PRACTICE POLICIES
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Privacy Policy
Your medical record is a confidential document. It is the policy of this practice to maintain the security of personal health information at all times and to ensure that this information is only available to authorised members of staff.
Your information (medical or otherwise) will not be released to any persons or company without your written consent.
The maintenance of privacy requires that any information regarding individual patient, including staff members who may be patients, must not be disclosed in any form (verbally, in writing, electronic forms inside/outside our practice) except for strictly authorised use within the patient care context at our practice or as legally directed.
Health records are kept on password sensitive computers with the practice network covered by a firewall. All our staff sign confidentiality forms upon commencement of employment which last in perpetuity. Our policies are in accordance with the RACGP Standards and Australian Privacy Principles.
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Appointments
BRMC offers a flexible appointment system with the ability to accommodate patients with urgent, non-urgent, complex, planned chronic care and preventive health care needs. Please advise our staff of your needs and they will allocate the relevant time so the Doctor can address your needs.
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Appointments on-line
We offer on-line appointments for patient convenience. Please refer to our Home page and follow the prompts. Before making your selection, please read our suggested appointment times to ensure you have allocated enough time for the Doctor to address your needs. If you are unable to find a suitable appointment, please phone our surgery on (07) 40516 299
and our receptionist will be able to assist.New patients are welcome to book on-line however each Doctor requires a different amount of time for an initial appointment.
Please also note that BRMC is a privately billing practice which means there will be an out-of-pocket fee. -
Cancellation policy
Barrier Reef Medical Centre is committed to providing all of our patients with exceptional care. We understand emergencies happen and you may not be able to attend your appointment, however, not cancelling appointments prevents another patient from obtaining much needed treatment. To cancel or change your appointment please phone us on (07) 4051 6299.
It is the policy of this practice to charge a non-attendance fee of $50 for a patient who does not attend or cancel their appointment. The fee is non- rebatable from Medicare.
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Telehealth (Video and Phone)
Due to our current pandemic BRMC Doctors are offering video and telephone consultations.
Only long-term patients are eligible for either a video or telephone consultation. These consultations can be booked online through the same portal as a face to face consultation and may incur an out of pocket expense.
Please note that some conditions cannot be treated via video or telephone therefore a face to face consultation will be required. -
After consulting hour’s care
BRMC Doctors offer an out of hour’s service where a Doctor will be on hand to take your call.
Please phone the surgery (07) 40516 299 for the out of hour’s phone number and the relevant call out fees.
As a guide:
Afterhours call out fee: $250.00 Medicare rebate: $116.60 -
Health information for patients
Our practice has a range of posters, leaflets, brochures and books about health issues. Please see our stand for up to date leaflets or ask our nursing staff regarding the most relevant, up to date information regarding your health issues.
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Test Results
Your Doctor will advise when your results are expected to arrive at the practice. Please
call the surgery after 1.30pm weekdays and our reception staff will advise if further action is required. If your Doctor has already asked you to return for results or if a text message is received for a follow up appointment, please make an appointment at your convenience. -
Repeat prescriptions without an appointment
Repeat scripts will only be issued if the original was issued at this surgery and the patient has been seen at this surgery in the last six months. Doctors reserve the right to refuse to issue a script without an appointment.
Scripts (without an appointment) cost $15.00 per page or $20.00 two or more pages.
NB: Please allow 48 hours for a script request to be actioned.Online prescriptions
BRMC offers an on-line repeat prescription service. Your request is sent via a secure portal (SSL certificate) attached to our website. This complies with the National Privacy Principles and the RACGP standards.
The link can be found on our website however please do not use the form for anything
other than a script repeat.Telephone prescriptions
If phoning the surgery to request a repeat script, please phone after 11.00am and allow 48 hours for the request to be processed. -
Telephone access
Doctors in the practice may be contacted during normal opening hours for emergencies only. A message will be taken and the Doctor will attempt to return your call during the day.
In an emergency our nursing staff are available for advice if the GP is unavailable. -
Interpreter services
BRMC will provide, if necessary, an interpreter to help if a patient has English as their second language. Please advise our reception staff when making your appointment if you require an interpreter. A family member or friend may also act as an interpreter if their English language skills are good. An appointment with an interpreter will need a long appointment booked.
