Although many people have now experienced the many benefits online healthcare has to offer, many others still haven’t gotten around to giving it a shot. A major reason for this is the amount of myths and misconceptions floating around about online GP consultations that have made people wary of trusting this very convenient service. But with coronavirus infections still in the tens of thousands across Australia, it might be time to debunk these misconceptions once and for all.

Myth 1: Online GP Consultations Are Only For Those Without Easy Access to Doctors
Previosuly, online medical appointments and telehealth appointments were reserved for those who lived in rural or remote areas, or with limited mobility issues who could not easily access a doctor whenever they wanted. However, today, online GP consultations are being used by people all across Australia due to the ease they offer. You no longer have to skip work to make it to your appointment, drive or take the bus to the doctor’s room. wait around for up to an hour, just for what usually ends up being a 10 to 15 minute consultation. You can simply book an appointment for a time that best suits you and go about your day as you wait for the online doctor to get in touch with you. This ends up saving both you and the doctor valuable time that could be spent elsewhere.

Myth 2: Online GP Consultations Are Expensive
Maybe in the past, when video equipment and stable connections weren’t as readily available as they are today. Today, most of us own a smartphone or smart device, or can easily access a computer with video capabilities and an internet connection. Connectivity is no longer an issue, which means you’re not paying anything extra to see your doctor. In fact, booking an online consultation might actually end up saving you money! How? Let’s take a look:

You book an appointment with your local GP. Depending upon where you work and what their policies are, you may be expected to take paid or unpaid time off to make it to your appointment. For casual workers, this often means a loss of income as casual workers don’t typically get paid days off. Now, you have to travel to make it to your appointment. This would either mean taking the public transport or driving, both of which cost money. Then comes the actual fee for the consultation. Finally, if you’re booking an after-hours appointment and are a single parent with children at home, you also need to make babysitting arrangements for the time you’ll be away, which again costs money. All together, a simple in-person GP consultation can end up costing much more money than an online one.

Moreover, although online GP consultations typically cost a fraction of what an in-person visit costs, many healthcare providers also offer bulk-billing services, which means you’re not paying anything out-of-pocket at all!

Myth 3: A Doctor Cannot Diagnose Me Without Seeing Me in Person
Studies show that almost 1 in all 4 GP visits are actually avoidable and the patient’s concerns could easily have been addressed over the phone or through an online video consultation. Moreover, many common complaints people go to their GP with, such as blocked noses, colds and flu, UTIs, hair loss, or just to get a medical certificate or repeat prescription actually do not require an in-person visit. Many illnesses are easily diagnosable by just looking at your symptoms and a physical examination is not always necessary. This is a major reason why over 80% of people who have tried getting online medical advice in Australia have reported positive outcomes and say that they would choose the service again if given the option.

Myth 4: My Medical Data Is Not Secure in an Online Appointment
Just like your regular hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities, online healthcare services are required to be HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) compliant in order to legally practice. Under this act, they are required by law to keep your healthcare data private, and so invest a significant amount of money to ensure all of your data remains confidential. Using state-of-the-art digital security measures, they implement reliable and top-quality confidential data safety measures to protect all patient data.

Myth 5: The Doctor On the Screen Isn’t a Real Doctor
Another major concern many people have regarding online GP consultations is that the person on the other end of the video call isn’t a real doctor. In reality, all online medical services bring on board only doctors who are registered with the AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency). If you’re still unsure of the authenticity of your doctor, feel free to head on over to the AHPRA website and search for their name or registration number for your reassurance.