Name: Dr Hugh O’Sullivan
The profession: Telehealth GP
The organisation: InstantScripts
The job title: Medical director
The pay: $150,000+

Dr Hugh O’Sullivan, a Telehealth GP, starts his day with a walk before getting to work.Credit: David Lange

6am: I like to start my day with a walk around Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens and along the Yarra River. I then grab a coffee in the cafe next to my home and use this time to reply to emails and plan the day ahead.

It’s something I would only have dreamed of in the past, as I have spent many years driving over an hour into various hospitals at 7am. I love the flexibility working remotely adds to my day.

9am: I usually have several Telehealth consults with patients through our online health clinic. We treat everything from viral illnesses including COVID, UTIs [urinary tract infections], sexually transmitted infections and mental health issues like anxiety.

I like getting down to the unique issue each individual is facing. It’s amazing how quickly the primary healthcare landscape is changing. While Telehealth is not too different from a face-to-face clinic, there are more doctors on roster almost around the clock, which means it’s possible to ensure urgent follow-ups happen quickly.

While patients are keen to manage their health from the comfort of their own home, I’m appreciative that I can mix up my work, too, between in-clinic hours and Telehealth consultations. I never thought I would be able to practise medicine with my two-year-old golden retriever at my feet!

Noon: I head to the gym and grab lunch before I spend the afternoon focusing on my role as a medical director at InstantScripts. A huge part of this role is managing more than 250 Australian doctors who work on our platform.

Today I spent some one-on-one time training a new doctor. We talked through the additional questions we ask a new patient to ensure we’re giving them the most likely diagnosis and ensuring their safety without a physical consultation.

QOSHE - ‘No 7am starts’: The GP who consults patients with his dog at his feet - Sue White
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‘No 7am starts’: The GP who consults patients with his dog at his feet

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09.03.2024

Name: Dr Hugh O’Sullivan
The profession: Telehealth GP
The organisation: InstantScripts
The job title: Medical director
The pay: $150,000

Dr Hugh O’Sullivan, a Telehealth GP, starts his day with a walk before getting to work.Credit: David Lange

6am: I like to start my day with a walk around Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens and along the Yarra River. I then grab a coffee in the cafe next to my home and use this time to reply to emails and plan the day........

© The Sydney Morning Herald


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