Telehealth

What is telehealth?

Telehealth is the use of technology to provide health care and information from a distance. At Fourth Avenue ENT clinic, we are offering videoconferencing as an option to link you and your specialist at different locations during the COVID-19 crisis.

What are the benefits of telehealth?

Telehealth allows you to be assessed at home or at work via a video call with our specialist, rather than coming to our Eastwood clinic. This

• Supports physical distancing and isolation rules
• Reduced potential risk of COVID-19 infection to yourself and others
• Decreased travel time and costs
• Decreased waiting time in clinics

What can I expect?

After being booked in for a telehealth appointment by our reception staff, you will receive instruction and information about joining the telehealth consultation for your appointment. Log in to the telehealth system via your preferred method and speak to our specialist via your device screen. You will see the clinician on the screen and they will see you at their end.

You will receive the same care via telehealth as you would face to face. You should ask questions and provide information as you normally would. A family member or carer can be in the room with you if you want.

The clinician at Fourth Avenue ENT Clinic will have access to your test results and medical record. Your telehealth appointment will be documented in your medical record.

Requests for further tests and prescriptions will be sent to you if required.

What do I need to make a video call?

You need a either a PC and laptop, a tablet or smartphone with a internet browser, a microphone and speaker. 

How do I prepare?

Prior to the appointment..

1. Send us your completed registration form if it’s your first time seeing the specialist
2. Send us a copy of your referral (if we do not have a valid referral from a specialist in the last 3 months, or GP in the last 12 months)
3. Send us a copy of relevant imaging and pathology results, or audiograms if available

These can be sent to us via email at clinic@fourthavenueent.com.au, fax: (02) 9874 8159, or via post (please allow plenty of time prior to your appointment)

On the day before your appointment

Test your video-calling equipment. Make sure your microphone and speaker are working

On the day of your appointment

1. Arrive at least 15 minutes early to allow for preparation time
2. Try to reduce as much background noise as possible – close the windows and doors if needed and turn off the TV or any music nearby.
3. Try to use artificial lighting rather than natural light – for example, close the blinds and turn your ceiling lights on.
4. Position your webcam to make sure you are clearly visible Once you’ve co
5. Switch your mobile off or to silent mode
6. Speak clearly so your voice can be picked up by the microphone
7. Look at the camera so you can achieve good eye contact with the specialist
8. If you have a question or need help during the telehealth video consultation, just ask.
9. If you feel uncomfortable you can ask to finish the consultation

Will my Telehealth consultation be private and confidential?

We use healthdirect video call which is purpose-built for health settings to allow secure, high quality encrypted video calls through modern web browsers whilst offering security, data and privacy protection which meets health care standards.

What do I do to determine if I have the right smart device?

If your device allow you to browse online through a web browser such as chrome or safari, most likely it’s capable of connecting to the video call. You can also run a video consultation precall test here. We encourage you to log in 10-15 minutes prior to your appointment to optimise your telehealth experience.

If I choose to have a Telehealth appointment am I still able to see my clinician in person?

During the COVID-19 health crisis, we are encouraging review of patients with any respiratory symptoms, or those who may have COVID-19 via telehealth. Unfortunately, full examination cannot be performed through telehealth. If it’s deemed that further review in person is necessary, your specialist will advice you on further steps to organise this.  Please discuss your follow-up options with your specialist and you will be scheduled for your next appointment accordingly.

Can a family member or carer join me in my Telehealth consultation?

Family members, carers or any other person a patient wants to have included in the consultation can dial-in from anywhere if they know how to access the Telehealth Portal and the patient has shared the correct Telehealth appointment details for their consultation. Please advise your clinician if you have a family member who will be dialling into your Telehealth consultation.

What happens if I can’t connect to the Telehealth consultation?

Please let our reception staff know ahead of your scheduled appointment time and they can help organise a telephone consultation instead.

Will the telehealth video consultation be recorded?

No. Our practice does not record telehealth video consultations and we do not give patients permission to make their own recordings of a telehealth video consultation. If your specialist or your GP thinks it would be helpful for your treatment to record particular images during your telehealth video consultation, they would first seek your written permission to do so and they would ask you to repeat your consent on camera.