Good virtual care practices

01 Aug 2024

Over 25% of Australians have had at least one telehealth consultation for their own health in the last 12 months. ¹

Ahpra and the National Boards have published virtual care information for health practitioners, the public and employers about accessing and providing safe and effective virtual care. 

Practitioners and consumers are increasingly choosing virtual care alternatives as we continue to see growth in the adoption of technology, online prescribing and the use of health ‘apps’. What was once seen as a temporary approach to enable healthcare in a global pandemic is now widely accepted as just another way to see your practitioner. 

These documents replace the previous Telehealth guidance for practitioners which was developed to address the impact of COVID-19 restrictions.

This information is not new and relies on the existing principles within the National Boards’ regulatory framework, such as Codes of Conduct and other relevant standards and guidelines. It has been developed as a helpful resource for healthcare providers and consumers to understand what good virtual care should look like. 

Guidance for medical practitioners

The Medical Board of Australia also have the Telehealth consultations with patients guidelines to inform registered medical practitioners and the community about the Medical Board of Australia’s expectations of medical practitioners who have telehealth consultations with patients. 

¹ Australian Bureau of Statistics