Terms and conditions

CFEH TELEHEALTH TERMS OF SERVICE

Introduction

Telehealth uses phone, video or other communication technologies to allow discussion of patient results between practitioners in real-time without them having to be physically in the same room. Telehealth can be a valuable adjunct to patient primary eye care, helping inform and guide both diagnosis and management of ocular disease in a convenient forum at no cost to practitioner or patient thanks to the generosity and financial support of Guide Dogs NSW/ACT.

1. Eligibility and Use

Telehealth services are available to registered optometrists within Australia. Users must comply with these terms and all applicable laws and regulations.

2. Telehealth Sessions

• Booking: Telehealth sessions must be booked in advance through the CFEH web-based appointment scheduler (www.centreforeyehealth.com.au/telehealth-initiative/). Your telehealth session will be scheduled for 15 minutes, during which time up to 2 cases can be discussed. If you have more cases to consult on, please book additional appointment times.
• Cancellation and rescheduling: To cancel or reschedule a telehealth appointment, please use the link included in your appointment confirmation email. If you have difficulties, please contact CFEH on (02) 8115 0700.
• Consultation: Telehealth sessions will consist of a one-on-one virtual consultation with a highly qualified optometrist from Centre for Eye Health (CFEH). Given the appointment structure and the need to run exactly to time, appointments where the primary care optometrist is more than 5 minutes late will need to be re-scheduled.
• Patient attendance: Patients are not permitted to attend these telehealth sessions.
• Continuing Professional Development (CPD): Telehealth sessions qualify as interactive CPD activities due to the professional discussion of patient cases. The primary care optometrist is responsible for CPD recording according to current OBA guidelines. A certificate will be emailed after the consultation to assist with CPD documentation.

3. Research

The CFEH Telehealth Service is being evaluated by researchers at UNSW to understand the impact this service may have on patient management decisions. Outcomes from all telehealth sessions will be recorded, however no patient images or personal data will be shared with the research team, except for patient postcode. Metrics to be recorded and analysed include suspected and final diagnosis, patient postcode, reason for referral, management recommendation, urgency of referral and what the management plan would have been if telehealth was not an option. Any enquiries about this research may be directed to CFEH at telehealth@cfeh.com.au.

4. Patient Privacy

• Confidentiality and Consent: Telehealth consultations require patient consent (verbal or written). Consultations will use Microsoft Teams for screen-sharing. No digital recording of the consultation will be made by CFEH, but medical notes will be securely stored in the CFEH patient management system. Screen recording by the primary care optometrist is not permitted.
• Imaging and clinical data: Primary care optometrists can upload patient imaging, clinical data and relevant correspondences for review prior to the telehealth session. This documentation will be securely stored by the telehealth platform until transferred to the CFEH patient management system.

5. Telehealth Security

All telehealth sessions will utilise a screen-sharing program with end-to-end encryption. Steps will be taken to protect patient information from misuse, interference, loss, and unauthorised access.

6. Technical Requirements

Users must ensure they have the necessary hardware, software, and internet connectivity to participate in telehealth sessions. Recommended specifications will be provided upon registration.

7. Clinical Records

During telehealth consultations, the CFEH optometrist will make notes that will be securely stored within the CFEH patient management system.

8. Collection of User Data

To enhance our services, CFEH may collect non-identifiable user data such as the reason for referral and the location of the referring practice for business intelligence purposes. This data helps us improve the telehealth service delivery. Patient or optometrist user identifiable details will not be released to third parties or utilised for any other purposes.

9. Risks and Issues

Telehealth sessions may be subject to delays or disruptions due to technical issues related to digital technology, network connectivity, or internet service providers. Although the use of digital technology increases the risk of data interception, the security measures outlined aim to minimise this risk.

10. User Responsibilities

Primary care optometrists are responsible for preparing all necessary patient information and imaging prior to the consultation and for ensuring their technical setup meets the required specifications.

11. Liability

CFEH is not liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from the use of telehealth services, including but not limited to errors, omissions, or service interruptions.

12. Dispute Resolution

Any disputes arising from the use of telehealth services will be resolved in accordance with CFEH’s

dispute resolution policy, available upon request.

13. Amendments to Terms

CFEH reserves the right to amend these terms at any time. Users will be notified of any changes via email or through the CFEH website.

14. Contact Information

For any questions or support related to telehealth services, please contact us at education@cfeh.com.au or (02) 8115 0700

Agree to terms and conditions:

To register for the CFEH telehealth services, you must acknowledge and agree to the information and conditions outlined above. Please indicate your agreement by ticking the appropriate box on our Telehealth booking portal.