Can't make it in for an appointment? Bonnie also offers Telehealth Osteopathic appointments.
 

As Osteopathic Telehealth appointments are quite new, there are plenty of questions surrounding the process and what is involved. We've answered most of the Frequently Asked Questions below: 

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What is telehealth?

Telehealth is a secure video-based service that allows Bonnie to conduct an online consultation. Obviously Bonnie can't do any hands-on treatment but there are still many aspects to an osteopathic treatment that can be provided via video such as assessment, education, diagnostic advice, lifestyle advice, rehabilitation programs, and self-therapy strategies. 

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What are the benefits of Telehealth?

There are many benefits to a Telehealth Consultation including convenience, better access to practitioners, and less time in the waiting room. Other benefits include:

• Bonnie can see you whether you are local or live far away

• Bonnie can see you even when you can't physically get to her

• There is no travel time required

• It has a cheaper consultation fee

• It can be performed in varied environments such as home or work 

• There is more availability for appointments

• It allows Bonnie to assess your ergonomic setups such as your office space, sleeping position, breastfeeding position, or baby-wearing position. 

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How do I book a Telehealth consultation?

You can book your telehealth consultation online by clicking the above button or contact Bonnie by calling 0404 064 589. Once your booking has been made, you will receive a link to your telehealth appointment.

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What equipment will I need?

• A stable internet connection on a mobile device, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer

• A webcam and microphone.

Laptop or desktop computers are ideal. Often Bonnie will ask you to step away from your device to demonstrate certain movements and exercises.

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How much does telehealth cost and how do I pay?

Bonnie offers 45-minute Telehealth appointments at a reduced cost of $50. Unfortunately, at this time you cannot claim Telehealth appointments on your Private Health Insurance, so the price of the appointment has been adjusted to reflect this. An invoice will be provided upon the completion of your appointment. 

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Do I need a follow-up appointment?

As with a regular in-person appointment, the amount of consultations required for each individual is varied. Bonnie will discuss this with you during your consultation.

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Is this covered by my Private Health Insurance?

At this point in time, Osteopathy telehealth appointments are not currently covered by private health insurance. However, if you are on a medicare care plan, telehealth appointments are bulk billed.

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What should I wear during my consultation?

As with your regular consultation, it is best to wear loose, comfortable clothing for your telehealth appointment. Remember - your practitioner will need to be able to assess your movement through the video stream only, so appropriate clothing is really important. If you have any questions surrounding Telehealth or would like to gather some more information, please give our team at Total Balance Healthcare a call on (03) 9773 8085. Otherwise, we look forward to seeing you online!

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Before your consultation

In the lead-up to your appointment time, the team will be in touch via email with a link to download the necessary software to conduct the consultation. We are currently using a software program called Zoom which is a free and easy-to-use video conference service. Electronic equipment required is outlined in the FAQ section above. Approximately 10-15 minutes before your scheduled consultation, we will get in touch to troubleshoot any software problems or other issues which you may have. 

 

Our team will also send through detailed instructions of how to complete the payment (via the use of encrypted software) which can be completed following the consultation.  It is also a good idea to set up your home desk before the consult. See some ergonomic tips via one of our blog posts here.

 

During your consultation

Your online consultation will follow in the same manner as your typical physical consultation, minus the manual therapy of course! Your practitioner will conduct the normal case history and ask you some questions about your injury, before doing a physical assessment. The assessment will generally require you to demonstrate different movements and activities, as well as placing your body into different positions to help your practitioner ascertain what is going on. 

 

Upon completing the physical assessment, your practitioner will take you through different strategies in order to help your condition – this may include self-massage instructions, management advice, rehab advice, lifestyle advice, ergonomic advice, or (likely) a combination of all of the above. Your consultation is likely to take around 20 minutes rather than the usual 30 minutes we have in physical consultations.

 

After your consultation

Following your consultation, your practitioner will send any resources or management plans to you via email. They can also discuss any future appointments with you. At this point, you can finalise your payment through the steps outlined in the initial email, sent before your first consultation.