FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION’S
We hope this support page will assist you in answering some of our most frequently asked questions.
Appointments can be made by phoning 02 6033 6600 or booking online.
Extended appointments are available if you feel you need more time with your doctor. Please let the reception staff know at the time of making your appointment. While every effort is taken for you to see your preferred Doctor, sometimes this is not possible and another Doctor will be offered. We do advise patients to make routine appointments in advance to ensure the continuity of care with your preferred Doctor. We try to keep waiting times to a minimum, however some consultations can take longer than expected. The reception staff are happy to inform you of the expected waiting time, and you are more than welcome to ring before attending.
Home visits are available for regular patients of the practice. If you are too sick to attend the surgery, home visits can be arranged via reception. As it is better to diagnose and treat in the surgery, we ask you to come to the surgery if possible.
FEES AND BILLING ARRANGEMENTS Fees are payable at the time of consultation by cash, cheque, Eftpos or credit card. Our computer system can now submit your Medicare claim on line. If you pay in full at the time of the consultation a discounted rate will be applied. A list of Current consultation fees is available at reception. We have discounted rates for Pension and HealthCare Card holders. Current Fee Schedule
|
Gap Paid Only |
Paid in full | Medicare Rebate | |
| Private | |||
| Standard Consultation |
$77.10 |
$70.40 |
$37.60 |
| Long or complex Consultations |
$112.30 |
$105.60 |
$72.80 |
| After Hours Consultation |
$94.50 |
$87.00 |
$49.00 |
VETERAN AFFAIRS CARDHOLDERS Consultations will continue to be bulk billed. PROCEDURES All procedures are charged at the standard gap. Medicare claims will be submitted online. If you pay your account in full using our Tyro Terminals we can process the rebate back onto your Debit Card using your EFTPOS card in 11 seconds.
Your Doctor will advise when they expect your results to arrive at the practice. Please be proactive with your own health and call the practice to find out your results between 1.00pm – 2.00pm Monday to Friday.
- for medico-legal reasons e.g. record is subpoenaed to court.
- when a patient asks for their medical record to be transferred to another Practice, due to moving residence or for other reasons.
- where an individual medical record report is requested from another source.
Our practice team can describe the procedures for timely, authorised and secure transfer of patient health information to other providers and in relation to valid requests.
In accordance with state and federal privacy regulations, a request to transfer medical records must be signed by the patient giving us authority to transfer their records.
A full range of childhood, adult and travel vaccinations are available.
Vaccinations of children up to school age are notified to a national register using your Medicare number so please have your Medicare card with you.
We keep most immunisations in stock inlcuding all childhood immunisations and most travel immunisations.
Travel vaccinations are not claimable through Medicare. If you are in a private health fund you may be able to claim depending on the level of your insurance.
Please contact reception staff for the costs of required vaccinations.
To make an appointment for all immunisations please call 02 6030 6600
The doctors and nurses carry out many types of procedures such as:
ECG’s, Spirometrys, Minor Skin Excisions, Implants, Wound Dressings etc.
Providing you with the best possible care and experience is a Priority for Corowa Medical Centre.
We have a Treatment room fee for all Procedures. This fee helps us to continue to provide you with quality care.
On the day of your appointment we will require your $30.00 treatment room fee, this is a non-rebatable amount, and we use this to cover the costs of all of the consumables related to your Lesion removal procedure. Consumables include but are not limited to Sutures, Dressings and instruments used.
The Corowa Medical Centre also do the following medicals
Pre-Employment, RTA, Commercial Driving and Truck safe
Corowa and Rutherglen Medical Centre values your feedback as it provides us with the opportunity to improve our services. We are always striving to give you the best possible care. We would like to hear about any feedback you have to improve our service. We provide feedback boxes in each waiting area for your comments.
Should you wish to make a more formal complaint it is preferable to speak to your Doctor or the Practice Manager, or alternatively a written complaint addressed to the Practice Manager. We take your feedback and complaints seriously.
To make a formal complaint to the Health Care Complaints Commission it needs to be in writing addressed to-
The Commissioner. Health Care Complaints Commissioner Locked Bag 18 Strawberry Hills, NSW, 2012The complaints form can be accessed online
http://www.hccc.nsw.gov.au/Complaints/Online-Complaint-Form
If you are unsure whether you want to make a written complaint, call HCCC on 1800 043 159 (toll free in NSW)
The Doctors and staff wish to provide the best possible health care and service. We thank you for your suggestions to improve our service.
Personal health information and your medical record, may be collected, used and disclosed for the following reasons only:
- For communicating relevant information with other treating doctors, specialists or allied health professionals
- For follow up reminder/recall notices
- Accounting/Medicare/health insurance procedures
- Quality assurance activities such as accreditation
- For disease notification as required by law, (e.g. infectious diseases).
- For use by all doctors in this group practice when consulting with you.
- For legal related disclosure as required by a court of law, (e.g. subpoena, court order, suspected child abuse)
- For research purpose (de-identified)
If you have concerns about your personal information please discuss these with your doctor.
What is Palliative Care?
Palliative Care is person and family-centered care that is provided for someone with progressive and advanced disease and for whom the primary goal is now optimising quality of life rather than cure. Palliative care helps people live their life as fully and comfortably as possible, by identifying needs and effectively treating symptoms. These needs and symptoms may be physical, emotional, spiritual, cultural or social. Because Palliative Care is based on individual needs, the services offered will differ but may include:
- Resources such as equipment at home
- Relief of pain and other symptoms e.g. nausea
- Support for families to talk and plan together
- Links to other services such as home help and financial support
- Support for emotional, social and spiritual concerns
- Counselling and grief support
- Referrals to respite care services
Who is Palliative Care for?
Palliative Care is for pople of any age who have been told that they have a serious illness that cannot be cured. Palliative care assists people with illnesses such as cancer, motor neurone disease and end-stage kidney or lung disease to manage symptoms and improve quality of life. For some
people, palliative care may be beneficial from the time of diagnosis with a serious life-limiting illness.
Palliative care can be given alongside treatments given by other doctors.
For more information click here to head to our Palliative Care Page.
