Telehealth
Telehealth is the use of safe and secure video conferencing software to connect you with your Melbourne Hand Rehab hand therapist. Through this system we are able to provide expert hand therapy consultations online:
- to people in rural and remote areas or overseas
- for people with mobility restrictions
- for people who want to save time and have the convenience of accessing expert hand therapy in their own home
- where specialised hand therapy services may not be available
- when patients have received a diagnosis but would like further guidance or explanation surrounding their injury
- when a second opinion is sought from one of our expert hand therapists
Telehealth online consultations are available for new consults or follow-up consults with your preferred therapist. Using your smartphone, tablet or computer we can assess, diagnose, demonstrate and help you complete exercises and self treatment in the same manner as a face-to-face session.
Melbourne Hand Rehab online consultations are an excellent way to keep your treatment plan and rehab on track without the need to visit a clinic.
The health and wellbeing of our valued patients, community, and our team here at Melbourne Hand Rehab are our highest priority. If you would like to learn more you can contact us on +61 3 9458 5166
Physiotherapist Karen, talks about hand therapy online video consultations (Telehealth).
What conditions can we treat?
Online video hand therapy (Telehealth) consultations are suitable for almost all hand therapy conditions, including:
- Wrist pain – injury, fracture, arthritis, tendon pain, post-surgical rehab
- Finger pain – dislocation, sprain, tendon injury, triggering, mallet, fracture and stiffness and post-surgical rehab
- Thumb pain – arthritis, triggering, weakness, numbness and post-surgical rehab
- Reduced movement after an injury or fracture
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Elbow pain – tennis elbow, golfers elbow, post-surgical rehab
- Handwriting difficulties
- Musicians injuries
- Chronic pain and CRPS
- Arm pain and associated work related symptoms
How does an online video consult (Telehealth) work?
Prior to your initial appointment you will receive an email with a new patient form to fill in and easy to follow instructions for the video consult set up.
You will need either:
- a smartphone, or
- a laptop with inbuilt camera and microphone, or
- a desktop computer with a webcam and microphone
You will receive an email invitation to our platform which you will accept and have open at the designated consultation time.
Your therapist will have already reviewed your detailed history from the new patient form filled in prior to the session.
What happens during a session?
An online consultation at Melbourne Hand Rehab is very similar to a regular face to face hand therapy consultation. Your hand therapist will:
- Listen to your story, understand you, your injury and how it impacts your life.
- Provide a thorough examination through the video call, in which you will be asked to perform a variety of movements and clinical tests and asked some questions.
- Provide clarity of your injury (likely diagnosis), education and advice, why your injury has occurred and how it will heal.
- Provide appropriate treatment, advice and rehab exercises to provide symptom relief and long term improvements.
- Tailor an individualised management plan that you can follow in order to immediately start working towards your goals and become pain and injury free.
FAQ
How can a hand therapist treat me online?
We recognise that you won’t be receiving hands-on treatment for your injury, but we are 100% confident that we can help you to achieve your goals without it. For a while now, extensive research has shown that active rehabilitation (exercise therapy) is the most effective tool to ensure you move better and are pain free in the long term and have also shown that the exact same results can be achieved without hands-on treatment.
How do we communicate online?
Sessions are performed using a video call, similar to if you have contacted friends or family via FaceTime, WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. You will be provided with a link and details to easily set up the video call.
How do I pay for my online hand therapy consultation?
We use Medipass, which allows for you to pay for your consult on your mobile phone via encrypted software. It’s really easy!
Can I claim private health?
You can claim a rebate for online consultations from your health insurance company in exactly the same way as you would for a clinic consultation.
Can I claim Medicare for online hand therapy consultations?
Yes. If you are eligible for a Chronic Disease Management plan (formerly called an EPC), you will be able to access 5 bulk billed Hand Therapy Online consultations, therefore you will not be out of pocket. You will need to ask your GP if you qualify and ask your GP to provide you with an CDM plan.
Can I use NDIS for online hand therapy consultations?
Yes, you can use your NDIS funding. We currently only have the capacity to work with self managed and plan managed NDIS clients.
Do I need a referral?
How long is a consultation?
Sessions are 40 minutes for an initial consultation and 20 minutes for a follow up consultation.
How do I book an online video (Telehealth) consultation?
Click HERE to conveniently book an appointment online via any location or any therapist.
For more information or assistance in booking an appointment, call us directly on 03 9458 5166
Click HERE to email an enquiry.
Book a Telehealth appointment
All of our therapists are available for online video hand therapy consultations.
Click here to find out more about our therapists.
HOW CAN WE HELP?
For Telehealth enquiries and appointments please call 03 9458 5166 or use our enquiry form.