Patient Information

COVID-19 Practice Policy

We are continuing to monitor the recommendations from SA Health and the State and Federal Government.

We continue to serve all of our patients with the same level of care and excellence during this difficult time maintaining services albeit provision is slightly differently.

Rest assured, we have all measures in place to keep our patients, our staff and our doctors as safe as possible.

Some important information for our patients:

Appointments on site are still available where face-to-face consultations are
necessary. Please attend these appointments alone unless you require a Carer.

Phone bulk bill consultations are available. On occasion you may be required to come to the clinic for examinations. For instance, a sore ear may not be suitable for phone consult.

Any scripts issued from a phone consult will be faxed to your nominated Pharmacy direct from our practice. Some pharmacies are also offering home delivery.

All patients in ordered social isolation or quarantine must phone the surgery, please do not present without notice.

Any patients who have Epidemiological and/or Clinical Criteria for COVID 19 must call the surgery, please do not present without notice.
 

There are a lot of cold and flu symptoms going around at the moment. This does not necessarily mean that you have COVID 19. If you are feeling unwell with a runny nose, sore throat, fever, cough or aches and pains please stay home as per Government Guidelines and call us to request a Telehealth Consult.

It is really crucial to declare honestly any travel or contacts that you have had when asked. These triaging questions are precautions which we need to undertake to maintain the health of others, our support staff and General Practitioners.

As a team we are prioritising:
  • Triage and screening protocols
  • Our patient flow measures to separate patients with different health issues
  • Our environmental cleaning and infection control measures
  • Personal Protective measures being used
We intend to look after all of our patients through this time as best we can. Information changes regularly and we will do our best to advise you of any changes but you can refer to the SA Health website https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/ and Australian Department of Health https://www.health.gov.au/ for the most up to date information.

Appointments

URGENT APPOINTMENTS:

Provision is made for urgent appointments and they will always be given priority. If you need urgent assistance please let the receptionist know.

 

APPOINTMENTS:

Consultations normally last 10-15 minutes however, if you need a longer appointment time, please advise the receptionist when making your appointment.

 

If your family member requires an interpreter service, we can organise this for you. Please let us know when you make your appointment.

 

CANCELLED APPOINTMENTS:

If you are unable to keep your appointment, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can make the appointment available to someone else. A small fee will be incurred if no notification is received within two hours of the appointment.

 

WAITING TIME:

It can be difficult to always run to time and delays are sometimes unavoidable. If the doctor is behind schedule, the receptionist will inform you upon your arrival to the clinic.

 

HOME VISITS:

At GP’s discretion where safe and reasonable, our practice may make visits to regular practice patients in their homes, aged or residential care facilities.

Car Parking

Parking is available in the shopping centre car park located on Gladstone Ave, next to our practice. Please refer to the map below.

Blackwood FMC Car Parking

Communication

TELEPHONE ACCESS:
GP’s in this practice may be contacted during normal opening hours. If the GP is with a patient, a message will be taken and the reception staff will advise you when it is likely that the GP will return your call. In an emergency your call will always be put through to the GP. 
 
RESULTS:
It is the policy of this practice for all patients to return to see their doctor for all test results. Please make an appointment after your test has been performed.
 
RECALLS / REMINDERS:
Our practice is committed to preventative care. Your doctor will seek your permission to be included in our reminder system. We may follow up with a reminder notice from time to time offering you preventative health services appropriate to your care. If you do not wish to be a part of this system, please let your doctor or receptionist know.
 
REFERRALS / SICK CERTIFICATES / PRESCRIPTIONS:
Patients need to make an appointment to see a doctor for any of the above.
These can now be arranged via telephone consult. 

Disabled Access

Our entrance has a ramp for disabled access, and we have disabled access toilets.

Disabled Access

Fees & Accounts

Blackwood Family Medical Centre is a MIXED BILLING practice for those with a current Medicare Card.

Gap payments are incurred for Minor procedures and Skin Cancer screening, Implonon Removal and Insertions, Mirena Removal and Insertions, Medical Reports, Work Cover Reports.

Please speak to your doctor or one of our receptionists for more details.

Infection Control

Blackwood Family Medical Centre follows the guidelines recommended by the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners regarding infection control and sterilising techniques.
COVID-19
This practices operates in accordance with the guidelines of SA Health and the State and Federal Government.

Telehealth

Telehealth has been introduced to allow patients to engage in an on-line appointment without the need to leave their dwelling. It is a normal appointment done via teleconferencing.
The video below explains the concept.
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