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Is Doccy Real-time Telehealth?

Is Doccy Real-time Telehealth?

How Doccy's multi-step consultation process works and why it's different from questionnaire-based certificate services.

Dr. Louis J Sisk

BSc(Hons) MBChB MRCS(Glasg) MTrauma(Dist) APRCSA

Every Doccy consultation involves a live voice pre-screening call, an AHPRA-registered doctor review, real-time messaging, and emergency escalation. The typical consultation takes 10-15 minutes across 6 distinct interaction points. Every certificate includes a verification page showing the consultation timeline and treating doctor details.

How Doccy differs from questionnaire-based services

Some online services issue medical certificates based solely on a patient completing a health questionnaire, with no real-time interaction between the patient and a healthcare professional.

Questionnaire-based servicesDoccy
Patient interactionStatic form, no live conversationLive voice pre-screening + secure messaging
Clinical assessmentBased on patient self-report onlyAI-captured clinical context + doctor review
Emergency detectionNoneReal-time detection, phone escalation to doctor
Doctor involvementMay review form answers onlyReviews full clinical handover, sends personalised message
Patient communicationNone or email-onlyTwo-way messaging during and after consult
Post-consult supportTypically none1-hour support window with messaging

The Medical Board of Australia1 has stated that "providing healthcare, including prescribing, issuing certificates and referring, via questionnaire-based asynchronous web-based tools in the absence of a real-time patient-doctor consultation is not good practice."

Need a medical certificate? Start a consultation with an Australian-registered doctor now.

Footnotes

  1. Medical Board of Australia — Telehealth consultations with patients. https://www.medicalboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Policies/Telehealth-consultations-with-patients.aspx?utm_source=doccy.com.au ↩

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a real-time telehealth consultation?

Every Doccy consultation involves multiple real-time interactions between the patient and our clinical team. Patients complete a live voice session where symptoms, medical history, and context are captured through conversation, not a form. This clinical summary is handed to an AHPRA-registered doctor who personally reviews the case and communicates directly via our secure messaging channel. If an emergency is detected during pre-screening, the patient is immediately escalated to a doctor by phone.

Does a doctor actually review my case?

Yes. Every certificate is reviewed and approved by an AHPRA-registered medical practitioner. The doctor receives a structured clinical handover from the pre-screening session, reviews the patient's symptoms, medical history, and certificate details, and makes an independent clinical decision. The treating doctor's name, AHPRA registration number, and consultation timeline are visible on the verification page.

Can I communicate with the doctor?

A two-way messaging channel is open throughout the consultation and for one hour after completion. Patients can ask questions, provide additional context, or raise concerns directly with their treating doctor.

What happens if there's a medical emergency?

Our pre-screening system includes real-time emergency detection. If a patient presents with symptoms suggesting an emergency, they are escalated to a doctor via phone immediately. This safety mechanism triggers in approximately 3% of consultations.

Will my university accept a Doccy certificate?

Doccy certificates are issued by AHPRA-registered practitioners. Most Australian universities accept telehealth medical certificates for special consideration. Some universities have specific requirements for telehealth certificates relating to final exams or longer extensions. Our [certificate verification page](/verify-certificate) provides the consultation metadata that institutions with stricter policies may require. ---

Citations

  • Medical Board of Australia — Telehealth consultations with patients.

    View Article

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