Medical Council NSW Health Professional Councils Authority

The growth in telehealth has delivered enormous benefits to patients by providing more timely and accessible health care, but how do doctors decide when a telehealth consult is appropriate? What do quality telehealth consultations mean in practice?
In this podcast episode, host Dr Penelope Elix speaks with, Dr Anne Tonkin AO, Chair, Medical Board of Australia (MBA) and Dr Michael Wright, Medical Director from Avant about practical aspects of telehealth consults and key points from the MBA’s Telehealth Guidelines released last year.
Resources
Medical Board of Australia Telehealth Guidelines (Sept 2023)
Medical Board of Australia Good medical practice – a code of conduct for doctors in Australia
 
Reference to any specific views, information or opinions does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the Medical Council of NSW. The views, information or opinions expressed by individuals in podcast episodes are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of the Council. The Council does its best to ensure information is complete, relevant and up to date, but is not responsible for verifying the accuracy of all information shared by individuals.

Excerpt from an about to be released episode on telehealth with guests Dr Anne Tonkin AO, Chair, Medical Board of Australia and Dr Michael Wright, Medical Director from Avant. In this clip, Dr Wright describes the benefits of telehealth while emphasising the standards of care that apply in face-to-face care also apply in telehealth consults.

Host Dr Penelope Elix discusses with Dr Michael Bonning, AMA NSW President and GP, anxieties doctors can have about seeking support for their own health and explains the very high threshold required for health-related notifications to regulators.

Doctors in Australia are less likely to have their own doctor than the rest of the community. As committed professional caregivers, medical practitioners can sometimes neglect their own mental and physical well-being. Our host Dr Penelope Elix speaks with Dr Michael Bonning, GP and AMA NSW President about doctor self-care, the importance of a doctor having their own GP, services available such as Doctors for Colleagues, the role of doctors treating doctor patients and myths about health-related mandatory notifications to regulators.
Further resources for listeners

Medical Board: Good medical practice: a code of conduct for doctors in Australia  
        Doctors health (section 11) and supporting health of colleagues


AMA(NSW)  Doctors for Colleagues Registry https://www.amansw.com.au/doctors-for-colleagues/



DRS4DRS – to identify the relevant health service available to medical practitioners in each state and territory DRS4DRS – Help doctors stay healthy



Doctors Health NSW – the doctors health service in NSW available to doctors and medical students and their families https://doctorshealth.org.au/



Medical Benevolent Association of NSW – provides counselling and short term financial assistance through times of crisis, illness, accident, mental health conditions, grief and loss of income to doctors and their families in NSW and ACT MBANSW - Home

 The Black Dog Institute TEN network (mental health support for health professionals)

https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/the-essential-network/


Healthier doctors = health patients Interview with Prof Leanne Rowe on doctor self-care and its link to patient safety https://www.mcnsw.org.au/healthier-doctors-healthier-patients

Mandatory notification guidelines

https://www.medicalboard.gov.au/codes-guidelines-policies/guidelines-for-mandatory- notifications.aspx

Over half of people experiencing mental health symptoms do not voice their concerns, and GPs are often the first point of contact when they do seek help. In this podcast episode, the Council's Medical Director and practising GP, Dr Penelope Elix talks with Black Dog Institute Executive Director and Chief Scientist, Professor Samuel Harvey about how doctors can engage with patients, what is best practice for mental health referrals, and additional resources for doctors to support patient care.
Resources

Health pathways for GPs

RACGP resources

RACGP resources for eMental health

Black Dog Institute for Health Professionals

eMHPRrac

Head to Health

Mental Health MBS

RANZCP website for resources (for patients) 

RANZCP website for resources (for health professionals) 

Medical Council of NSW – Know when to refer

 
Reference to any specific views, information or opinions does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the Medical Council of NSW . The views, information or opinions expressed by individuals in podcast episodes are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of the Council. The Council does its best to ensure information is complete, relevant and up to date, but is not responsible for verifying the accuracy of all information shared by individuals.

Over half of people experiencing mental health symptoms do not voice their concerns, and GPs are often the first point of contact when they do seek help. In this preview of of our 'Mental Health - Beyond the referral' episode, the Council's Medical Director and practising GP, Dr Penelope Elix talks with Black Dog Institute Executive Director and Chief Scientist, Professor Samuel Harvey about ways doctors can start conversations on mental health with their patients.

Reference to any specific views, information or opinions does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the Medical Council of NSW. The views, information or opinions expressed by individuals in podcast episodes are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of the Council. The Council does its best to ensure information is complete, relevant and up to date, but is not responsible for verifying the accuracy of all information shared by individuals.