The Medical Board of Australia’s guidelines for telehealth consultations outline clear expectations for safe, appropriate telehealth use. They include practical considerations such as:
- introducing yourself and your role to the patient
- checking the patient’s identity
- ensuring the consultation space is private and the technology is reliable
- documenting that telehealth was used and the type of technology used
- checking patients understand how to use the technology (including responding to technology failure)
- checking patients understand the limitations of telehealth, including alternatives and the possible need for in-person follow-up.
The Board states that a real-time conversation (in-person, video, or telephone) with the patient is required.