Glebe Family Medical Practice
114 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe
NSW 2037
Telehealth Coronavirus Update
As you are all well aware, we are facing extraordinary times during the Covid-19 pandemic and accessing healthcare is not straightforward. GFMP has therefore adopted some new measures to ensure you can access high quality care at the clinic during these times.
If you are booked to attend the practice for a face to face consultation then please note the following:
- We will ask you screening questions at booking and on the day of your appointment about COVID symptoms and exposure.
- Although Mask wearing is no longer mandatory in the practice, we highly encourage you to bring a mask with you and wear it whilst in the reception area and during your consultation.
- We request that you use hand sanitiser and check in with our QR code on arrival.
- We are continuing to practice social distancing in our waiting room which means there is limited seating and you might need to wait outside under cover on the footpath or in your cars. Our reception staff will let you know when the doctor or nurse is able to take you into their room.
GFMP is currently offering telehealth options for all patients
Please note that a Medicare rebate for the cost of the consultation is only available to people who have attended a face-to-face appointment in the past 12 months.
If you have not attended the practice in the past 12 months, our staff will assist you in making a face-to-face appointment to see your usual GP.
Telehealth has been a wonderful new Medicare initiative and helps us to look after you safely during this ongoing pandemic. It also helps to manage our social distancing within the practice, by decreasing the number of people needing to attend in person. Many patients have found it to be a really useful and convenient option for their health care.
We have found that many types of consultations are suitable for telehealth including:
- Acute and chronic medical issues
- Mental health consultations
- Health care plans
- New and ongoing Specialist referral requests
- Follow up discussions about investigation results
- Prescription renewals.
Telehealth is completely confidential and designed to protect your privacy at all times with the doctors and nurses operating out of their private consulting rooms.
We have 2 options available for Telehealth Consultations here at GFMP
1. Video Consultations
This is our preferred option as it allows you and the GP to see each other during the consultation.
Telehealth video consultations are ran through a platform called GP Consults. This platform is easy to use provided you have a smart phone, or access to a tablet/computer.
You will be sent an SMS with a link when the doctor or nurse is ready to start the consultation – please follow the prompts and ensure that you allow access to your microphone and camera. You will then be connected directly to the doctor or nurse. You do not need to install any applications on your phone to conduct the video chat.
Please ensure you are in a private quiet space to allow confidentiality during your video consultation and make sure that you let the doctor or nurse know if you do have other people present or participating in the consultation.
2. Telephone consultations
Although this may not be our preferred option, we understand that many people do not have access to a smart phone or a reliable internet connection and will need to use this method for telehealth consultations.
Telephone is easy and familiar to all of us. However, please note it is essential that we have a current phone number that you will have accessible to you at the scheduled time of consultation (and until contacted by the doctor or nurse).
As for video consultations, we ask that you ensure you are in a private quiet space to allow confidentiality during your telephone consult and that you inform the doctor or Nurse know if you have other people present or participating in the consultation.
We ask that you have your phone near you at the time of your telehealth consultation so that you do not miss the SMS link for your video consultation, or the phone call for your telephone consultation.
No matter what happens with the Covid-19 infection in our community, our regular health care needs will continue and so it is essential that we have a safe way to interact with you all easily as well as have a safe clinical space to see people who need to be seen face to face.
We look forward to being able to look after your health during these times – and most importantly safely managing both your regular health issues and anything that might arise acutely over the next few months.