Telehealth
Telehealth
Telehealth
What is Telehealth?
Telehealth is the use of video conferencing to provide allied health services such as speech pathology, occupational therapy, and/or psychology services to clients. Telehealth is sometimes referred to as telepractice, telerehabilitation, or telespeech. Telehealth has commonly been used by allied health practitioners to support remote communities.
There is evidence supporting the use of online sessions for allied health services, indicating that these services are often as effective as face-to-face interventions.
Beyond Words Therapy Centre is now offering this service for our local clients in response to the current COVID-19 concerns.
What devices/equipment do I need to access Telehealth?
- A laptop/tablet/mobile phone or desktop computer with web camera and microphone
- Internet connection
- Headphones (optional)
What do I need to do to access Telehealth?
- Clients of Beyond Words Therapy Centre will be contacted by their therapist to discuss options for ongoing support via Telehealth.
- Review Beyond Words Therapy Centre help sheets.
- If you are a new family to Beyond Words Therapy Centre and would like to book an initial Telehealth appointment with one of our friendly professionals, then contact our supportive admin team on today.
- We can schedule a test call, to be conducted prior to your first appointment, to ensure that you are comfortable using the system.
- To access your test call and online therapy sessions you will need to follow the links provided to you via email from Beyond Words Therapy Centre.
- Please see below for guides on how to setup and access our Telehealth services using Zoom:
What are the benefits?
- Improve access to allied health services
- Ensure consistency and continuity of care, particularly in relation to the uncertainly to today’s environment with COVID-19
- Reduce your need for travel
- Decrease exposure to infectious disease
What are the potential downsides?
- Be impacted by technical problems, such as delays due to technology failures.
- Not offer the same visual and sound quality for observations and modelling
- Doesn’t feel as personable as an onsite session
- Increased exposure to privacy and digital security risks
Confidentiality and Privacy
- Zoom is an end-to-end encrypted program, which means that no-one is able to access the content of the call/meeting except those in attendance.
- As with all our sessions, any information provided within the session will be kept in strict confidence and comply with State and Federal privacy policies. If the recording of any part of the session is required, we will ask for your consent in advance. Any recordings will be stored securely by Beyond Words Therapy Centre.
Payments and Rebates
- Currently, Medicare provides rebates for psychology and occupational therapy services and does not offer rebates for online speech therapy appointments. The Federal Government is currently reviewing funding arrangements for online therapy, and we will let you know as soon as this changes.
- NDIS clients have no restrictions on using online therapy services with their funding. For NDIS Self-Managed clients and privately paying clients, payment for online therapy sessions will be collected immediately after your session finishes. You will receive a phone call from our admin staff who will take payment using your credit card over the phone.
- HCWA and BetterStart clients have no restrictions on using online therapy services with their funding. Processing of claims will continue as per usual.
- Some Private Health funds will cover allied health services, however, please ensure you check with your own provider.
Cancellations
- Cancellation of our Telehealth services is covered by our Cancellation Policy. Cancellation Policy (for Child) | Cancellation Policy (for Adult).
- If you do not sign into the Zoom meeting at the time of your appointment, your therapist will attempt to contact you via phone to make sure everything is okay. If they are unable to get in contact, a ‘Non-attendance’ cancellation fee will apply.
