Introducing Our Sage: telehealth consults made easy

In the last two years, many Australians have had a telehealth appointment and it’s now an accepted part of our healthcare system. Telehealth allows people to stay at home and still get care when they are unwell. It also provides easier access to healthcare for people who are not able to easily attend a face to face consultation.

But telehealth is not just for people who can’t get to a medical centre. According to ABS figures, 32% of telehealth users in 2021-22 lived in major cities compared to 22% who lived in outer regional, remote or very remote areas. If you live in a metropolitan area with plenty of face-to-face services around, telehealth can provide a flexible and convenient alternative for issues that don’t need a physical examination.

Our mission to improve remote patient care

There are plenty of online services offering telehealth appointments, but the standard of care can be very different from one to the other. When you go to a medical centre and you meet a GP in person, you build trust with a registered, practicing GP. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to form the same relationship when you use a telehealth provider.
In our world of fast changing technology, we need more trustworthy online healthcare services, as Cornerstone Health CEO Henry Bateman explains.

“The world has changed, and primary healthcare has not kept up. Patients in need of virtual healthcare are being exploited by online pharmacies to sell more products.”

Our Sage takes the same patient-focused approach that Our Medical’s network of real medical centres is known for and brings it online. Our doctors are all experienced, Australian-registered General Practitioners who are specially trained in providing healthcare advice over the phone.

Access quality healthcare services online

We offer multiple telehealth consult types to suit different needs, so you can speak to a doctor over the phone about a range of different issues. And because our telehealth doctors are regular GPs, you can be sure you’re getting medical advice you can trust.

Along with general health advice and remote consultations, Our Sage can help you with:

• Online medical certificates
• Online and repeat prescriptions
• Online blood test requests and specialist referrals

Removing barriers to online healthcare

According to research published by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), many people struggle to access healthcare online due to lack of technology or infrastructure. People are also concerned about privacy, security, and the physical limitations of providing medical consultations virtually.According to research published by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), many people struggle to access healthcare online due to lack of technology or infrastructure. People are also concerned about privacy, security, and the physical limitations of providing medical consultations virtually.

Here’s how we’re addressing those challenges:

1. Minimal technology required

Our Sage is a phone-based telehealth service, so you don’t need to download any specific software to speak to a doctor. You can however download the Our Sage app to get access to your referrals, prescriptions and medical certificates. There will also be the option to email documents to your nominated email address. Making an appointment is as simple as filling out a form through your web browser, answering a few health screening questions and submitting your payment details. Once you have submitted your request, you will go into a queue for the next available doctor – or you can choose to skip the queue for an additional cost. As long as you have a mobile phone and reception or a landline phone and computer, you can use Our Sage.

2. Safe and secure

With a number of recent high profile data breaches in the media, information safety is understandably a major concern for many patients – and a major priority for us.
Your records are kept safe and secure through our doctors’ medical software. This is the same software used by the majority of medical practices in Australia and it’s designed to meet stringent Australian data security regulations and laws.

3. Backed by a network of in person medical centres

While telehealth has many benefits, it’s not intended to be a replacement for in person medical care. With a network of Our Medical centres around Australia, we can offer a smooth transition between virtual and physical healthcare settings.

What are the fees and charges for telehealth appointments?

Due to Medicare changes in late 2022, telehealth consultations are no longer available through bulk-billing where the patients hasn’t previously seen the GP in person. We offer a few different appointment options at different costs.

• Standard telehealth consult - $45
• Express telehealth consult (go to the front of the queue) - $65.

We will ask for Medicare details the first time you register to verify if you are eligible for Medicare-funded benefits like the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and some pathology and imaging services.

Improving online healthcare for everyone

We’re dedicated to improving access to healthcare for every Australian and we’re looking forward to closing the gap between the quality of patient care provided in person and online through Our Sage.