Practice Policies
Billing
Billing is at the discretion of your Doctor.
New patients are generally Privately Billed by your Doctor. If you have not attended Your Doctor in the last 2 years you may be deemed a New Patient.
Bulk Billing by your Doctor may be available for existing patients on Weekdays if you have a current Medicare Card.
For patients with a Pension Card, Health Care Card or Children under 16 Your Doctor may Bulk Bill your visits. Please enquire with reception when booking.
White DVA card holders seen for their specified condition and Gold DVA card holders will be Bulk Billed.
If you are an overseas patient or do not have a Medicare Card, please ask Reception when booking your appointment for fees.
Please also see the policy regarding “One Problem Per Consult”
One Problem Per Consult
We kindly request that patients discuss only ONE issue per consult. This allows time for Your Doctor to properly address the issue
If you have more than one issue, a separate consult may be required.
If there is more than one issue addressed in the Consult, Your Doctor may charge a Consult Fee or may charge a higher Consult Fee. The Consult Fee will vary depending on the time taken for the consult.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation of appointments must be made at least 4 hours prior to the booked appointment. For morning appointments this means it needs to be cancelled on the day prior to the booked appointment.
Late cancellations and missed appointment will attract a Late Cancellation/Missed Appointment Fee equivalent to a Standard Consult. Unfortunately there is no Medicare rebate for this fee.
Your Doctor does not want to collect this fee. Your Doctor wants you to carefully consider your booking. Your Doctor is often booked up well in advance of the day and it is difficult for other sick or distressed patients to get appointments on the day.
Your Doctor understand that this type of fee can be upsetting. Unfortunately your Doctor has found that this is the only way to effectively reduce late cancellation and missed appointments. No further appointments can be offered or made until this fee is paid.
Prescriptions without a Consult
In the interest of providing safe and effective medical care, Prescriptions generally require an in-person, telehealth, or telephone Consultation with your doctor.
At your doctor’s discretion, certain Repeat Prescriptions may be provided outside of a Consultation*. An Administration Fee will apply. These scripts are generally 1 month supply of medication.
New Prescriptions will not be provided without a Consultation
*Please allow 3 business days for this to be processed
Referrals to Specialists without a Consult
In the interest of good medical care, Referrals generally require an in-person, telehealth, or telephone Consultation with your doctor.
Repeat Referrals may be available outside Consultation at the discretion of your Doctor*. An Administration Fee will apply.
Doctors are unable to “back date” referrals.
New specialist referrals will not be provided without a Consultation.
*Please allow 3 business days for this to be processed
Investigations and Follow-Up Appointments
If you have had investigations, such as Imaging (Xray, Ultrasound, CT, MRI) or Pathology (blood tests, urine tests), ordered during the consult, it is best that a follow-up appointment for the results is booked straight after your consult.
QML Pathology onsite
Pathology specimens (such as blood tests and urine tests) are collected at a Pathology Collection Centre. QML Pathology has a collection centre onsite at Oxley Family Medical. It is open Monday to Friday 8.30 am – 12.30 pm
Alternatively you may attend the Pathology Collection Centre of your choice.
Please check with the Pathology Collection Centre regarding the cost of getting tests done to ensure you are aware of the costs involved.
Complaints Policy
The Office of the Health Ombudsman reviews and investigates health complaints. If you have a complaint and it was not resolved to your satisfaction, you may wish to contact the Office of the Health Ombudsman. This independent organisation reviews and investigates health complaints.
Office of the Health Ombudsman – Telephone: 133 646
Address: PO BOX 132811, GEORGE STREET, BRISBANE, QLD, 4003
If you feel that your complaint remains unresolved, you can contact the Privacy Ombudsman on (07) 3005 7000; ombudsman@ombudsman.qld.gov.au or write to the Privacy Ombudsman GPO Box 3314, Brisbane QLD 4001.
A Privacy Policy is available free of charge, please ask.
After Hours Medical Assistance
Communication policy including receiving and returning telephone calls
Your Doctor prefers not to take telephone calls during consultations, except in an emergency. A message will be taken and you doctor will then take the necessary course of action.
How we handle your health information
Staff are trained to handle your information discreetly and privately. Personal and private information are collected and may be held on both electronic and hard copy files. A range of security initiatives to protect your information from loss or misuse (password protected electronic storage and secure management of hard copy records). If you have questions about how your information is handled, please speak to your treating Doctor.