Health journalPatient info
Telehealth in Rutherford: when a phone or video appointment works
Telehealth can save you a trip for many everyday needs. Here is when a phone or video GP appointment works well, and when it is better to come in.
Telehealth lets you speak with a GP by phone or video from home or work. For many everyday needs, it is a convenient option that saves you a trip. At Rutherford Doctors, Medicare-eligible telehealth consultations are bulk billed for patients with a valid Medicare card, including patients across Rutherford, Aberglasslyn, Telarah and the wider Maitland area.
When telehealth works well
- Repeat prescriptions and referrals
- Discussing test results
- Follow-up appointments after an in-person visit
- Mental health check-ins
- Simple questions about an existing condition
- Medical certificates, where appropriate
When it is better to come in
- Physical examinations and skin checks
- Procedures, dressings and wound care
- Immunisations and vaccinations
- New symptoms that need your GP to examine you
- Blood pressure and other measurements
- Children who are unwell and need to be examined
If your GP decides during a telehealth consultation that you need to be seen in person, they will arrange this with you.
Telehealth eligibility and Medicare
Medicare rules apply to telehealth consultations, and some telehealth services require you to have an established relationship with the practice. Registering for MyMedicare with Rutherford Doctors may give you access to some longer telehealth consultations with the practice.
Getting ready for a telehealth appointment
- Find a quiet, private space
- Keep your phone charged and nearby, and answer calls from private or unknown numbers around your appointment time
- Have your Medicare card and a list of your medicines ready
- Write down your questions before the call
Prescriptions and referrals after telehealth
Electronic prescriptions can be sent to your phone as a token, which you can take to any pharmacy. Referrals and pathology requests can also be sent electronically.
Book a telehealth appointment
Book online through HotDoc and choose a telehealth consultation, or call reception on (02) 4061 7981. In an emergency, always call 000.
Frequently asked questions
Is telehealth bulk billed at Rutherford Doctors?
Medicare-eligible telehealth consultations are bulk billed for patients with a valid Medicare card.
Can I get a repeat script by telehealth?
Often, yes. Some scripts need an in-person review so your GP can check your health.
Is telehealth by phone or video?
Both may be available. Video can help your GP see you, and phone is often more convenient. Ask reception what suits your appointment.
4Cyte Pathology collection is in the same building at Rutherford Doctors, so blood tests can often be collected straight after your appointment.
Sources: Services Australia; Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
This article is general health information written by the Rutherford Doctors team. It has not been written or reviewed by our GPs and is not a substitute for advice about your own health. Please book an appointment to discuss your situation. In an emergency, call 000.
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MyMedicare: why register with your Rutherford GP
MyMedicare is free and voluntary. Here is what it is, how it can support your care, who can register and how to register with Rutherford Doctors.
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