More south-west health clinics are switching to phone consultations to help ward off coronavirus threats.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
As of last week, everyone with a Medicare card became eligible for Medicare-funded telehealth, which offers consultations with GPs, psychologists and other health providers via video or phone, rather than going in.
Mr Watt said his clinic didn't use the service prior to the pandemic.
"Naturally we have helped many patients over the phone during the years but this is taking it to the next level where we can use video to look at body parts, take measurements such as joint angles, assess walking, improve posture and teach exercises," he said.
"This week the clinic will have provided around 60 telehealth consultations which is a great start. I'm sure once we spread the word and people get more used to using the technology, that number will grow significantly."
Mr Watt said Physio Freedom used the free audiovisual application Zoom to conduct the telehealth consultations.
"Hands on therapy is only a small part of the complete treatment that physiotherapy patients receive," he said.
"As an evidence-based practice, we pride ourselves on also providing advice around physical management of injuries, exercise prescription, postural correction, pacing strategies and return to work programs if required. We can all also complete certificates of capacity and digitally sign them for those people that require them."
Warrnambool GP Dina Elhalawani said that since the pandemic, 80 to 90 per cent of her clients were now using the telehealth service.
She said her consultations were held over the phone but she was working to provide an audiovisual service.
"While the service is different to our usual practice, it definitely works," she said.
"We still need to do face-to-face consults for things like the flu vaccine or putting in contraception measures like the implant or mirena - things you obviously can't do over the phone, but general consultations are working well."
Dr Elhalawani said the current pandemic meant doctors were getting creative with the way they provided health care to the community.
"You have to ask patients to be a bit more descriptive on the phone but you can get impressions of things, such as shortness of breath," she said.
"I've had patients with blood pressure machines in the back of their cupboard that they are now using to do their own blood pressure while I'm talking to them.
"I also had a patient whose wife helped him do a sitting and standing blood pressure test."
Dr Elhalawani said every phone call was different and the important thing was "figuring out a way to make it work".
"I'm not going to say it is a perfect measure or that it can substitute normal GP consults, but in the current situation it is a good alternative as a lot of things can be done over the phone," she said.
"I hope more patients hear about the service as I know everyone is doing the right thing by staying at home and putting off things that aren't considered an emergency, but they can still ring their doctor or other health practitioners and talk to them about their problems."
To book a telehealth appointment, contact your local healthcare clinic.
Physio Freedom asks patients to phone the clinic for an appointment and to leave their name and number if they wish to be called back.
Alternatively, appointments can be requested by email at warrnambool@physiofreedom.com.au.
Our COVID-19 news articles relating to public health and safety are free for anyone to access. However, we depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.
