What to expect at a telehealth consult

Booking your first telehealth consult can feel like a bit of an unknown. Will it be rushed? Do you need to prepare anything? What happens after you hang up? Here’s how a consult works, step by step, so you know exactly what you’re signing up for.

Before the consult: a short health check

Most telehealth clinics start with a questionnaire, and ours is no different. It takes a couple of minutes and covers the basics: your age, what you’d like help with, relevant medical history and how to reach you.

It isn’t a test and there are no wrong answers. It simply means your practitioner arrives at the consult already knowing the basics, so the time you spend together goes on you, not on paperwork.

A few questions are there for safety. If something you tell us means telehealth isn’t the right fit, we’ll say so up front rather than after you’ve paid for a consult.

The video consult itself

At the booked time, you join a private video call with an Australian-registered practitioner from your phone, tablet or computer. You’ll want:

• a quiet, private spot where you’re comfortable talking about your health
• a reliable internet connection and a working camera
• a list of any medicines and supplements you currently take
• any recent test results, if you have them handy

Your practitioner will go through your history, what’s been going on and what you’d like to change. Expect questions about sleep, stress, activity, diet and family history, because all of these shape your health. This is a two-way conversation, so bring your questions too.

Bloods, where they’re clinically relevant

Sometimes a practitioner needs more information before recommending anything. If blood tests would help, they’ll arrange a pathology request and explain what each test is for. You visit a local collection centre, and your practitioner takes you through the results in plain English.

Not everyone needs bloods. Your practitioner decides based on your situation. You can read more in why bloods come before a health plan.

Your plan

A plan is built around you: your goals, your history and, where relevant, your results. It might include lifestyle changes, monitoring, a referral to another practitioner or further investigation.

If a prescription medicine is clinically appropriate for you, your practitioner will explain why, what to expect and how it fits the rest of your plan. If it isn’t appropriate, it won’t be offered. That’s not a sales line; it’s how medicine is meant to work.

After the consult: check-ins

Health rarely changes in a single appointment. Regular check-ins give you a chance to review how things are going, adjust the plan and ask questions as they come up. You can book and reschedule them from your patient account.

When telehealth isn’t the right fit

Telehealth works well for many health conversations, but not all of them. Your practitioner may recommend an in-person assessment, a visit to your GP or a specialist referral. If you ever need urgent care, call 000.

Ready when you are

If you’d like to see how it works for you, read the full process or start with the two-minute health check. Your practitioner takes it from there.