Online
Consults
at Limestone Speech
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, face-to-face sessions at our clinics were temporarily replaced with online consults. With the risk of infection decreasing and restrictions easing in South Australia, we are now returning to face-to-face sessions along with online consults for those who would like it. Please note that, for now, we are only offering online consults for our Victorian-based clients.
Read on for more information about what an online consult is, how it works and how to book one for your child.
What is an
Online Consult?
Online consults use videoconferencing technology to provide speech pathology services to clients at home. The speech pathologist conducts client sessions from a computer, smartphone or tablet in real-time but may also use other formats, such as email, for related communication.
How do online consults work?
An online consult usually involves some or all of the following:
Your speech pathologist will discuss your health and your health history with you and, where appropriate, offer information and advice.
You may bring a support person with you, as you might in a face-to-face consultation.
A technical support person might be present for part of the consultation to assist with technical issues.
You are not permitted to video or audio record the consultation unless your speech pathologist gives you permission to do so.
What can we do
in an online consult
- Play games
- Use visual schedules and time timers so your child knows what tasks are coming up.
- Assess speech and language skills.
- Use a document viewer to show hard copy resources used in our clinics.
- Share our screen to show websites or apps from an iPad.
- Use a green screen to change our backgrounds to help engage your child.
Do I need to do anything prior to my online consult?
Ahead of your appointment, you will need to complete the Online Consent Form.
At Limestone Speech, we use Coviu to conduct our online consults. This is an online platform that works seamlessly across all devices including your laptop, desktop, tablet or smartphone.
To join a Coviu call
you need 3 things:
Internet connectivity
Smartphone, tablet or computer
Google Chrome browser
That’s it. We’ll send you an email, you click the button and we’ll be there with you and your child (virtually) in your home.
You will NOT be asked to:
- Install any new software, apps or programs on your devices
- Sign up with Coviu. We will send you an email with a link to the session
Some benefits
of online consults
Online consults might:
- Improve access to speech pathology services
- Reduce your need for travel
- Decrease exposure to infectious disease
Potential risks
of online consults
Online consults might:
- Experience delays due to technical problems or technology failures.
- Not offer the same visual and sound quality for observations and modelling.
- Feel different to an onsite session.
- Increase exposure to privacy and digital security risks. (See next section.)
Will my privacy be protected?
Our practice is subject to the Privacy Act 1988 and must comply with obligations related to the collection, use and disclosure of personal information, including through online consults. Your speech pathologist must maintain confidentiality and privacy standards at all times during sessions, and in creating, keeping and transmitting records.
While your speech pathologist is obligated to meet standards to protect your privacy and security, telecommunication may increase exposure to hacking and other online risks. As with all online activities, there is no guarantee of complete privacy and security protection. You can reduce the risk by using a secure internet connection, meeting with the speech pathologist from a private location, and only communicating using secure channels.
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