The Online Doctor A New Avenue For Woman To Access Healthcare

1. the online doctor A NEW AVENUE FOR WOMEN TO ACCESS HEALTHCARE

2. These days we conduct more and more aspects of our lives online • Online healthcare is growing rapidly, and patients are becoming more comfortable with the idea of seeing an online doctor or accessing advice, medical certificates or prescriptions online

3. Does an online doctor have the same qualifications as a regular doctor? • Yes. Any doctor in Australia, whether practising as an online doctor or in a clinic must be fully registered with AHPRA ( the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency) • If in doubt, ask for the doctor’s AHPRA registration number-having registration with AHPRA means the doctor has gone through a careful screening process, and meets all the necessary standards

4. So what services can I access from an online doctor? • Medical certificates for common women’s health issues such as period pain and menstrual migraine • Online contraceptive prescriptions • Prescriptions for certain chronic conditions • Carer’s certificates • Medical certificates for a wide variety of minor illnesses, such as the common cold, viral gastroenteritis, sinusitis, sore throats & minor injuries

5. Menstrual problems • For many women, bad period pain or “dysmenorrhoea” can be very debilitating, as can menstrual migraine- these conditions may lead to absences from work • Most women recognise the symptoms and are able to manage them at home.

6. Menstrual problems- continued • Dysmenorrhoea occurs less in women who have had their children earlier in life, and in women who exercise more • It is more common in women whose periods start before the age of 12, women with low body weight or obesity, and in women who are smokers- especially girls who start smoking in their early teens. • An online doctor can provide a medical certificate, avoiding the discomfort of queueing in a doctor’s surgery.

7. Online contraceptive prescriptions • Many women have been on a regular contraceptive for a long time, and do not feel the need to see a GP every time a new prescription is requested by the pharmacist. • Online doctors can safely provide prescriptions for a wide variety of contraceptive pills • It is very important that blood pressure is measured once a year for all women on the combined oral contraceptive pill, and that there are careful checks in place to exclude any contraindications

8. Prescriptions for chronic conditions A range of prescriptions can be safely accessed via an online doctor These may include : • Skin conditions , such as acne • Chronic infections such as Herpes Simplex • Blood pressure medications • Cholesterol lowering medications • Anti-allergy medications • Migraine medications And many more…………….

9. Medical certificates • Medical certificates can be issued by an online doctor if the condition is minor and if physical examination is not required • It is not suitable in more serious illness or where there is doubt about the diagnosis • Online services offering medical certificates usually require an online consultation • It can be a very economical and convenient way to access a medical certificate without leaving home

10. Carer’s certificates • Busy parents may not realise they don’t have to queue in the doctor’s surgery for a carer’s certificate • Online doctors can provide the necessary documentation for employers • An online consultation is usually required

11. What next? • In the coming years, as technology advances, more and more medical conditions will be managed safely, without the need to visit a doctor in person • Various new technologies are emerging , allowing measurement of vitals signs, blood tests and other aspects of physical examination. • An online doctor will be able to deal with many more conditions once such technology becomes widely available and affordable

12. the online doctorwelcome to the future of healthcare!