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Excisions
Prior to booking an excision, a Doctor needs to be consulted and an appropriate appointment time advised as well as an approximate out of pocket expense. This service will attract a treatment room fee depending on the amount of equipment used, and therefore cannot be bulk billed, though discounts may apply for healthcare cardholders.
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Parking
Our purpose-built premises have 28 on-site car parks with an additional 10 street parks.
Disabled parking bays are situated near the ramp leading to automatic opening doors. -
Referrals
Please ensure referrals to your specialist are current as Medicare rules state that back dated referrals are illegal. A request for a referral on the day of your specialist appointment may be refused as it is a Medicare requirement that your specialist has the referral before you are seen.
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Nursing home policy
The Doctors at BRMC will accept nursing home patients who are currently patients at the practice. Depending on circumstances, they may accept family members of current patients. Each Doctor visits a specific nursing home so the care of the patient may be done by one of our Doctors, not necessarily the Doctor who has been their regular Doctor prior to admission to the home.
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Home visits
For elderly or disable patients who are incapable of visiting the surgery, arrangements can be made with your current Doctor for a regular home visit. This is at your Doctor’s discretion and may not be available immediately.
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Out of consultation requests
Due to the increasing demand on our Doctor’s time, our Doctors are unable to complete paperwork outside of a consultation. Please make an appointment for the appropriate length of time.
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Travel vaccinations
Patients must see a Doctor at BRMC before receiving travel vaccinations. These vaccinations are stored on site (no script necessary) and are given on the day of the appointment.
BRMC is a registered Yellow Fever centre as well as a registered Q Fever centre. -
Continuity of care
It is in the best interest of a patient to have a regular Doctor. It is very important to see and speak to the same Doctor to follow through on a problem. When a Doctor either leaves for a holiday or transfers away, a handing over of patients to another Doctor within the practice occurs. This ensures any patient with a complex problem or a patient in the middle of treatment for a problem can be reassured a Doctor at this Practice will follow through. All Doctors have access to a patient’s records, so if you cannot see your usual Doctor, it is advisable to see another Doctor within the practice for continuity of care.
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Emails
Using an e-mail to communicate with your Doctor is not recommended as your privacy and confidentiality may be compromised.
E-mails are not locked or encrypted and may be accessed by unknown persons. -
Patient confidentiality
Your medical record is a confidential document. This practice is committed to maintaining the confidentiality of your personal health information at all times. (Please see Privacy Policy). Your information (medical or otherwise) will not be released to any persons or company without your written consent.
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Ownership of medical records
BRMC owns your medical records. They are our records about you. Where possible, and if it will cause no harm, patients can gain access to their records. All requests for medical records require written consent and will be evaluated by the Doctor and at their discretion, a summary of the record may be released.
With your consent, a summary of your file can also be uploaded to your electronic My Health Record.
If transferring to another medical practice a signed request form is required and a health
summary will be sent via an electronic portal to the new surgery. -
Staff policy
As employers, we are obligated to provide a safe workplace for our staff. They have a very difficult task juggling phone calls, electronic requests, patient and Doctor demands. Your patience is appreciated. Patients who verbally abuse or threaten our staff will be asked to leave the Practice and seek their care elsewhere.
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Complaints and suggestions
We constantly strive to give you the best possible care and attention. We value your feedback, however please ask to see the Practice Manager regarding any concerns. These concerns will be fully investigated and the appropriate action taken. We thank you for your support and loyalty.
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OUR MISSION
Barrier Reef Medical Centre will endeavour, through attention to you as an individual and continuing staff development, to provide cost effective, quality medical care in a compassionate and holistic manner throughout life.
OUR FEES
Barrier Reef Medical Centre is a private billing practice.
- Consultations are by appointment.
- Children 15 years old and younger will be bulk billed Monday to Friday.
- Saturdays are Private Billing for patients 12 years of age and above.
Children under 12 years will be bulk billed. - We schedule fifteen minutes per standard consultation.
Should you wish to discuss several issues, please inform reception that you will need a longer consultation when booking your appointment. This helps ensure that your needs are met as well as minimising waiting time for other people.
• DISCOUNT RATES ARE AT THE DOCTOR’S DISCRETION.
• ADDITIONAL TREATMENTS HAVE SEPARATE FEES.
Note:effective 1st June 2023.