I forgot completely what my PDr had said, when he told me about how Medicare was 'tweaking' telehealth for him to work within. I thought they were okay with a telehealth item for a slightly shorter non-video telehealth consultation, & that (I thought) if I wanted, he would see me face to face, But no, he's not doing that for the time being. He does want telehealth with video, for a bit longer each session. He can go back to charging his usual fee, & medicare will reimburse me for some of the cost. My bank balance goes backwards until I reach the first medicare safety net, for a few months. (That doesn't change!)
So, I gotta turn on Face Time, & work through my discomfort about that. I'll have to at least put a shirt on, even if the weather is hot & humid, & maybe even a light in my flat!
We've discussed the pros & cons of telehealth since we began sessions in March 2020.
He has tried, all this time, to give me as good a service as always. I am certain he would have continued the telehealth we've been doing, if Medicare hadn't complicated it wihth their requirement that it be with video.
This way, he, his colleague, all the patients - we are eliminating any risk of COVID-19 being spread amongst us. I am grateful we can have telehealth for consultations wih Psychiatrist's. If I am forced to deal with video calls, to keep Medicare happy, that's a bonus! I am reluctant, but must try. Could be hilarious trying to get my phone positioned so he can at least see it really is me! (I'm not sure I'll be actively tr;ying to view him. I never actually saw him much before, why start now? Of-course, I could turn on face time & continue to lay my phone down, facing the ceiling, on a box on my table, next to where I sit, so it's close enough to pick up my voice...😸& leave it at that!
Certainly, for physical examinations, I do not think telehealth can adequately replace the Doctor (GP or Specialist), being in the same room with a patient in there, too.
mmMekitty
