Do you mean the AHPRA / National Boards’ guidance on providing care remotely (telehealth / virtual care)? Below is a concise summary of the current AHPRA / Medical Board guidance and the key obligations for practitioners, with sources.

Key documents

• Medical Board of Australia — Guidelines: “Telehealth consultations with patients” (effective 1 Sept 2023). (AHPRA.gov.au)
• AHPRA — “Information for practitioners who provide virtual care” and related public information for people about virtual care. (AHPRA.gov.au)

What telehealth / virtual care means

• Virtual care (telehealth) includes consultations by video, telephone, online messaging or similar when practitioner and patient are not physically together. It is an option, not a replacement for face-to-face care. (AHPRA.gov.au)

Core practitioner obligations (summary)

• Clinical appropriateness: Assess whether virtual care is safe and clinically appropriate for the patient and the issue; refer to or arrange face‑to‑face care when needed. (AHPRA.gov.au)
• Identity and consent: Identify yourself, confirm the patient’s identity, explain the limits/risks of virtual care and obtain informed consent (including billing). Document consent. (AHPRA.gov.au)
• Privacy & confidentiality: Take steps to protect patient privacy and confidentiality (secure platforms, private locations, data handling). Tell patients about any limits to privacy (e.g., insecure messaging). (AHPRA.gov.au)
• History, examination and limits: Take an appropriate history and use whatever clinical examination is possible remotely; be explicit about limitations of remote assessment and the actions to take if condition worsens. (AHPRA.gov.au)
• Prescribing and treatments: Remote prescribing is possible but should be approached cautiously — safest when the practitioner already knows the patient and has sufficient information. Some treatments or devices may be inappropriate to prescribe without an in‑person exam. Follow professional/specialty rules. (AHPRA.gov.au)
• Record keeping and handover: Keep clear, accurate records of the virtual consultation (including platform used, identity checks, consent, clinical findings and advice). Make arrangements to hand over care or inform other practitioners as clinically appropriate and with consent. (AHPRA.gov.au)
• Cultural safety and accessibility: Provide culturally safe care (including for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) and consider accessibility needs of patients. (AHPRA.gov.au)

Practical expectations and good practice

• Use secure, reliable platforms and know how to manage technical failures (have a backup plan). (AHPRA.gov.au)
• Be transparent about billing, including whether the consultation attracts a Medicare item (if applicable) or out‑of‑pocket fees. Seek informed financial consent before proceeding. (AHPRA.gov.au)
• If care is delivered across state/territory borders check registration / scope and local rules — National Boards expect practitioners to comply with registration and professional obligations. (AHPRA.gov.au)

Regulatory context and enforcement

• The National Boards and AHPRA expect the same professional standards to apply to virtual care as face‑to‑face care. Poor practice (for example, inadequate assessment and inappropriate prescribing via very short or no‑real‑time consultations) can lead to notifications and regulatory action. Recent board guidance and public discussion have emphasised safe prescribing and appropriate assessment. (AHPRA.gov.au)

Where to read the full guidance (recommended)

• Medical Board — “Guidelines: Telehealth consultations with patients” (PDF / web page; effective 1 Sept 2023). (AHPRA.gov.au)
• AHPRA — “Information for practitioners who provide virtual care” and “Information for people about virtual care.” (AHPRA.gov.au)

If you’d like, I can:

• Extract or summarise the full Medical Board guidelines into a printable checklist for clinicians; or
• Pull out the specific wording on prescribing, identity checks, record keeping, or informed consent (with exact quotes and section references).