Telemedicine

Telemedicine appointments

Doctors or medical students from within the Northern Territory can call DHSA at any time (24/7) on either 08 8366 0250 to connect to a local SA Doctor service for urgent, confidential advice. Alternatively you can call the National Health Line on 1800 006 888 which connects you directly to a local doctors' health service in your area you are calling from, no matter where you are in Australia. Either way, you will speak with an experienced and caring General Practitioner.

The initial tele-consultation will be subsidised by NT grant funds and provided at no cost to Northern Territory doctor-patients. Any further telehealth appointments are not grant-funded and not Medicare rebatable and will therefore be billed as a private patient (refer to table below).

Any further appointments will be billed as follows:

1. If you have not seen the DHSA Doctor face-to-face in the previous 12 months, the service is not Medicare-rebatable and the usual practice fee will apply (refer to below fees).
2. If you have seen a DHSA Doctor face-to-face, at the DHSA clinic in the previous 12 months, the service is Medicare-rebatable and the usual practice fee will apply (refer to below fees).

New patients

As a new patient, our model of care emphasises the importance of a full review of your health and thorough medical assessment. You will be sent a link to complete our New Patient Registration form via Hot Docs. This is deliberately comprehensive and needs to be completed prior to attending your appointment.

If you prefer to see a local community-based GP who is a member of the DHNT team, please go to our Find a GP page.

Initial appointments are for up to 60 minutes.

Follow-up appointments are between 30-60 minutes to discuss results and discuss your areas of risk and future treatment.

We offer both telephone and video telehealth consultations. If you select to have a video consultation you will receive an URL link via an email from Hot Docs.

Consultation Fees

Fees for GP consultations at Doctors' Health SA

Full Fees are payable at the time of consultation. Medicare rebates can be claimed via the Tyro terminal and are paid into the patient’s savings or cheque bank account immediately. Please note a rebate cannot be paid back into a Credit Card account and a physical card must be used to get an instant rebate. (Other methods can take 24-48 hours to process).

How to book

To make an appointment contact us via email: reception@doctorshealthsa.com.au or telephone the DHSA Clinic on 8232 1250.

If your require urgent assistance phone our 24/7 Urgent Advice Line - 8366 0250 or 1800 006 888 view other crisis support services here.

GP Outreach Visits

Doctors’ health services know that geographical isolation is one barrier that prevents rural and remote doctors from accessing independent medical care and we seek to address this by funding some visits to remote NT regions. Our outreach doctors are supported by the team at Doctors’ Health SA and Doctors' Health NT.

Offering GP visits is a way for doctors to access timely medical care for themselves. This initiative aims to directly support the health of rural and remote doctors working across NT and we are fortunate to have a team of experienced GPs who are keen to offer the service to their colleagues.

This NT phn grant-funded, private medical consultation is between you and your visiting treating doctor. It consists of a history and examination and other investigations, if required. It is a thorough assessment of your current health and can last up to 2 hours if necessary. It is an opportunity to confidentially discuss any concerns you may have in a private setting.

Please note that a minimum number of GP patients are required to be seen by the visiting doctor during an Outreach Visit. If you and / or colleagues would like to discuss a GP visiting your region, please contact DHSA on 8232 1250 or email reception@doctorshealthsa.com.au.

Our team of telemedicine doctors are:

Dr Julie Mencel 

BMBS(Flinders), FRACGP, MFM (Monash)

Dr Julie Mencel has over 30 years’ experience of working as a GP. She has worked in Adelaide and overseas and during her career she has attained her fellowship from the RACGP and has completed a Masters in Family Medicine. She has undertaken further study in the management of obesity with the University of Melbourne and is currently undertaking further training in Lifestyle medicine with the Australasian society of Lifestyle Medicine. She is a current member of the Australasian Menopause Society.

She thoroughly enjoys collaborating with her patients to improve and maintain their health and wellbeing and provides a comprehensive approach to the management of their health concerns. She is passionate about using lifestyle medicine, to manage a range of medical conditions.

Dr Mencel’s professional interests are: Lifestyle Medicine. Preventative Medicine and personalised medicine. Management of cardiovascular health, diabetes, and the metabolic syndrome. Women’s health especially management of menopause, perimenopause, and polycystic ovarian syndrome. Healthy ageing. The holistic care of cancer patients. The health and well-being of doctors and medical students.

Dr Jill Benson AM

MBBS, DCH, FACPsychMed, MPH, FACRRM

Dr Jill Benson has been a GP for over 30 years. She currently works as a GP in a private clinic, in three remote Aboriginal communities in the western desert, in the clinic at Doctors Health SA, as a researcher in the Discipline of General Practice at the University of Adelaide, and as a Medical Educator at GPEx, the South Australian GP Training organisation. She has a PhD in refugee health and also works with the Doctors' Health NT program providing support to remote doctors.

Dr Lorenzo Ponte

MBBS FRACGP

Dr Lorenzo Ponte brings a wealth of experience and knowledge as a General Practitioner. He graduated from The University of Adelaide in 1996, and did his GP training in Minlaton, on the Yorke Peninsula. He completed his Fellowship in 2001, and remained in Minlaton as a rural GP until 2011. He relocated to Adelaide to become the Clinical Director at Uni-Health Playford. Lorenzo started working at Health on Kensington in 2021, and provides 2 sessions a month at Doctors' Health SA.

