News

After nearly 10 years of partnership with the Baker Institute, Flying Doctor Telehealth (FDT) concluded its Endocrinology service as of Thursday 30 June, 2022. This was  difficult decision to make, and is a direct result of the recent Medicare changes to rural health service provision, which has made the service unsustainable. While of course we…

This week, Flying Doctor Telehealth delivered it’s 10,000th specialist appointment. That’s 10,000 appointments delivered to rural and remote Victorians needing specialist assessment and input into their health care. That’s 10,000 fully bulk billed appointments delivered directly to communities, eliminating the time and cost of travel associated with accessing specialist care. A very warm thank you…

Like all Telehealth Specialist providers, Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Victoria has been significantly impacted by the changes to Medicare item numbers for consults with rural patients. We remain dedicated to ensuring that great health care is accessible to all people, no matter where they live. As such, RFDS Victoria has decided that there will…

The demand for psychiatry services is increasing. The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Victoria are now accepting expressions of interest for flexible contract opportunities for Consultant Psychiatrists to provide telehealth consultations to people living in rural and remote areas of Victoria. If you are a suitably experienced Psychiatrist and would like to work with a…

Flying Doctor Telehealth (FDT) is pleased to announce that a new psychiatrist is joining the team. Dr Jess Hamer is a psychiatrist who specialises in working with adults experiencing a range of mental health problems, currently practicing at Austin Health. Dr Hamer has experience in working with people with adjustment difficulties, mood disorders, and anxiety…

Flying Doctor Telehealth (FDT) is excited to announce that we have additional paediatric support available. We now have more telehealth appointments available and greater scope to support young people aged 0-17 years in rural Victoria. Dr Brian Timms, Paediatrician, has been providing paediatric services with FDT since 2019 and in this time, demand for support…

The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Victoria is committed to ensuring client care is the priority of every process and procedure. As part of this commitment, we are currently seeking volunteers to join RFDS Victoria’s Consumer Engagement Committee. The Committee will be looking at all areas of RFDS services, including Telehealth. If you, your family…

We are pleased to announce a new specialist available through Flying Doctor Telehealth (FDT). Dr Melyse Jung is a specialist Psychiatrist of Old Age and works exclusively with clients aged 65 years and over. Melyse completed her psychiatry training in Melbourne and has worked in psychiatry of old age within the public health system since…

As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to drastically change the world we live in, we wanted to provide an update as to how it has affected Flying Doctor Telehealth (FDT). We are pleased to advise that the FDT service has remained largely uninterrupted, although access to appointments has changed to better suit the circumstances of our…

Earlier this year, Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Victoria began its voluntary undertaking of the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) standards  assessment. Given the unique conditions under which we operate, it was decided  for our approach to be phased in nature. Flying Doctor Telehealth (FDT) was chosen as one of the first services…

The Royal Flying Doctor Service Victoria are pleased to announce Paediatric appointments are now available on the Flying Doctor Telehealth (FDT) platform. Dr Brian Timms joins the FDT service as a general paediatrician with over 30 years of experience, with expertise in neonatal Paediatrics. Dr Timms provides generalist paediatric appointments to suitable patients aged 17…

With beautiful sunshine across Victoria, many of us spent the first days of spring outside in the garden or out for a walk. Those affected by hay fever were also likely eyeing up the grasses and wattle flowers that signal the start of a wheezy season. But have you ever considered that it might not…

Image: Trevor Pearce and Scott Chapman (left to right) The Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) is the peak Aboriginal health body representing 100% of Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) in Victoria. On 19 March 2019, Scott Chapman, RFDS Victoria CE and Trevor Pearce, VACCHO Acting CEO, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to renew…

Flying Doctor Telehealth reduces the burdens faced by patients needing to travel to access medical appointments. Not only does this travel have an impact on patients, it also affects the environment. RFDS are passionate about providing services to patients that are sustainable and accessible. Within the 2017-18 financial year Flying Doctor Telehealth saved patients approximately…

RFDS Victoria is currently undertaking two research projects to evaluate and improve the care we provide. A Human Research and Ethics Committee have approved our research projects. These projects may use non-identifying information for data analysis so that patients remain anonymous. Current research projects underway: Assessing if telehealth improves access for small rural Victorian communities…

The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Victoria does not accept patient information by email, including GP referrals and test results. RFDS is bound by the Privacy Act, including the Australian Privacy Principles. This policy directs how we collect, use, hold and disclose personal information about individuals. Standard unencrypted email is not a supported method of…

The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Victoria are very pleased to expand our number of specialists providing telehealth appointments on the Flying Doctor Telehealth platform. Dr Raymond Chan has recently joined us to provide Addiction specialist appointments via telehealth and assist with pain management support. Dr Chan is available to see patients with difficult chronic…

The Flying Doctor Telehealth (FDT) team have developed a health literacy resource. The resource aims to help patients get the most out of every telehealth appointment. What is Health Literacy? Health Literacy is the ability to obtain, process, navigate and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. RFDS Victoria want…

Flying Doctor Telehealth has a new specialist available for telehealth bookings, Dr Ramila Varendran will be providing geriatric telehealth appointments. Dr Varendran is located in Canberra and provides assistance with managing patients with multiple co-morbidities that result in functional decline associated with age. Ramila has a particular interest in dementia, osteoporosis, reducing polypharmacy and advanced…

Dr Paul Fogarty has been conducting telehealth appointments for patients that require an appointment with a Respiratory Physician. Dr Fogarty presents a case study, of one of his respiratory telehealth patients, to assist GPs with identifying patients to refer to the service. You can view the Flying Doctor Telehealth – respiratory case study here. Suitability of…

Photo: Kathy Poulton, Wellbeing Coordinator at Rural Northwest Health, discussed telehealth consultations with another staff member. Warracknabeal resident Alan Lucas has benefitted greatly from accessing the Flying Doctor Telehealth service. Alan, who requires oxygen in the home, was able to access an online appointment with the Royal Flying Doctor Service Respiratory Physician, Dr Paul Fogarty.…

Flying Doctor Telehealth was recently showcased on the Channel 9 regional news. Shana Colquhoun, telehealth patient, shared her story about accessing Endocrinology appointments via telehealth and how the service assisted with the management of her type 1 diabetes through her first pregnancy. You can watch Shana’s story HERE.

Eleven new sites have signed up to the Flying Doctor Telehealth service in 2018. The RFDS Telehealth team would like to welcome: Campaspe Family Clinic Dhauwurd-Wurrung Health Service Winda-Mara Aboriginal Corporation Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative Woomelang and Districts Bush Nursing Centre Yarram Medical Centre Docker Street Clinic and South Wangaratta Medical Clinic Coster Street…

The Royal Flying Doctor Service Victoria (RFDS) have launched a new service called ‘Ask the Flying Doctor’. Ask the Flying Doctor is a FREE email support service where GPs practicing in rural Victoria are able to submit questions or seek advice from the RFDS specialist team to assist with the treatment and management of their…

It is well know that access to mental health services is lower in rural and remote areas of Australia compared to metropolitan areas and that some rural solo GPs are struggling to manage the demand of mental health issues with their patients. The Royal Flying Doctor Service Victoria delivers a rural telehealth program across Victoria,…

At the end of December 2017 the Flying Doctor Telehealth service was presented in the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) Annual Roundup e-magazine! An editorial about the Flying Doctor Telehealth service discussed how the telemedicine service connects rural Victorian patients in need with their specialist online and the benefits of the service to rural…