Telehealth phone consultations
Phone consultations for existing patients seen in the last 12 months: results, repeat scripts, certificates and follow-up without leaving home.
East Hills Medical Centre offers telehealth phone consultations to patients who have had a face-to-face appointment at the practice within the last 12 months, as Medicare requires. Telehealth suits follow-up of results, repeat prescriptions, medical certificates, review of a stable condition, mental health follow-up and advice on whether a symptom needs an in-person visit. Electronic prescriptions are sent to your phone by SMS and can be filled at any pharmacy. A phone consultation is billed at the standard consultation rate of $78.05 with a Medicare rebate of $45.05, leaving the usual $33 gap, or $88.05 after hours; bulk billing applies to the same groups as in-person visits on weekdays. Book online through HotDoc or call (02) 9773 3676, choose a phone appointment, and keep your phone nearby at the booked time. New patients and anyone with a new or worsening problem should book a face-to-face consultation.
Suitable for telehealth
- Discussing test results
- Repeat prescriptions for stable conditions
- Medical certificates for short illness
- Follow-up after a recent visit
- Mental health follow-up under an existing plan
- Referral renewals
Needs a face-to-face visit
- First visit to the practice
- Any new, severe or worsening symptom
- Anything needing examination, a procedure or a vaccine
- Chest pain, breathing difficulty or injury (call 000 if severe)
How it works
Book a phone appointment, answer the call from the practice at the booked time, and pay by card over the phone or through the HotDoc payment link. Scripts are sent as an eScript to your phone.
Questions patients ask
Who can use telehealth?
Patients who have been seen face to face at the practice in the last 12 months. This is a Medicare requirement.
Is telehealth bulk billed?
Bulk billing applies to the same groups as in-person consultations on weekdays: patients aged 18 and under, concession card holders and DVA card holders. Others pay the standard gap.
Do you do video consultations?
Consultations are by phone. If a video call would help, ask reception when booking.
Book an appointment
Online through HotDoc at any hour, or call reception on (02) 9773 3676 during opening hours. Mon to Fri 8:30am to 5pm, Sun 9am to 2pm.