Telehealth is the secure transmission of images, voice and data between two or more sites via telecommunication channels. The platform allows sites to provide clinical advice, consultation, monitoring, education and training and administrative services.

A teletrial is usually in the form of a videoconference between the primary and satellite sites. This means the patient would only have to attend their local hospital, participating in virtual trial visits with the investigating clinician at the primary site.

This video was developed by Amanda Robinson, Bendigo Health: Telehealth Victoria and is among the resources developed by The Telehealth Victoria Community of Practice which was initiated with support from the Victorian Government in 2017 and 2018.

The video provides an overview of what telehealth is in a Victorian setting. 

If the regional hospital regularly conducts telehealth consultations for patients, the required facilities will already be available to conduct a joint telehealth video consultation for a teletrial.

Most public hospitals will have a government provided platform to conduct telehealth consultations (such as HealthDirect Australia Video Call platform). However, if an institution does not have this platform, other commercially supported applications that have reasonable inbuilt and automated security and privacy controls may acceptable.

Expensive equipment or technology is not required – video conferencing can be done using any computer with a web camera and microphone, as well as a private area to conduct the consultation, such as a consulting room.

When conducting trial visits via joint telehealth consultation, consideration will need to be given to scheduling of appointments to ensure that visits are at a time suitable for both the primary site and teletrial site study teams.

The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services has developed a resource for health services and clinicians which provides an overview of the laws that need to be considered when delivering or receiving medical advice using telehealth technologies.

Medico-legal aspects of telehealth services for Victorian public health services covers elements including the duty of care, informed consent, privacy and data confidentiality and insurance and indemnification.

• Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, Telehealth information and resources
• RACGP, Telehealth video consultations guide
• Queensland Health, GCP, Research Ethics and Governance Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)