His strong association with University run clinics at Minlaton and Playford fostered an interest in medical education and teaching of undergraduate medical students as well as post graduate GP Registrars. Lorenzo has also worked closely with many International Medical Graduates both as a supervisor and co worker and has developed a very good understanding of the issues they face.

Dr Hema Shankar

FRACGP BMBS(Flinders)

Dr Hema Shankar has been practising medicine in a variety of settings – urban, rural and remote, hospitals and private practice and out in the field with MSF since graduating from Flinders University in 2002. Her breadth of experience includes ICU, ED, ophthalmology, dermatology and Indigenous health. She has worked with the displaced Rohingya population in Bangladesh and with disadvantaged Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory, Queensland and WA. Since completing her fellowship in General Practice in 2012, she has worked in rural and remote locations all over Australia, often as a solo practitioner. Having been involved in the education, training and supervision of medical students, junior doctors and IMGs, she understands the challenges that face doctors in the rapidly evolving field of medical practice and service delivery. In her role with Doctors' Health SA she provides peer support to her colleagues enabling them to look after their health and well-being and enjoy productive and fulfilling careers in medicine.

Dr Michael Beckoff

MBBS (Adel) FACRRM FAICD

Dr Mike Beckoff is a procedural rural generalist currently working as a locum in rural and remote areas of Australia and has been doing so since 2011.

He graduated from the University of Adelaide in 1974 and practised rural general practice, emergency medicine, GP surgery and GP advanced obstetrics at Bridge Clinic from 1977 until 2010, since which time he has been working as a rural and remote locum across Australia. He has been Chair of the Murray Mallee GP Network and Chair of General Practice SA since 2005.

His current positions include, Board Director HealthDirect, Board Director ACRRM [Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine] Board Chair RDWA [Rural Doctor’s Workforce Agency]; Clinical Standards Committee ACSQHC [Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare]; SA MET Committee; SA Health Clinical Senate; SA Health College Chairs Committee; Clinical Adviser [Mental Health] CHSA LHN [Country Health SA Local Hospital Network]; Chair SA Health Statewide Steering Committee for Mental Health Shared Care and SA Country PHN Clinical Governance Council.

Dr Beckoff has a strong interest in the health of doctors and especially those from a rural and IMG background.

Dr Penelope Dargaville

FRACGP

Dr Penelope Dargaville has worked in general practice since 1983, in a variety of settings in the ACT and SA.

She has additionally worked as a medical educator for the RACGP, as a medical adviser for Medicare Australia, and as an independent assessor for AHPRA. In each of these settings, she has observed the effects of stressors on doctors who are consulting in what can be challenging circumstances. While at the RACGP, she developed and delivered a self care program which was integrated into the GP registrar’s education. This underpins the way she practices herself. She is on the Executive Committee for SASH - South Australian Society of Hypnosis and has a supervision and assessment role. She consults as a clinical hypnotherapist- both in her general practice setting, and at specialist rooms. This experience has given her a breadth of skills allowing her to manage a wide range of physical and psychological conditions.

Dr Chris Holmwood

MBBS (University of NSW) Dip RACOG FRACGP Mast CEd FRACP (Addiction Medicine)

Chris Holmwood is an Addiction Medicine Specialist with an interest in helping medical professionals experiencing issues with substance use.

Until recently he was one of the Directors of Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia (DASSA) with responsibility for hospital and general practice liaison.

He is experienced in all areas of Addiction Medicine.

Dr Robert Menz

MBBS (Adel) FRACGP

Robert has been a General Medical Practitioner in the inner eastern Adelaide suburbs since 1980. He also has wide experience in non-clinical aspects of Medicine through organisations such as the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), Australian Medical Association (AMA), Australian General Practice Accreditation (AGPAL), Divisions of General Practice and National Primary Care Collaborative (NPCC).

From 2001- 2014 he was a Senior Medical Adviser (SMA) for the Commonwealth Department of Human Services (DHS). This role provided advice, education and stakeholder engagement as part of the Health Professionals Branch and provided a professional link between (DHS) and the medical profession.

Robert was the RACGP Corlis Fellow for SA and NT from 2014-6. He has been an RACGP examiner since 1984 and was censor for SA/NT from 1997-2003.

He was an RACGP nominee to the AGPAL board from 2000-2006, and is still a surveyor. Robert was on SA/NT AMA branch council and chaired the Council of General Practice in 1992-3. He remains on the AMA editorial committee. Robert completed a Masters in Clinical Education in 2013, and teaches GP Registrars.

What is offered

An initial assessment service linking with the doctor working in the Northern Territory to one of a team of experienced GPs via a telemedicine platform to discuss their health concerns and future risks discuss arrangements for face-to –face follow up.

It is not intended to be an ongoing substitute for a face-to-face consultation. For further information please contact Doctors' Health SA Medical Director, Dr Roger Sexton on 08 8232 1250.