Telehealth

What is Telehealth?

It is an online appointment with a health professional. At The Feet People, this usually includes a phone or video call with one of our podiatrists who can help diagnose your foot and leg pain and offer advice about the best way to treat your problem. 

Why is Telehealth so important and what are the benefits to you?

• Telehealth provides an opportunity to screen cases so if you don’t want or need to come to a clinic you don't have to (of course if it appears that you do need to attend in person, you have the choice of visiting a clinic or arranging a home visit with one of our team)
  
• It assists in monitoring conditions to avoid their escalation. While we do certainly cut toenails, it is important to remember that a podiatrist can service a wide breadth of conditions of the feet and lower limbs. This can be vital in the prevention of other medical complications with these areas
  
• Telehealth is a great opportunity to educate you in self-managing smaller foot care issues in the future, again helping to prevent bigger issues developing
  
• Medicare and some private health funds now offer coverage for this type of consultation.
• It is a time effective option (there is no need for travel as you can attend Telehealth from the comfort of your home)
  
• Telehealth offers increased assurance for the vulnerable members of our community as they do not need to leave home
  

How we can help

The pillars of our structured Telehealth appointments are to Listen, Educate, Prescribe & Refer. These pillars help us to help you achieve your best foot health. 

Listen

• You can discuss your concerns regarding the feet and lower limbs with us so that we can provide our expert advice and tips.
• Our podiatrist can view the affected areas
  
• If applicable, we will monitor any wounds or infections
• Together, we can view or review footwear and orthotics (photos can also be exchanged)
  

Educate

• Help you to differentiate (eg. If you have a corn or a wart and what treatment options are available)
  
• Ask you to perform dynamic exercises and stretches
  
• Educate you on specific strapping and padding techniques, to help your condition, that you can do yourself from home
  

Prescribe

• Based on feet measurements, we can prescribe and send podiatry approved footwear options straight to you
  
• Prescribe exercise treatment plans on Physitrack (we can share our screens to ensure you are suitably educated on how to complete exercises, this app also allows you to complete the therapies at home and check them off so we can monitor your progress)
  
• Prescribe orthotic therapies and advise you of podiatric consumables that can be sourced from a local pharmacy to assist you in self-care
  

Refer

• Refer you to get specific imaging to assist with diagnosis and treatment
  
• Refer you to be seen in person for management of their foot conditions (see example cases that require this below)

A telehealth patient may be asked to attend in person (via the clinic or a home-visit) for one of the following reasons: 

• If you would like to have custom 3D printed orthotics casted based on the Paromed in-shoe pressure system
  
• PACT therapy for fungal nails
  
• If you need foot mobility treatment (FMT)
• Ingrown toenail assessment, treatment or surgery
  
• Dry needling therapy
  
• To be fitted for a brace or AFO device
  
• Acute services such as toenail cutting, wound management & diabetic care
  

If you have pain or any foot health concerns, we encourage you to book a Telehealth appointment with one of our podiatrists