Support for new technology in medical practice

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) recently released its position statement on technology-based patient consultations.

AMA vice president, Professor Geoffrey Dobb, said the AMA clearly understands the potential value of integrating new technologies into medical practice.

However, Professor Dobb claimed new technologies should be used as an adjunct to normal medical practice for regular patients of the practice, and they should not be used in a way that fragments the ongoing care of the patient.

“The position statement provides doctors with guidance to set appropriate fees for technologybased consultations and sends a signal to the government that Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) arrangements should be available to patients accessing these services,” he said.

For consistency with the regulatory environment, the position statement uses the Medical Board of Australia’s definition of technologybased patient consultations, which is: “… patient consultations that use any form of technology, including, but not restricted to, videoconferencing, internet and telephone, as an alternative to face-to-face consultations …”