Our clinic has taken stringent measures to deal with the covid-19 pandemic. This is to ensure patients have safe access to medical care, whilst reducing exposure risk to other patients and healthcare workers.
Consultations are available via Telehealth, as well as ‘in-person’ consultations at the clinic.
Please note that we are still providing all the same care including mental health, and chronic disease management which we realise is especially important during this time.
Appointments are made in the usual way: either online (all online bookings are Telehealth consultations by default), or by calling the clinic where you will have the option of booking a Telehealth consultation or an ‘in-person’ consultation. To book an ‘in-person’ consultation you will be asked whether you have: fever, runny nose, cough, sore-throat or recent exposure to someone with Coronavirus.
In most cases your GP will be able to help you adequately over the phone (Telehealth).
– At the approximate time of your scheduled appointment, you will be called by your GP.
– If paperwork is generated from this phone consultation, it will be the patient’s responsibility to collect this paperwork from the clinic in person. We are also able to mail or fax some paperwork.
– From 6 April 2020, it is a legislative requirement that the new Telehealth services be bulk billed for Commonwealth concession card holders, children under 16 years old and patients who are more vulnerable to COVID-19 (ie being treated for a chronic health condition).
– All other Telehealth consultations will be privately billed at a lower rate than ‘in-person’ consultations with a typical gap of $40.80 (your card will be charged $79 and the Medicare rebate should be deposited into your bank account within a few days). You will need to provide your credit card details over the phone in order for us to bill you. If there is a follow on “in-person” consultation as a result of the initial Telehealth consultation, you will only be billed for the “in-person” consultation and not the Telehealth consultation.
– Please note Telehealth consultations will be unable to address multiple presenting complaints, nor address multiple family members.
During your Telehealth consultation, your GP may deem it appropriate to arrange for an ‘in-person’ consultation, which enables a physical examination.
– Your GP will schedule a time for this in-person consultation.
– It is important that the GP that conducts the initial phone consultation, is the same GP that conducts the in-person consultation.
– In-person consultations will be billed privately according to our normal schedule of fees.
– During ‘in-person’ consultations your GP will be wearing a mask.
We are still happy to see new patients
– Please phone to arrange an appointment.
Please note that patients with Respiratory symptoms (cough, sore throat, runny nose) or fever – all initial consultations will be via Telehealth.
– If your GP feels you need an in-person consultation – the below guidelines will need to be followed.
Do not enter the clinic if you have…
Respiratory symptoms (sore throat, runny nose, cough, shortness of breath)
or
Fever (temperature greater than 37.5 C)
Based on your Telehealth consultation, your doctor will determine one of the following…
- You have a mild viral illness that does not require examination.
- You have a severe illness than requires immediate referral to hospital.
- You have described symptoms that warrants your GP conducting a physical respiratory examination
Procedure for patients requiring a physical respiratory examination…
- On arrival for your respiratory examination consultation, stay in your vehicle (or away from the clinic), and call reception to notify the clinic that you have arrived for your appointment. Then have your mobile ready.
- Reception will take credit card details for the consultation fee.
- Your doctor will call you when they’re ready for you to come to a designated respiratory examination area (room 4 in main building).
- We ask patients to please either wear a mask or fabric respiratory protection at this stage.
- The GP you see will be masked, gowned and gloved. They will then conduct a physical examination.
- After the examination the GP will discuss management options (over your mobile phone) then provide scripts or referrals if considered appropriate.
- The GP will not be able to help with other matters such as unrelated scripts or referrals.
- Be prepared that toilet facilities may not be available.
- Patients will be mailed their receipt of payment for them to be able to claim the rebate amount directly from Medicare