also allows people from Rural and Remote Areas to access Psychological Therapy. The following information is from: The Australian Government Department of Health, MBS Online Website. You can access specific information for consumers by clicking on the following link. The link will take you to the MBS Online Website. Once the website opens, click on the ‘Consumer’ Fact sheet. MBS Telehealth Services |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Telehealth? | From 13 March 2020, new temporary MBS (Medicare Benefits Scheme) telehealth sessions were made available to help reduce the risk of community transmission of COVID-19 and provide protection for clients and their psychologist. |
Who can use Telehealth? | Telehealth can be used by anyone who has access to a compatible computer, laptop, iPad or smartphone. Actually, telehealth has been around for quite some time in all sorts of areas (including psychology, medical, allied health, business). Telehealth can be used by anyone who has access to a compatible computer, laptop, iPad or smartphone. |
How do I start a Telehealth Session? | Please scroll down to How Do I Start A Telehealth Session? |
Why were new changes introduced for Telehealth? | From 13 March 2020, new Telehealth options were made available to help reduce the risk of community transmission of COVID-19 and provide protection for patients and health care providers. The new MBS telehealth items allow people to access essential Medicare funded health services remotely from their home and so reduce their risk of exposure to COVID-19. The MBS telehealth items will allow Psychologists to continue to deliver sessions to new as well as established clients. |
Are the sessions private and confidential? | All consultations via telehealth are private and secure and won’t be recorded. Documentation will be taken during the consultation as would normally happen if you were attending an in-room session, face to face. Verbal consent is required at the beginning of the consultation before your consultation will proceed. A consent form will also need to be signed. |
What telehealth options are available? | Telehealth services are the preferred approach for substituting a face-to-face consultation. However, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, eligible clients can also be offered telephone consultations under Medicare if a screen is not available. |
How long do Sessions Last? | Sessions last for approximately 50 minutes. |
What if the session is disconnected? | If the session disconnects, just click on the link once again. If the connection cannot be re-established, the consultation can continue by telephone if you are happy to do so. |
Get in touch if you have further queries.