The Medical Board of Australia issued revised telehealth guidelines

Under the updated guidelines:

• Telehealth consultations will continue as an important feature of healthcare in Australia.
• Real-time doctor-patient consultations remain key to safe prescribing.
• Prescribing via questionnaire-based asynchronous web-based tools in the absence of a real-time patient-doctor consultation is not considered good practice.

Download the updated guidance here

My Health Record is an online summary of an individual’s key health information. This can be viewed securely online, from anywhere, at any time by individuals and their health care providers. To register for My Health Record you will require a PRODA account. Health care providers wanting to register for My Health Record or require additional education and resources should contact the GCPHN Digital Health Team via practicesupport@gcphn.com.au

• My Health Record | Australian Digital Health Agency Register and set up access
• My Health Record | Register and set up access
• My Health Record for healthcare providers
• My Health Record for healthcare providers | training simulators
• Australian Digital Health Agency – Online Training

Queensland Health has introduced a mandatory read-only computer prescription monitoring system for doctors, other prescribers and pharmacists. This system is called QScript. QScript captures and sends alerts about certain medicines which can present a high risk of harm. Qscripts became mandatory in on October 28th 2021. Read more about Q-script and find out how to register to use QScript online.

An electronic prescription is a digital version of a paper prescription. During your consultation, your healthcare provider can send your electronic prescription to you as an SMS or email.

• Australian Digital Health Agency online resources for prescribers and dispensers
• Australian Department of Health electronic prescribing information
• Pharmacy Society of Australia (PSA) electronic prescriptions information
• Australian Department of Health Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Information on Active Ingredient Prescribing (AIP) 

The Practice Incentives Program eHealth Incentive (ePIP) aims to encourage general practices to keep up to date with the latest developments in digital health and adopt new digital health technology as it becomes available.

More information about this incentive is available via the following online resources:

• The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) resources for ePIP
• Best Practice ePIP Shared Health Summary Calculator
• Medical Director ePIP Shared Health Summary Calculator
• My Health Record participation obligations

Telehealth is the use of phone or video technologies to exchange health information and provide health care services across geographic, time, social and cultural barriers.

The below resources can assist practices looking for more information on telehealth:

• MBS Online – MBS Telehealth Services from 1 July 2022
• RACGP Online Telehealth Information, Templates, and Resources has tips for best practice use in general practice.
• Medicare Billing Scheme (MBS) Telehealth Privacy checklist
• Healthdirect Video Call is available to primary health care practitioners in Australia under a special funding arrangement from the Australian Government until the 31/12/2022.
• A guide to build your RACH Telehealth Map

• Secure messaging training & education is available on the Australian Digital Health Agency Website.

• Gold Coast HealthPathways: Locally agreed information to make the right decisions together with patients, at the point of care.

• Health Provider Portal

• Smart Referrals is a digital referrals capability enabling faster, streamlined management of referrals to and within Queensland public hospitals.