Navigating online consultations
Well what an action packed and conversely boring as bat-poo first half of 2020! The explosion of COVID-19 infection to pandemic proportions has certainly sent my plans for the year in a bit of a spin and I know I’m not the only one trying to find their feet in uncharted territory in the business world. When government advice came through that if we could work from home we should I was thankful that I already had systems in place that enabled me to move my consultations online with relative ease. But something I wasn’t expecting happened - I discovered I loved working online! And so have my patients - people have made appointments in their lunch breaks, mums have managed appointments without babysitters and families have managed to book a time when everyone will be home to cover family health goals and concerns. Sure, it requires a little bit of technology but overall it’s working well. So much so that I’ve decided to stay online, leaving the physical clinic space I’ve been in for the last few years, and focus my energy towards helping people via the convenience of online consultations.
If you’re new to online consultations and wondering how it all works I thought it might be useful to map out how the booking and consultation process works.
Click on the “Book Now” button at the top of the page to book your appointment. This button will redirect you to Halaxy, the booking and patient management system I use.
Select the type of appointment you need (if you haven’t ever seen me for a consult before or if it’s been over 12 months you’re selecting the “Initial Consult”).
Select the day and time you would like for an appointment.
Enter all your contact details and any notes you would like me to know before our appointment.
All bookings require a 50% deposit to secure your spot so the system will then ask you to enter credit card details. These details will be stored securely on your electronic file so that we can settle any future invoices however they are encrypted so that I can’t view the actual card details.
You will then be sent a confirmation email with details of the appointment date and time. If this is your first appointment you will be sent a separate email with a link to complete your intake form. This form asks questions about your general health history including any medications or supplements you are taking (so have these handy to speed the process up!). Once complete this information is uploaded directly to your electronic file and is accessible to only myself with password protection.
Two days before your scheduled appointment you will receive a reminder email - this is your opportunity to reschedule if you need to!
Approximately 24 hours before your appointment I will email you a link to a password protected virtual meeting room (currently using Zoom) which you will use to join me at the time of your appointment. If you are choosing to use a smart device you will need to download the Zoom app prior to the appointment. If on a laptop/PC please just allow Zoom meetings to run once you click on the meeting room link when joining.
I have electronic systems set up to enable appropriate prescription of therapeutic grade practitioner-only liquid herbal medicines and supplements that are shipped directly to you. We will discuss what, if any, may be beneficial for your individual health needs during your consultation. I always aim to work collaboratively with my patients to develop a health management plan that works with their lifestyle and budget.
At the conclusion of your appointment I will confirm the outstanding balance on your invoice and process the payment and book your next appointment. If we determine that you would benefit from supplements you will receive a separate email with your script details from the distribution company and finally an email from me with our agreed treatment plan.
I’m sure you’ve found yourself utilising all sorts of services online since COVID-19 and I trust I’ve put in place secure and easy to use systems to ensure you can still access preventative and holistic health care. I’m still here, offering the same great care, you’ll just need to BYO cup of tea to the appointment! See you online :)