Telehealth GP in Point Cook: Phone Consultations

How a phone consultation works

Call reception on (03) 7300 7780 to book, and ask about booking details and fees. Phone consultations are not held at a set time. The doctor will call you on the day of your booking, but the call may come earlier or later than the time you were given, so keep your phone close and the ringer on.

Good reasons to choose telehealth

A phone call often works well for:

• discussing test results once you know they are in
• reviewing how a new medicine is going
• repeat prescriptions for stable, ongoing conditions
• a follow-up after a recent face-to-face visit
• advice on whether you need to be seen in person

Test results are not given out by reception or nursing staff, so a booked consultation is the way to go through them.

When you need to come in

Anything that needs the doctor to look, listen or examine is better handled at the clinic: a new lump, a rash, chest symptoms, abdominal pain, an injury or a health check. If it becomes clear during the call that you need an examination, the doctor will ask you to come in. The clinic encourages patients to book in person when possible. For chest pain or trouble breathing, call 000.

Eligibility for a telehealth GP in Point Cook

To stay eligible for phone consultations, you need at least one face-to-face consultation with your doctor each year. This matches the Medicare telehealth rules, which generally require an in-person consultation with your GP, or another GP at the same practice, in the previous 12 months. Limited exceptions apply, such as babies under 12 months.

Under the Medicare eligibility criteria, patients registered in MyMedicare can also have telehealth from their registered practice, and longer phone consultations of 20 minutes or more are only Medicare-funded for registered patients.

Preparing for the call

• find a quiet, private spot where you can talk freely
• have your medicines, or a list of them, in front of you
• write down your questions and when symptoms started
• keep a pen handy for any instructions

If you need help with communication, tell reception when booking, as a phone interpreter may be available.

Registering with MyMedicare

MyMedicare is a voluntary registration with your regular general practice. Point Cook Doctors invites patients who consider it their preferred practice to register. You can leave at any time, and it does not affect your Medicare rights. Registration details are on the patient information page.

Common questions