Consultations & Fees
Appointments
Booking In
For a consultation, all patients need to book an appointment. This can be easily arranged by calling (08) 8752 0600, booking online or coming into the clinic. To minimize patient waiting times, we encourage patients to call the clinic prior to your appointment, to confirm if there are any delays.
Booking Appointments In Advance
We encourage patients to book their GP appointment in advance for all test results to help minimise delays. Your doctor, the nurses and reception staff are able to help book you for an appropriate day when all your test results are back.
If you know you are requiring a referral, script or medical certificate before a certain date, please book in a timely manner as we cannot always guarantee on-the-day appointments.
Appointment Duration
When booking an appointment, you will be automatically allotted a 15-minute appointment which equates to one problem. If you have multiple problems to discuss, inform the reception staff so they can arrange a longer appointment.
On The Day / Emergency Appointments
For all appointments we advise patients need to book in advance and a week is recommended. We understand that some patients require on the day appointments, and while we try to accommodate all patient’s needs, it is not always possible. On the day appointments are primarily reserved for EMERGENCY patients.
Walk-In Appointments
Walk- In appointments will be allotted the first available time slot, this can be up to a few hours wait. Walk-in patients must be aware that people with pre – booked appointments will take precedence unless it is an emergency.
Waiting Times
Although we try our best to keep on time, there can be many reasons why patients may be kept waiting at the centre.
Our Doctor’s cover all admissions and emergencies at the hospital, attend major trauma patients and provide 24-hour care to emergency patients and residents in the local aged care facilities. We ask all patients to try to be understanding of the difficulties keeping to schedule.
Correct booking for longer appointments by patients also prevents a backlog in the waiting room, alternatively you can ring before your appointment to check if the doctor is on time, or ask on arrival. Reception will endeavor to try and keep all patients updated regarding delays.
Billing & Fees
Billing
We are a mixed billing service and eligible patients will be bulk billed where possible.
Full payment of the fee is required on the day. Some dressings and other procedures may incur additional fees, please contact reception if you have any queries.
The following patients/services will continue to be bulk billed.
- Concession card holders
- DVA card holders
- Under 16 years of age
Our staff will do our best to keep you informed of any out of pocket expenses to you. The costs for these services vary depending on the length and complexity of the consultation.
Fee Schedule
Tatiara Medical Centre is committed to providing a high-quality healthcare and wellbeing service to our local and surrounding community since opening in 2016.
During this time our dedicated Doctors and support staff have been able to provide services under a bulk billing system which means patients did not have to pay a fee or gap for their consultation.
Over the past few years, Tatiara Medical Centre;
- Has experienced an increase in cost of medical expenses, and other ongoing business costs this is reflected in the increases to CPI.
- In the past Tatiara Medical Centre has absorbed all of these costs to financially assist our patients, but this is no longer sustainable if we are to continue to deliver a high-quality health care and attract and retain skilled Doctors to the country.
For us to continue to maintain a high-quality health service, a difficult decision has been made to move to a mixed billing practice as of 1st July 2023. This will assist us to remain sustainable despite the government pressures over the previous years.
Tatiara Medical Centre’s fee policy has, therefore been reviewed and adjusted. Commencing on 1st July 2023 some patients will be required to pay a gap or out of pocket cost, eligible patients will be bulk billed where possible. The following patients and services will be bulk billed:
- Concession card holders
- DVA card holders
- Under 16 years of age
Our commitment to providing you with care does not change. However, we are compelled to change our business model to remain sustainable and ever-present in our rural and regional areas. Unfortunately, many rural practices have recently had to address the current situation and make the transition to mixed billing.
Doctor recruitment and attraction to rural areas is a constant challenge and moving to a mixed billing practice is certainly an advantage to retaining Doctors.
You will need to bring updated Medicare cards, concession cards and private health information to your consultations. Our fees list will be available on this website over the coming weeks.
Please refrain from negative social media comments which may affect the morale of our staff. Complaints and comments may be forwarded to tmc.reception@outlook.com for attention.
General Information
Patient Identification
When patients arrive for their appointment, you are required to ‘check-in’ with our receptionist. We are required to ask for your name, date-of-birth and address to confirm your identity. Please bring your Medicare card, Concession cards and Private Health information with you.
Checking in is also a good opportunity to update any of your details on our system, such as a change of address or new Medicare Card number. This allows us to provide you with the best possible care, to the right person.
Telephone Policy
If you need to speak with your Doctor, you need to book an appointment. Tatiara Medical Centre does not provide phone consultations at any time. Receptionists will not interrupt a consultation for receiving or returning of phone calls, unless the matter is urgent. If the matter is considered urgent, you will be put through to a nurse who will triage and action as necessary.
Prescriptions, Referrals & Medical Certificates
All patients need to be seen by a Doctor for ALL prescriptions, referrals, and medical certificates. The Doctor will not print a prescription, new referral, or medical certificate for any patients, without them being in the consultation. Please keep in mind that there can be waiting times for an appointment.
REMINDER
If patients obtain a referral (this includes Radiology referrals) in their consultation with the doctor, it is likely that this will need to be faxed through to the required specialist rooms. To avoid delays, please hand your referral to reception at the end of your consultation.
If you have any paperwork completed by your Doctor, a copy will need to be kept in your medical record. Please hand the completed forms to reception before you leave the clinic to ensure a copy has been taken.
Missed Appointments, Rescheduling & Cancellations
As courtesy to our staff and the Doctor, cancelling or rescheduling of your appointments needs to be done so in an appropriate amount of time before the appointment. A minimum of 4 hours notice must be given.
This gives our staff an opportunity to schedule other patients who may need urgent care.
If you cannot attend your appointment, you must notify reception in a timely manner.
If you fail to abide by this, a $25.00 account will be issued.
Reminders & Specialised Consultations
Home Visits
Home Visits will only be considered where it is safe and reasonable for the Doctor. Our Doctors are willing to visit the patient’s home, or aged care facility both within and outside of normal working hours, at their own discretion. This service will only be provided to regular practice patients, all Doctors reserve the right to reject a request for a Home Visit.
Telehealth Consultations
Tatiara Medical Centre can offer Telehealth consultations; however this service is at the discretion of the specialist. A GP or Practice Nurse are present during the consultation. Skype is the most common method of communication. However, we also have the CISCO Jabba Software which can be utilised.
Test Results & Recalls
We are committed to preventative healthcare, with an efficient system in place which allows for quick review of test results.
For blood test results, we utilise SMSing, phone calls and posted reminders. With patient consent, all patients will be sent an SMS prompting you to call the surgery to book an appointment to discuss your results with your Doctor. It is policy that all patients who have blood taken at, or bring samples to Tatiara Medical Centre need to see the Doctor for their results.
For preventative healthcare such as immunisations, pap smears and other ongoing health checks your GP will add recalls to our system. You will automatically receive reminders regarding that recall.
If patients do not want to discuss their test results with a Doctor, patients refusal of follow up will be thoroughly documented accordingly in their notes and no further action will be made by staff to contact the patient.
