Fertility advice
Telehealth
Before you book a telehealth appointment, please note that the Medicare have strict rules as to who can access Medicare-rebatable telehealth consultations. Regular patients of Double Bay Doctors are generally eligible for a Medicare rebate following their telehealth consultation, however, we encourage you to confirm if you are eligible for a Medicare rebatable telehealth consultation before booking your appointment.
To have a telehealth consultation at Double Bay Doctors, you must be physically located within Australia.
WHAT DO KNOW ABOUT TELEHEALTH FEES
The rules on accessing Medicare rebates for Telehealth appointments have recently changed.
To be eligible for Medicare funded telehealth services you must have seen your GP, or another GP at Double Bay Doctors, for a face-to-face appointment at least once in the 12 months prior to the date of your Telehealth consultation.
This means that if you haven't been to Double Bay Doctors for a face to face appointment in the last 12 months, you will incur the full consultation fee with no Medicare rebate available.
WHAT TYPE OF TELEHEALTH APPOINTMENT DO I NEED?
Double Bay Doctors offers TWO types of telehealth appointments: phone or video telehealth.
The Medicare rebate you will receive after your consultation will vary depending on the type of telehealth appointment you book, so it is important to choose the correct one.
If you require a physical examination from your GP for respiratory/bacterial symptoms, injury etc. we recommend going back and booking a face-to-face appointment instead.
If you require a physical examination after your telehealth appointment, your subsequent face-to-face appointment may attract a gap fee.
Video or 'FaceTime' telehealth consults
Video telehealth appointments are considered best practice and Medicare offers rebates for a wide range of video telehealth appointment types.
Telehealth appointments are best aimed at simple concerns that do not require a physical examination e.g. scripts, referrals, result review etc.
To access video telehealth appointments you will need to download the AMS Connect app. Via the app, you can manage all your appointments at Double Bay Doctors and access video or 'FaceTime' consults with your GP.
Phone or audio telehealth consults
A phone telehealth consult involves a phone call to your mobile number from a GP. Medicare offers rebates for a limited range of phone telehealth appointment types and for this reason you must book phone telehealth consults through our reception team, by calling 9328 3100. Please consult the table below before booking your appointment.
TELEHEALTH FOR PATIENTS WITH RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS
If you are experiencing respiratory symptoms including fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, we recommend that you book a face to face appointment, instead of a telehealth appointment.
In most cases, your GP will need to perform a physical examination and may need to perform a swab test on you to confirm diagnosis.
In the event that you book a telehealth appointment and are required to attend a subsequent face to face appointment, both appointments will attract a gap fee.
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, please wear a face mask to your face to face appointment.
HOW DOES TELEHEALTH WORK?
Ensure you select the Telehealth appointment type at the time of booking
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Read the instructions below for how to book your Telehealth consult.
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When your consult is due to commence you will need to open the AMS Connect App.
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Your doctor will contact you when they are ready to start the video consultation.
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In the case of technical difficulties your doctor will call you by phone.
Step 1: Once you have booked your appointment, you will need to download the AMS Connect App.
Step 2: You will receive a text message reminder 5 minutes before your Telehealth consult is due to commence. When its time for your appointment, open the AMS Connect app on your phone.
Step 3: Your doctor will contact you through the AMS Connect app when they are ready to begin the consultation. Please allow for a delay of up to 10 minutes for technical issues etc, before contacting reception.
REMEMBER: in the event of any technical issues, your doctor can make a standard phone call and speak to you on the phone.
SCRIPTS & REFERRALS
If you require a script following your telehealth consultation, we can arrange for it to be faxed directly to your preferred pharmacy.
If your preferred pharmacy is not one of the pharmacies listed below, please allow 48 hours for the script to be delivered. You can then organise to collect, or arrange home delivery, of your medication.
We can organise for your script to be delivered to one of the following local pharmacies within 24 hours:
Chemist Warehouse
Home delivery available for a $10.00 fee
459-463 New South Head Rd
Double Bay NSW 2028
Abundance Pharmacy
Home delivery available on request
3&4/376-382 New South Head Rd
Double Bay NSW 2028
Entry via Knox St
Gaslight Pharmacy Rose Bay
Home delivery available Monday to Friday 12:00pm - 5:00pm
484 Old South Head Road
Rose Bay NSW 2029
Blooms Edgecliff
Home delivery available on request
10/235 New South Head Rd
Edgecliff NSW 2027
If you require a referral for pathology, radiology or to a specialist following your telehealth phone consultation, we can email you your referral or fax it directly to the relevant service.
