To the Editor: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has changed the doctor–patient relationship. The technological revolution that is telehealth has brought undeniable benefits to patients, including greater access and convenience, and more control and empowerment through self‐care.1 There are high satisfaction ratings for patients utilising digital health care technologies.2 Unsurprisingly, there has been an increased uptake in the use of online prescription, referral and medical certificate services where a pre‐existing doctor–patient relationship is not always present.3
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- 1. Zenooz AM. Telehealth is working for patients. But what about doctors? Harvard Business Review 2020; 13 Nov. https://hbr.org/2020/11/telehealth‐is‐working‐for‐patients‐but‐what‐about‐doctors (viewed June 2022).
- 2. Fisher K, Davey AR, Magin P. Telehealth for Australian general practice: the present and the future. Aust J Gen Pract 2022; 51: 626‐629.
- 3. Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Online prescription, referral and medical certificate services — position statement. RACGP, 2017. https://www.racgp.org.au/advocacy/position‐statements/view‐all‐position‐statements/health‐systems‐and‐environmental/online‐prescription (viewed July 2022).
- 4. Garth B, Temple‐Smith M, Clark M, et al. “Your lack of organisation doesn't constitute our emergency” — repeat prescription management in general practice. Aust Fam Physician 2014; 43: 404‐408.
- 5. Lindner RA. Choosing Wisely Australia: changing behaviour in health care. Med J Aust 2018; 208: 105‐106. https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2018/208/3/choosing‐wisely‐australia‐changing‐behaviour‐health‐care
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