Telehealth

What Is Telehealth?

Telehealth is the use of video conferencing technology to enable consultations to happen when in person appointments are not possible.

What will I need to be able to use Telehealth?

Any piece of technology (smart phone, tablet, laptop, PC etc) with a video camera, microphone and screen will do as long as it has an adequate internet connection.

What are the potential benefits of telehealth?

It enables people in rural and remote areas to access appropriate services as well as allowing everyone to access the provider of their choice, no matter how far away from them they live.
Even if living close it can reduce your need for travel.
Some people simply prefer this way of engaging over in person meetings.

What are the potential downsides of telehealth?

Some people simply don’t like conducting their health care in this manner, and some people will not have the necessary technology or a good enough broad band connection for it to work.
Sometimes unexpected technical problems can negatively impact the consultation, cause delays, shorten the planned consultation time or, at worst, mean the consultation cannot go ahead at all.
There is a small possibility of increased exposure to privacy and digital security risks, depending on the security of your internet connection and how private your own location is. This can be minimised by trying to ensure you have a quiet, private location and by avoiding the use of public internet connections ie free wifi.