Video consultations at WHRIA – Telehealth during COVID

Video calling is as convenient as a phone call, with the added value of face-to-face communication.

It’s easy, can save you time and money, and brings your care closer to home. 

Our administration team will offer you this option as a preference to help reduce the spread of  COVID-19, for your safety and ours. WHRIA remains open for face to face consultations, as an ‘essential service’, including our doctors and allied health practitioners.

YOU MUST NOT ATTEND IF YOU FEEL UNWELL, HAVE A FEVER OR ANY CONTACT WITH SUSPECTED COVID CASES.

To attend your video consultation appointment or test your equipment, click on: https://attend.vc/whria

Am I suitable for a video-consultation?

Where appropriate, you can have your consultation online via a video conferencing. You will be able to see and hear your practitioner and they will be able to see and hear you via a visual and audio link. If you are unable to video call, a phone call may be provided.

The usual consultation fees apply for most people. 

You may be eligible for a Medicare rebate for our specialist physicians (doctors) and psychologist with the COVID-19 Telehealth rebates if:

• you have a Commonwealth concession card
• are under 16 years old
• are more vulnerable to COVID-19

Vulnerable to COVID is currently listed as a person who:

• is required to self-isolate or self-quarantine in accordance with guidance issued by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee in relation to COVID-19; or
• is at least 70 years old; or
• if the person identifies as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent—is at least 50 years old; or
• is pregnant; or
• is the parent of a child aged under 12 months; or
• is being treated for a chronic health condition; or
• is immune compromised; or
• meets the current national triage protocol criteria for suspected COVID-19 infection.

For more information see this Medicare link

COVID-19 Telehealth consultations and Medicare rebates

WHRIA Doctors & Specialists: For your safety and ours, we prefer video or phone consultation for your appointment. For medical appointments that require a physical examination or treatment clinic consultations are available. 

WHRIA psychologist: full service available via video or phone call. Medicare rebates available.

WHRIA Physiotherapists & osteopaths: Telehealth is preferred when a physical examination or treatment is not required. Clinic appointments available in the city and Kogarah clinics. See below for more info.

Attending your appointment via a video call is easy

All you need is to be connected to the internet with a device that contains a camera and microphone, such as a smart phone, a laptop or a computer. When you book your appointment, our administration team will send you this link https://attend.vc/whria to check your equipment a few days before your appointment. 

HOW DO I START MY VIDEO-CALL APPOINTMENT

WHRIA uses Attend Anywhere™ for our video consultations. This service provides health-grade privacy, security and data protection and you enter our online Waiting Area via our website into your own private video room.

Instead of travelling to your appointment, you enter our waiting area online. WHRIA is notified when you arrive and your clinician will join you when ready. There is no need to create an account. No information you enter is stored.

CAN I CONSULT MY WHRIA PHYSIOTHERAPIST, PSYCHOLOGIST OR OSTEOPATH VIA VIDEO CONSULTATION?

Yes. Psychology can provide the same service. Physiotherapy and Osteopathy can provide a full service, minus the hands-on aspect. 

Medicare provides a full rebate if you have a referral from your GP for Chronic Disease Management (physio or osteo) or a Mental Health Care Plan (psychology) during COVID.

Many people have consulted our manual therapy practitioners and have found the appointments very useful, especially during the time of COVID-19 prevention. The consultation can provide many aspects of your care, apart from the physical touch, including:

• education about your condition
• answer any questions you may have since last appointment
• a full clinical history or update on your condition
• body movements or exercises can be demonstrated and checked via video
• add new exercises or lifestyle changes 
• email your treatment plan

At present there is no private health rebate for allied health video consultations such as psychology, physiotherapy and osteopathy. Contact your insurer if you would like this to change.

If I live outside major cities, can I use Telehealth to consult WHRIA?

Yes. If you live out of Sydney or have difficulty attending appointments in person, where appropriate, you can have your consultation online via a video conferencing. You will be able to see and hear your practitioner and they will be able to see and hear you via a visual and audio link.

You may be eligible for a Medicare rebate for our specialist physicians (doctors) under the Rural and Remote Telehealth program if:

• you live in a telehealth eligible area at the time of the video consultation (outside major metropolitan areas; our staff can check this for you); and
• you live at least 15 km by road from the specialist or consultant physician; or
• be a care recipient of a residential aged care facility (located anywhere in Australia); or
• be a patient of an eligible Aboriginal Medical Service (located anywhere in Australia).

For more information see our Video call consultations with WHRIA practitioners Health Information Sheet to download.