Jeffrey Cl Looi1, Stephen Allison2, Tarun Bastiampillai2,3, William Pring4,5,6. 1. Academic Unit of Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine, Australian National University Medical School, Canberra Hospital, Canberra, ACT, Australia; and Private Psychiatry, Canberra, ACT, Australia. 2. College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia. 3. Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia. 4. Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia. 5. Centre for Mental Health Education and Research at Delmont Private Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. 6. Private Psychiatry, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Private practice psychiatry in Australia was largely office-based until the Commonwealth Government introduced new psychiatrist Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) telehealth items in response to the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigate the uptake of (1) video and telephone telehealth consultations in April-May 2020, and (2) the overall changing rates of consultation, i.e. total telehealth and in-person consultations across the larger states of Australia. METHOD: MBS item service data were extracted for COVID-19 psychiatrist video- and telephone-telehealth item numbers and compared with a baseline of the 2018-2019-financial-year monthly average of in-person consultations for New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and Western Australia. RESULTS: Total psychiatry consultations (telehealth and in-person) rose during the first wave of the pandemic by 10%-20% compared to the previous year. The majority of private practice was conducted by telehealth in April but was lower in May as new COVID-19 case rates fell. Most telehealth provision was by telephone for short consultations of ⩽15-30 min. Video consultations increased from April into May. CONCLUSIONS: For large states, there has been a rapid adoption of the MBS telehealth psychiatrist items, followed by a trend back to face-to-face as COVID-19 new case rates reduced. There was an overall increased consultation rate (in-person plus telehealth) for April-May 2020.
OBJECTIVE: Private practice psychiatry in Australia was largely office-based until the Commonwealth Government introduced new psychiatrist Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) telehealth items in response to the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigate the uptake of (1) video and telephone telehealth consultations in April-May 2020, and (2) the overall changing rates of consultation, i.e. total telehealth and in-person consultations across the larger states of Australia. METHOD:MBS item service data were extracted for COVID-19 psychiatrist video- and telephone-telehealth item numbers and compared with a baseline of the 2018-2019-financial-year monthly average of in-person consultations for New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and Western Australia. RESULTS: Total psychiatry consultations (telehealth and in-person) rose during the first wave of the pandemic by 10%-20% compared to the previous year. The majority of private practice was conducted by telehealth in April but was lower in May as new COVID-19 case rates fell. Most telehealth provision was by telephone for short consultations of ⩽15-30 min. Video consultations increased from April into May. CONCLUSIONS: For large states, there has been a rapid adoption of the MBS telehealth psychiatrist items, followed by a trend back to face-to-face as COVID-19 new case rates reduced. There was an overall increased consultation rate (in-person plus telehealth) for April-May 2020.
Authors: Alison E J Mahoney; Anna Elders; Ian Li; Charlie David; Hila Haskelberg; Hayley Guiney; Michael Millard Journal: Internet Interv Date: 2021-07-27
Authors: Caroline Zangani; Edoardo G Ostinelli; Katharine A Smith; James S W Hong; Orla Macdonald; Gurpreet Reen; Katherine Reid; Charles Vincent; Rebecca Syed Sheriff; Paul J Harrison; Keith Hawton; Alexandra Pitman; Rob Bale; Seena Fazel; John R Geddes; Andrea Cipriani Journal: JMIR Ment Health Date: 2022-08-22