Frequently asked Questions about ACHH Patient Services
Referral to the program
What type of cardiac patients is this service suitable for?
These services are suitable for all cardiac patients, including those who have had a heart attack, heart surgery, spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), those with congenital heart conditions, arrythmia and those with heart failure as well as other cardiac health conditions. Our counsellors are trained in the full range of cardiac conditions.
Which service is most suitable for my patients?
When a person contacts the Centre to access our services, or when a health professional refers a patient, our Trained Intake Officer has an initial consultation by telephone with the patient to determine their individual needs, preferences and requirements. The Intake Officer talks with the patient and together they determine which is the most suitable service for that patient. Generally if someone is experiencing mental health challenges we encourage them to utilise our Counselling Clinic, whereas if they mainly want assistance with lifestyle change then we encourage them to utilise either of the Teleheart or Back on Track programs.
Can I refer clients directly to the Cardiac Counselling Clinic?
You can refer clients to the Cardiac Counselling Clinic via our website, telephone or fax. You can also inform clients about the Cardiac Counselling Clinic and they can self-refer. After the initial contact, we may discuss the need for a Mental Health Treatment Plan with the client during an intake interview. Website referrals can be made here
Can I refer clients directly to the Back on Track or Teleheart program?
Yes, any health professional can refer clients to these services. Clients can also self refer. Clients do not need a GP referral to access these services.
Is the Cardiac Counselling Clinic suitable for people with heart failure?
Yes, our counsellors are trained in the specific needs of heart failure patients.
What type of mental health challenges do you deal with in the Clinic?
The Counselling Clinic is designed to manage a range of mental health challenges and mood difficulties, including anxiety, depression, acute stress, sleep disorders, trauma, and post-traumatic stress. The psychologists and social workers in the Clinic are trained and experienced in managing all these mental health challenges.
Are the Teleheart and Back on Track programs suitable for people with heart failure?
While these programs were initially designed for people who have had a heart attack or heart surgery, they are very suitable to the needs of people with heart failure. Goal setting is based on the client’s individual goals and the Teleheart team are specifically trained in the specific health challenges of people with heart failure.
Can patients access multiple programs/services at the same time?
We are very happy for patients to access multiple program/services if that is their preference. Some patients begin with our Teleheart or Back on Track programs, then decide that they need something more individualised such as Counselling. Others decide that while having counselling they would also like to work on their health behaviours via either Teleheart or Back on Track.
Do you take interstate/regional referrals?
Yes. The Cardiac Counselling Clinic service is being offered Australia-wide via telehealth. Teleheart and the Back on Track program are also offered Australia-wide.
What is a mental health plan and how do clients get one?
A mental health plan is available to anyone who needs access to psychological support to assist with times of anxiety, depression, PTSD, bereavement and other emotional difficulties. Clients can obtain a mental health treatment plan from a GP. This will entitle them to up to 10 sessions with a psychologist or mental health social worker who is registered with Medicare. Clients can contact the ACHH and we will explain how you can do this.
Funding
Do clients have to pay for the cardiac counselling clinic sessions?
From 1 July 2023 the following pricing model will apply to new clients:
Clients eligible for concession (on healthcare card or DVA card) will continue to be bulk billed with a Mental Health Treatment Plan.
Clients not eligible for concession will pay $175 per session, of which $92.90 will be rebated by Medicare with a Mental Health Treatment Plan, leaving an out of pocket expense of $82.10 per session.
Clients experiencing significant financial strain will be offered a reduced rate.
We are mindful that many clients have multiple medical expenses, for this reason we have kept the out of pocket fee to a minimum and are happy to be flexible in our fee schedule.
Do clients have to pay for Teleheart and Back on Track program sessions?
Teleheart and Back on Track programs are funded through the Australian Centre for Heart Health and are delivered at no cost to individual clients.
Program Delivery
What is the waiting time for the Clinic?
We aim to keep the waiting time to a minimum. In some cases the wait time will depend on how quickly patients are able to obtain a mental health care plan from a GP. Once we have the mental health treatment plan, we assess all patients through an intake interview. Currently we are seeing clients within a 3-4 week period.
Are sessions delivered in person or via telehealth?
Currently the Counselling Clinic is offering sessions via Telehealth, either via video conferencing (eg. zoom) or telephone, depending on client preferences. Teleheart provides telephone sessions and the Back on Track program is a self-directed online program.
How many sessions will a client need in the Cardiac Counselling Clinic? And over what period?
It will depend on what each client requires. Some clients might only need one or two sessions, while others may need more, depending on their particular needs and circumstances. Generally counselling sessions are offered on a weekly basis for the first month or so, then may move to fortnightly or monthly depending on client preferences and requirements. As with any counselling service, clients can choose to terminate the sessions at any time.
My client has already seen a psychologist and it didn’t help. How is this different?
The counselling offered through the ACHH is provided through specially trained counsellors with specialised training in cardiac disease. They have a detailed understanding of the experiences of cardiac patients. Clients can contact the ACHH for more information about what they will provide.
How many sessions are involved in Teleheart and what is the duration and frequency?
Teleheart is a five-session telephone-delivered program. The first four telephone sessions are generally scheduled on a weekly basis and last for around 45-55 minutes. The fifth session is scheduled for a month later as a ‘booster’ session. Scheduling can vary depending on client needs and preferences.
How many sessions are involved in Back on Track and what is the duration and frequency?
Back on Track is a five-module online program. The program begins with a ‘goal-setting’ module, followed by a selection of lifestyle modules, which patients can choose from and do in any order, depending on their individual needs. Each module takes about one hour to complete, although this can vary for each patient. Patients complete the program at their own pace and can return to each module at any time. Currently, this program is being offered without a limited time frame.
What topic are covered in the Teleheart and Back on Track programs?
These two programs address key lifestyle areas including physical activity, healthy eating, smoking cessation, and mental health management. Patients can select the topics that are relevant and suitable to them.
Other Issues
Do you have interpreters for people whose main language is other than English?
Yes. We are able to provide an interpreter via TIS (Australian Government Translating and Interpreting Service). This service is free of charge.
Do these programs cater to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people?
These programs have not been designed with input from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people therefore may not be culturally appropriate for these patients. We do not currently have an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Liaison Officer or Health Worker on our team.
Do you provide feedback to health professionals who make the referral?
As a requirement for Medicare we provide feedback to the referring GP for people who have accessed our counselling Clinic. We do not have a specific mechanism for providing feedback to CR health professionals and allied health professionals who refer patients to our services. For both Teleheart and Back on Track we provide patients with a ‘Certificate of Graduation’ and encourage them to take this certificate to their health professionals if they would like.
Do you have any brochures that I can give to my patients when we discuss your services?
Yes, we have a hard-copy brochure that outlines each of the services of the Cardiac Wellbeing Program. You can order online here or, contact the Centre and we will send you some of these brochures via Australia Post.
There is additional information online for the Cardiac Counselling Clinic, Teleheart and Back on Track programs by following each link.