ANTA Virtual Consultation Guidelines

Virtual Consultation Guidelines

ANTA acknowledges the need for increasing patient access to their preferred health support services via online and technology-based systems (also known as ‘Telehealth’). It is important, however, that practitioners are fully aware of the necessary considerations associated with conducting such services before doing so, and how to remain compliant with all appropriate guidelines whenever implementing them in practice. Located in the ANTA Member Centre, ANTA’s National Council and Branch Chairs have created guidelines for virtual consultations for Nutrition & Ingestive Modalities, Manual Therapies and Traditional Chinese Medicine. In addition to the official guideline documents, practitioners should familiarise themselves with some of the further principles outlined, to ensure their utmost understanding and compliance. Basic Principles: Privacy and Security: One of the most important considerations within any method of practice, but in particular modern technology-based practice, is the need to maintain appropriate patient privacy and data security. Therefore, all health practitioners must remain mindful to select and utilise technology that provides sufficient safeguards to cyber-security to ensure patient and practitioner privacy is maintained at all stages of care. Exercising Judgement: The key principles that underpin these guidelines respect the health practitioner’s ability to use appropriate judgement (around how and when to use technology-based practice techniques). In particular knowing when not to proceed with a consultation or therapeutic intervention, if the virtual setting is not conductive to safe or effective care (i.e. if it does not provide sufficient information or access to proceed confidently), is an important principle to uphold. Professional Insurer Policies on Virtual Consultations: All Members should contact their insurance provider to ensure they are covered for virtual consultations under their current policy. Additional Considerations for Manual Therapies: Considering that Manual Therapies may constitute particularly physical and tactile investigative and therapeutic techniques, the inherent limitations of any virtual medium should be acknowledged when considering the scope of feasible care. However, examples of various manual therapy services that may be delivered in a virtual capacity may include but not limited to: • Advice on home-based pain management strategies • Directions regarding ergonomics to reduce load/ stress on specific tissues. • Guidance on self-treatment technqiues (e.g. such as foam rolling, massage tools, hot/cold therapies, etc.) Additional Considerations for Chinese Medicine: Considering Chinese Medicine includes both ingestive and manual therapy components, means that particularly focussed judgement may be needed to account for all factors that may apply to a proposed virtual consultation. However, examples of various Chinese Medicine services that may be delivered in a virtual capacity may include but not limited to: • Guidance on self-treatement technqiues (e.g. such as foam rolling, massage tools, hot/cold therapies, etc.) • Facilitating behaviour modification to avoid symptom irritation • Guidance on stretching or strengthening exercises (such as Dotai, Qigong, Tai Chi) Whilst ANTA’s guidelines have been modelled in harmony with AHPRA’s guidelines, Chinese Medicine practitioners should remain aware of their obligations under AHPRA. For further information contact ANTA at admin@anta.com.au or 1800 817 577.