Telehealth or virtual consultations will never replace a clinical consultation with Dr Eddie Cheng and our team, but we get it! Social distancing and Coronavirus restrictions make in person appointments a little difficult at the moment!!
But, we have you covered, we have been offering virtual appointments to our travelling patients for a long time so we are well versed at taking our appointments into to the virtual world!!
A telehealth video consultation is a consultation between you, as our patient and Dr Eddie Cheng. Your own personalised Patient Coordinator will also be present to assist and guide you through your telehealth and surgical journey with us. The benefit of a telehealth consultation is that it can also involve your GP and/or your nurse who may be located at different locations.
Every patient’s situation is different but in general, the benefits of this service include:
We would love to meet you via Telehealth. Depending on your requirements, you may fall into one of these two categories;
No not if your situation is medically necessary or urgent. In this instance, you will qualify for an in-person consultation which will enable Dr Cheng to determine the best surgical plan for you.
You can participate in a Telehealth video consultation from your own home or wherever you are at the time of the consultation providing you have access to a smartphone, desktop or laptop with audio and internet access.
Dr Cheng’s patient coordinators have been facilitating Telehealth appointments for some time now and can work with you to assist you with your Telehealth appointment.
Telehealth video consultations require a great deal of coordination however we do, understand that illness and life happens, and in this instance, we require 48hrs notice as outlined in our cancellation policy. We will then reschedule your consultation to a mutually suitable day or reimburse your prepaid consultation fee. Should you need to cancel, please let us know immediately.
You can help get the best from a Telehealth video consultation by following these simple steps:
You and your patient coordinator will connect first via your preferred method either Zoom meetings, google hangouts or facetime. Dr Cheng will soon join the meeting to confirm your clinical history, available images and relevant scans or any biopsy results. Based on the information available, Dr Cheng will discuss preliminary treatment options, risks and provide you with a preliminary treatment summary. Keep in mind that any recommendations made during a telehealth consultation can and may change once you have been assessed and seen face to face.
Once we are connected, our Treatment Coordinator will introduce herself and reiterate the reason for your consultation. You will be asked some identifying questions such as your name, address, and date of birth to make sure the right patient and right health records are available. Dr Eddie Cheng will then join you and discuss your requirements as he would in a face-to-face consultation.
You and your allocated Treatment Coordinator will initially discuss your medical history with you with Dr Eddie Cheng joining you soon thereafter. Occasionally other health professionals such as your GP, nurse or other specialists may be involved in your consultation however this will only occur with your express consent.
As with face-to-face appointments, your spouse, partner, family or friend may accompany you if you wish, once again being mindful of distance regulations.
You may ask your patient coordinator or anyone else present to step out of the Telehealth video consultation at any time should you wish to have a private discussion with Dr Cheng.
The same privacy and confidentiality requirements that apply to face-to-face consultations apply to Telehealth video consultations. However, we cannot guarantee total protection against hacking or tapping into the video visits by outsiders. This risk is small, but it does exist.
Typically, our team will ask for images or videos of the area of concern to be emailed in prior to your Telehealth consultation. Dr Cheng may also ask your GP or other support clinicians to examine you on their behalf. You will be notified beforehand if a clinical examination is recommended as part of your Telehealth assessment. Should a clinical consultation be necessary, we would encourage you to have a gown or robe in your room that you can access. A patient coordinator is present at all times during appointments both face to face and during Telehealth consultations.
If you have special needs such as requiring an interpreter, please let our patient coordinator know when scheduling your Telehealth consultation. Your Telehealth consultation with Dr Cheng will be confirmed once your requirements or needs have been met and scheduled by our team.
No. Our practice does not record Telehealth video consultations and we do not give patients permission to make their own recordings of a Telehealth video consultation.
Most patients feel a little nervous at the beginning of their first Telehealth video consultation because it’s a new way of seeing a Doctor or Specialist. However, most patients soon feel very comfortable with this kind of consultation. It’s very unlikely you’ll feel unable to continue with a Telehealth video consultation. If this does happen, you can request to end the consultation however consultation fees may still apply.
Skin cancer patients
Medical aesthetic and cosmetic plastic surgery patients
If there are likely to be any other fees associated with the Telehealth video consultation, you will be advised prior to your consultation.
A vulnerable patient is a person at risk of COVID-19, so a person who is:
The services will be available until 30 September 2020. The continuing availability of these items will be reviewed prior to 30 September 2020.
We would love your feedback so we can continue to improve our video consultation services. We invite you to provide us with your feedback here.
If you have any questions about whether a Telehealth video consultation may be suitable for you, we encourage you to talk to our friendly team and/or check with your GP.
If you have any questions about how Telehealth video consultations work, please phone us to discuss your requirements. Our Telehealth patient coordinators are here to make your experience as seamless as possible.
Questions and Answers for Patients
Please refer to our dedicated page here.
