Prime Medic's Blog
5 Common Misconceptions About Online Doctors in Australia
Although telehealth services have been around for over a decade now, they have only started gaining popularity after the pandemic hit in late 2019. With people forced to stay at home due to lockdowns, and most people being too scared to visit a doctor’s clinic because of the fear of contracting the virus, online doctors became the go-to for many non-life-threatening concerns. Luckily, technology has come far enough for most doctors to adequately diagnose, treat and help their patients through online video consultations and produce excellent outcomes. In fact, the telehealth industry saw a growth of 38x as compared to its pre-COVID-19 baseline!
So why is it that, even with 83.4% of people who had a telehealth consultation reporting that they would use the service again, so many others are still on the fence about online doctors in Australia? Perhaps the following misconceptions that are readily believed play a major part in preventing people from using this highly convenient and cost-effective service:
Online doctors are not real doctors
All doctors in Australia are legally required to be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency to be able to practice and see patients. The same rules apply to online doctors as they do to in-person physicians. If you are ever unsure of your doctor’s qualifications, an easy way to be reassured is to head on over to the AHPRA website and search for your practitioner’s name and registration number for more information.
An online doctor is authorised to conduct online video consultations, write online prescriptions, specialist and pathology referrals as well as medical certificates, just like a regular in-person doctor.
Online doctors can’t diagnose my condition over video
Studies show that one in every four GP visits is for avoidable reasons. Most conditions people usually present to GPs for can easily be diagnosed over a video call simply by looking at or analysing the symptoms. If any further assessment is required, such as a lab test, your online doctor can refer you to a pathology much the same way as a regular doctor, and can even write a specialist referral if required. If your online doctor determines that your condition is not suitable for an online appointment, they will notify you and you will be refunded the full amount you paid for your appointment.
Online doctors are only for those in rural or remote areas
While previously, online doctor services may have most often been used by those without easy access to an in-person doctor, over the course of the pandemic, this statistic has changed. After the pandemic, interest in telehealth has increased by 616%, regardless of the patient’s location. The ease of access and convenience online doctors offer, helping people spend less on transport costs, making childcare arrangements and taking time off work has made it a viable option for people living both in inner and outer regional areas as well as in major city areas.
Online doctors will charge more
It is very often believed that because of the convenience they offer, online doctors will be more expensive than going to your regular GP who may also be bulk billed. While you may not have to pay anything at your GP’s clinic if you’re covered by Medicare, many GPs do charge an excess which will come out of your pocket. Moreover, when you factor in the fuel or public transport costs, the time you spend at the clinic, the money you’ll pay for childcare arrangements as well as the income you’ll lose when taking time off work (in case you’re a casual employee and do not have paid time off), the total comes out to be much more expensive than an online appointment with a doctor.
Although all of our online consultations cost a flat rate of $29.99, including your online prescription and certificate, many of Prime Medic’s online doctors also bulk bill. This means you’ll essentially be getting treated for free when you eliminate all of the extra costs associated with a single in-person visit. If you need an appointment with a doctor who bulk bills, please call us or speak to the support agent for more details.
Online doctor services are not secure
As a patient, it is understandable to be worried about your medical and financial details ending up in the wrong hands. This is a major reason why people shy away from trusting online doctor services with their personal information. In reality, Prime Medic is 100% HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) Compliant, which means that we are legally bound to protect and keep your healthcare data private. To do so, we employ special privacy policies and firewalls to protect your sensitive data so it never gets into the wrong hands.
The convenience online healthcare services like Prime Medic offer is unparalleled. Whether you need to get a prescription online or a specialist referral, a quick consultation with a registered and licenced doctor or a medical certificate for sick leave, with Prime Medic, you can do so in a matter of minutes! Download the app on your smartphone today and get started on experiencing healthcare like never before!
