A review by telehealth can have enormous benefits in addition to standard in-person consultations, potentially saving you travel time/costs, time off work and stress. It may also allow you to be seen at an earlier time, or more regularly for your condition. There will be ample time, during your telehealth appointment, to ask questions so you can better understand your condition or why any tests are being organised for you.
You will need a current referral from your general practitioner or specialist. Please ensure you have your medications list, and your phone, nearby at the time of your appointment.
We will do our best to minimise travel for regional Victorian patients by organising tests at the closest regional town or centre. More sophisticated tests such as coronary angiography are generally performed in larger regional centres or in Melbourne.
Call us on 1300 856 168 or email us to find out more, or read our FAQs section below.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- What is telehealth?During a telehealth appointment, you will talk with a cardiologist or nurse practitioner over a video link (on a computer, laptop, tablet or mobile phone) or, if video link is unavailable, by telephone.
- Am I eligible for a telehealth consultation?Medicare item numbers have been created to allow patients living within metropolitan or regional areas to access telehealth consultations.
- Which cardiac conditions are suitable for telehealth consultations?
Telehealth consultations are often appropriate for chronic cardiac conditions such as:
- ischaemic heart disease (coronary artery disease)
- difficult to treat hypertension
- arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation
For patients with known or suspected heart failure, in person consultations are usually preferred for a first appointment, before potential follow up via telehealth consultation for increases in medicines or ongoing monitoring. Further in-person consultations are usually also needed periodically to ensure a detailed examination can be performed. These can often be alternated with telehealth consultations.
- How could a cardiology telehealth consultation help me?A cardiology consultation delivered by telehealth may allow you earlier access than a standard in-person visit or may save you significant time and money in travelling to a larger centre or to Melbourne. It may be useful to guide and organise any cardiac tests that are needed for further assessment.
- Will it be any different from an in-person appointment?The detailed discussion of your symptoms, test results, condition and treatment is no different from an in-person consultation. A detailed examination cannot be performed by the cardiologist so any recent measurements of weight, blood pressure and heart rate are very helpful to discuss during your consultation. Please also have your medications or medication list nearby to discuss with the doctor. If a follow up, in-person appointment is necessary, this can be organised at a convenient location for you.
- How can I check whether everything is ready for the consultation?
You can perform a precall test to check your computer’s settings by clicking on the link below:tools.coviu.com/precall
This will ensure your microphone and webcam are working appropriately and that you are using the right browser.
- How can I organise a telehealth consultation?You will require a current referral from your GP or specialist. Appointments can be made to allow you to attend the consultation in the presence of a practice nurse and/or your GP, or from your home.