Outcomes from member survey on telehealth
Date published:
23 Jun 2020
On 18 May 2020, the RACP distributed a voluntary survey to all its practising Australian-based members on their use of the new Medicare Benefits Schedule telehealth attendance items introduced for COVID-19. The survey closed on 25 May 2020, with 950 responses received. A similar survey is under development for RACP members based in Aotearoa New Zealand.
A summary report highlights the impacts of the new telehealth items and outlines key findings and recommendations.
Telehealth should be part of the foundation of future health reforms to improve the accessibility and quality of healthcare for Australians. The RACP recommends that the new telehealth items be retained beyond September 2020, and that a small working group of clinicians and consumers be established to evaluate the outcomes of extending the new telehealth items beyond September 2020.
Read report
Other resources
Read the RACP’s media release on the telehealth survey report results showing that telehealth can improve access and equity permanently.
Watch RACP President Professor John Wilson AM talk about the telehealth survey report in his President’s Address on 11 June 2020.