If you have never had a telehealth consultation before, it is completely normal to wonder how it works. What do you need to prepare? How long does it take? What actually happens on the call?
Here is a straightforward walkthrough of what your first consultation with Peak Health by Cloud9 looks like.
Before the call
You will fill in a clinical intake form online. It takes about five minutes and covers your health goals, medical history, current medications, and lifestyle. This is not a formality. Your clinician reads your intake before the consultation, so when you join the call, they already have a picture of your situation and the right questions ready to go.
If your intake responses suggest bloodwork would be helpful (which is common for clinical health or metabolic concerns), you will receive a referral to a Medicare-bulk-billed pathology provider in your area before the consultation is booked. That way, your clinician has results to review during your appointment.
On the call
Your consultation is a real-time video appointment, typically 20 to 30 minutes. This is not a five-minute prescription tick-and-flick. It is a genuine clinical conversation.
Your clinician will:
- Confirm what they read in your intake and ask follow-up questions
- Discuss the approaches that may be appropriate for your situation, including ones they would not recommend and why
- Talk through what to expect if a management plan is recommended
- Answer any questions you bring to the call
If a treatment plan is deemed medically appropriate, your clinician may recommend one during the consultation. If it is not the right fit, they will say so honestly. Not every consultation results in a prescription, and that is a normal, expected outcome. Your clinician may recommend lifestyle changes, further investigation, referral, or a period of monitoring instead.
After the call
If your clinician recommends a treatment plan, any prescribed medication is dispensed by a licensed Australian pharmacy.
Your first follow-up review is scheduled at an interval your clinician determines is appropriate, unless your clinician determines an earlier check-in is appropriate. Between appointments, you can message your care team through your dashboard. We aim for same-business-day responses.
Follow-up consultations are a core part of how Peak Health by Cloud9 works. They are not optional extras. Your clinician uses these reviews to assess how you are responding, check in on any side effects, and make adjustments if needed. If repeat bloodwork is required, your clinician will organise that ahead of your review so results are ready to discuss. This structured approach means your care evolves with you rather than staying static after a single appointment.
What to bring
You do not need much. Here is a short list:
- Recent bloodwork (from the last 6 to 12 months) if you have it
- A list of your current medications and supplements
- A brief description of your health goal in your own words
- Honest answers to your clinician’s questions (there is nothing gained by leaving things out)
That is it.
A note on what happens next
Your first consultation is the beginning, not the end. If your clinician recommends a plan, structured follow-up is built in. You will have regular check-ins, bloodwork reviews where relevant, and access to your care team throughout your program.
If you decide after the consultation that you want time to think before moving forward, that is completely fine too. There is no pressure and no rush.
References
- Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Telehealth guidance for practitioners. AHPRA; 2023.
- Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). Guide to providing telephone and video consultations in general practice. Melbourne: RACGP; 2022.
- Thomas EE, Haydon HM, Mehrotra A, et al. Building on the momentum: sustaining telehealth beyond COVID-19. J Telemed Telecare. 2022;28(4):301-308.
Individual results vary based on your unique biology and commitment to any program. Assessment findings do not guarantee a particular outcome.
If you would like to explore this further, book a consultation with one of our clinicians.