Opinion
New telehealth services a chance to show the strength of general practice
RACGP President Dr Harry Nespolon says GPs must use the coronavirus pandemic to prove how valuable efficient, patient-centred primary care can be – if it’s done right.
Telehealth is only one part of a comprehensive mix of services that GPs must continue to provide.
Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures, and so it is with the Government’s $500 million embrace of expanded telehealth services.
The RACGP has been advocating for such an expansion for some time, and now it is here we must demonstrate its value to both patients and the wider healthcare system.
The sweeping changes are among the largest announced for general practice in decades but are only guaranteed to be in place until 30 September, after which time they will be up for review.
I must be clear: this is not an opportunity for doctors and practice owners to try to take advantage of a crisis by churning through as many patients as possible in anattempt to make money. It is a chance for Australia’s most valuable healthcare specialty to demonstrate how effectively modern medicine can be delivered.
It is an opportunity to showcase how valuable, agile and efficient GPs can be – that we are still able to provide the best-value care to vulnerable patients regardless of whether we are sitting face-to-face or not.
Of course, many patients cannot be treated properly without being in the same room or be treated by one of the practice’s team, which is why it is vital that telehealth remains only one part of the comprehensive mix of services we deliver as GPs.
But for those who can be treated via telehealth, we need to do everything possible to ensure they receive the same treatment as they always have.
Australians rely on GPs to take care of them in times of crisis. They trust us to protect their health and wellbeing, and help them get through the understandable anxiety and distress these sorts of disasters can produce.
Make no mistake, we are leaders in the community and we must keep that front of mind in every decision that we make – especially during such uncertain times.
Everyone must cooperate during a national emergency – doctors, politicians, grocery store workers – everyone. The Government will do what it can to look after us, so long as we continue to do the right thing.
I strongly encourage the Department of Health to not be overly officious in their auditing of GPs who are clearly trying to do the right thing in what is unfamiliar territory. Likewise, I strongly encourage the Department to hold those who are not to the highest levels of accountability.
We want to make sure we get this right so we can keep our options open after September.
If we maintain our discipline and our humanity, and continue our caring approach to patients, we will not only protect Australians when they are at their most vulnerable, we will show that GPs are capable of this flexible, effective, modern form of medicine now and into the future.
GPs who would like to find more information and advice on primary care telehealth consultations should access the new RACGP guidelines on the college website.
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