What is telehealth?
Telehealth is the delivery of health care via virtual means, most commonly videoconferencing (VC), and connects patients with clinicians who are not located in the same geographical area, supporting the Queensland Health (QH) “care closer to home” philosophy. 
Mackay Hospital and Health Service (MHHS) provides specialist telehealth services for a variety of specialties. These appointments and clinics can be delivered both to our rural facilities from Mackay Base Hospital (MBH) and from tertiary centres throughout Queensland to MBH and rural facilities.
All Hospitals and Multipurpose Health Services within our Health Service are Telehealth enabled.
Benefits of telehealth
There are a number of benefits to a telehealth appointment including access to health services locally, reduced travel cost and reduced time away from work and home.
The level of care that you receive will be the same high quality that you would receive in-person.
Am I suitable for telehealth?
Many patients are suitable for telehealth; however, it will only be an option if it is clinically appropriate. Your clinician or treating health professional will determine if telehealth is suitable for you based on your individual circumstances.
If you are interested in telehealth, please discuss whether it would be appropriate for you with your healthcare team.
How we use telehealth?
We use telehealth for:
- outpatient appointments
- inpatient ward rounds, tele-handovers, SPaRTa
- at home patient appointments
- emergency support and advice
Telehealth emergency support helps rural clinicians and patients. Patients get expert advice in their local community, reducing the need to transfer patients to a major hospital centre.
How telehealth works?
A telehealth appointment is like an in-person appointment. You will see your health professional on the video screen and hear them through your speakers or headphones. Your health professional will see and hear you.
You can ask a family member, carer, or friend to sit in on the telehealth appointment with you.
Using telehealth at home
If you’re doing your telehealth call from home, you will need:
- a computer, tablet, or smartphone
- internet or Wi-Fi
- a webcam, headset, or speakers.
The clinic will send you an email or SMS appointment with a video link for you to click on the day of your appointment.
Using telehealth at a Queensland Health facility or your doctor’s office
If you’re going to a Queensland Health facility or your local GP, staff will help you with the video conference equipment. A nurse or other health professional will sit in the room and help you during your video appointment.
Before your appointment starts, the health professional may also take your blood pressure, temperature and do other tests.
More information
Please view the Mackay HHS telehealth brochure.
If you have any queries regarding your telehealth appointment, phone (07) 4885 6000 and request to speak to the Telehealth Coordinator for either the Specialist Outpatient Department, Children and Women’s Outpatient Department or Virtual Health.