You need to see someone about your health and you are weighing up two options: a telehealth appointment from home, or an in-person visit to a clinic. If you have searched telehealth vs in person, you have probably found plenty of opinions and few plain answers. This guide sets out what genuinely differs between the two formats, where each one fits well, and a few questions to help you choose. Both have a real place in Australian healthcare. At CannElevate, the initial telehealth consult is $29, follow-ups are $19, and no referral is needed.
Key takeaways
- Telehealth and in-person visits are both legitimate ways to see a registered practitioner. The right one depends on what the appointment needs to involve.
- Conversation-based appointments often suit telehealth. Anything that needs hands-on examination, tests on the spot, procedures or urgent attention belongs in person.
- Many people use both: a regular GP they see in person, and telehealth when a phone or video conversation is all the appointment needs.
Telehealth vs in person: what actually differs
A telehealth consult is a scheduled appointment held by phone or video. An in-person visit happens in a consulting room. The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing describes telehealth as an option when your provider has decided a physical examination is not needed. That single point explains most of the difference. How they compare in practice:
- Where you are: telehealth works anywhere with signal and privacy. In person means getting to the clinic.
- Travel and waiting: telehealth removes the drive, parking and waiting room.
- Examination: a practitioner can look, listen, measure and examine in the room. Over video they can see you, but cannot touch, listen to your chest or take a reading.
- Tests and procedures: blood pressure checks, dressings, injections, swabs and similar tasks need a physical visit.
- Cost: fees vary by clinic and format. At CannElevate the telehealth consult is $29, with $19 follow-ups, privately billed.
Neither format wins across the board; what matters is which suits this appointment. If you are comparing services rather than formats, our clinic comparison pages cover that separately.
Where telehealth fits well
Telehealth tends to suit appointments that are mostly talking and listening. Common examples:
- Talking through ongoing concerns: your history, how things have been, and what you want to work on.
- Follow-ups: checking in after a previous consult.
- Distance or mobility: when the nearest clinic is a long drive, or getting out is hard.
- Work and family: a 20-minute call fits into a lunch break without taking half a day off.
The Australian Digital Health Agency notes that telehealth is not meant to replace essential in-person visits. You can see the steps for a telehealth appointment on our how it works page.
Where an in-person visit is the right call
Some things simply need you in the room, and good telehealth services say so plainly. Choose an in-person appointment when:
- you need a hands-on examination, such as listening to your chest, checking a lump or looking closely at a wound or rash
- you need a measurement or test done on the spot, like blood pressure, a swab or a blood test
- you need a procedure, a dressing or an injection
- you have new or worsening symptoms that your usual practitioner wants to assess in person
If something is urgent, telehealth is not the place to start. Call 000 in an emergency, or speak to a registered nurse through healthdirect if you are unsure where to go. A responsible telehealth practitioner will also tell you if your situation needs an in-person visit and suggest you see your regular GP.
Ready to talk it through? Book a $29 telehealth consult. No referral needed.
Five questions to help you choose
Still unsure? Run through these before you book:
- Does this appointment need anyone to examine or measure me? If yes, book in person. If it is mainly a conversation, telehealth may suit.
- Is it urgent? If so, skip both and get urgent help.
- What is realistic for my week? Travel, time off work and childcare are real costs.
- Do I have a private spot and a reliable connection? Phone needs far less bandwidth than video.
- What do I want to walk away with? Write down your three main questions. That list often makes the right format obvious.
Our telehealth FAQs answer the common practical questions, and our guide to what to have ready before a telehealth consult covers preparation.
Using both: telehealth alongside your regular GP
This is not an either-or decision. Plenty of Australians keep a regular GP for check-ups, tests and anything hands-on, and use telehealth when a conversation is enough.
A few habits help:
- Keep a short summary of your health history to share in either setting.
- Tell each practitioner about the other, so nobody is working with half the picture.
- Check the registration of anyone you see on the Ahpra public register, whether you meet them in a room or on a screen.
If you are thinking of moving your telehealth care from another service, our switching clinics page explains how that works.
What to expect when you book with CannElevate
CannElevate offers Australia-wide telehealth. Phone or video, from wherever you are. Your initial consult with an AHPRA-registered practitioner is $29 and runs for about 20 minutes, and follow-ups are $19. Where possible, you see the same practitioner each time. Consults are privately billed, there is no referral needed, and a Medicare card number or IHI is required to book. Our team is available Monday to Friday, 8am–4pm AWST. You can check the fees page, read how telehealth with no referral works, request a call back, or go straight to book a consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Is telehealth as good as seeing someone in person?
It depends on the appointment. For conversation-based consults, such as discussing your history, concerns and next steps, telehealth covers the same ground. Anything needing a physical examination, tests or a procedure needs an in-person visit.
When should I choose an in-person appointment instead of telehealth?
Choose in person when you need a hands-on examination, a measurement such as blood pressure, a test, a dressing or a procedure, or when symptoms are new or getting worse. For emergencies, call 000. A telehealth practitioner will tell you if an in-person visit is needed.
Can I use telehealth and still keep my regular GP?
Yes. Many Australians keep a regular GP for check-ups and hands-on care and use telehealth for appointments that are mainly a conversation. Let each practitioner know about the other so both have the full picture.
How long is a CannElevate telehealth consult and what does it cost?
The initial telehealth consult is $29 and runs for about 20 minutes, by phone or video with an AHPRA-registered practitioner. Follow-ups are $19. Consults are privately billed, no referral is needed, and you need a Medicare card number or IHI to book.
Sources
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing: Telehealth
- Australian Digital Health Agency: Telehealth
- Healthdirect: Virtual care clinics
- Ahpra: Register of practitioners
Talk to a practitioner, from wherever you are
$29 telehealth consult, no referral needed, Australia-wide. Medicare number or IHI required. Consults privately billed. Phone or video with an AHPRA-registered practitioner; follow-ups are $19. Book now.
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