GPcare Patient Information

Practice Open Hours

Monday: 8.00am to 8.00pm
Tuesday: 8.00am to 6.00pm
Wednesday: 8.00am to 6.00pm
Thursday: 8.00am to 8.00pm
Friday: 8.00am to 6.00pm
Saturday: 9.00am to 12.30pm
Sunday: Closed

Appointments

Phone 1300 472 273 during Practice hours to make an appointment or make an online appointment.

The “HotDoc” app is available for online appointments on your iphone or android device.

Cancellation Policy
If you can’t make your appointment, please phone GPcare on 1300 472 273 and cancel your appointment. This courtesy call makes it possible for another patient to be offered an appointment.

If you need to cancel your appointment, please advise us at least 4 hours before your appointment time. A charge of $36.00 will be made for failure to attend an appointment. This fee is not Medicare claimable and will need to be paid before your next appointment.

Thank you for your co-operation in this matter.

Late Arrival Policy

If you arrive 7 minutes or more late for your appointment, the GP requires reception staff to contact them. The GP may still see be able to see you for a shorter consult, or they may request that you reschedule.

If you are 15 minutes or more late, you will be asked to reschedule your appointment, unless it is urgent.

New Patients

New patients are requested to arrive 10 minutes before for their first appointment to fill in our Patient Registration Form. You can also fill out our online form before you arrive.

Billing & Fees

For appointments scheduled Monday to Friday prior to 6pm, Pension and Concession Card holders and children under 16 years are Bulk Billed*. Bulk Billing applies to consultation only appointments. Treatments and procedures involving a Nurse in Triage may incur an additional fee which requires an upfront payment for all patients on the day.

Saturday morning appointments and Monday to Friday evening appointments from 6pm are not routinely bulk billed and ALL patients will incur a gap fee.

We accept cash, credit card and EFTPOS to facilitate all payments. Our Medicare Tyro facility enables an immediate refund from Medicare, providing you present with a card linked to a cheque or savings account and a pin number.

A list of common fees is available at the reception desk. All patients are asked to bring their current Medicare card and concession cards with them to each appointment.

*Some GPs do not BULK BILL, so please check with reception staff.

Confidentiality

All records in the Practice are treated as strictly confidential.

All staff sign confidentiality agreements, a patient’s written consent will be required to transfer information.

We use video cameras in the Centre to protect you and our staff. If you have any concerns please speak to a staff member.

A comprehensive Privacy Policy is available and can be viewed here.

Consulting Hours

Monday: 8.00am to 8.00pm
Tuesday: 8.00am to 6.00pm
Wednesday: 8.00am to 6.00pm
Thursday: 8.00am to 8.00pm
Friday: 8.00am to 6.00pm
Saturday: 9.00am to 12.30pm

If you require urgent assistance outside of these hours, please contact EDcare Accident and Emergency Service

Feedback

We always welcome both positive and negative feedback. Improvement in our service can only be achieved if we know what you think of us – we like to hear about what we do well and what we could do better.

Please direct your complaint to Jo Teakle or Kim Saunders and compliments to anyone.

There is a suggestion box in the waiting room for anonymous feedback. You can also provide feedback online using this form.

If you have a serious complaint about the Practice address it to:
Health & Community Services Complaints Commissioner SA
PO Box 199, Rundle Mall SA 5000
P: 08 8226 8666
Toll Free 1800 232 007 (Country SA)
F: 08 8226 8620
W: hcscc.sa.gov.au

Home Visits

Home visits will be provided if necessary. However, please bear in mind that facilities at the Practice are more appropriate for examination and diagnosis.

If you require a home visit please ring the Practice on 1300 472 273.

Infection Control

All instruments used in the Practice are either disposable, or cleaned and sterilised according to RACGP guidelines.

Only disposable needles and syringes are used.

Prescriptions and Referrals

Our doctors are serious about patient care and safety, as there is increasing concern about medication interaction and medico legal issues, your doctor will not issue repeat prescriptions or referrals without a consultation.

When seeing your doctor discuss all your medications with them and ensure that you have enough prescriptions to last until your next consultation. Brief prescription only visits may be bulk billed at the doctor’s discretion.

Drugs of Addiction Prescribing Policy
The Doctors at GPcare will NOT prescribe Schedule 8 drugs and drugs of addiction to new patients at their first consultation.

Recalls

We offer our patients a recall service, where we can send you a reminder for visits and/or routine investigations eg Cervical screening test or cholesterol checks.

If you do not wish to have a reminder, or if you have a specific recall request, please let the doctor know.

Results

Your doctor will let you know whether you can phone for your results, or if you must make an appointment.

If you are telephoning for your result, please call the Practice Nurse between 9:00am and 3:00pm Monday to Friday, if possible. The Practice Nurse will be able to give you basic information regarding your results. If a follow up appointment is required the Practice Nurse will call you.

Please phone in for your results, as we do not routinely phone every patient. Your doctor can tell you when your results will be ready.

Should you prefer to discuss results with your doctor please make an appointment.

Telephone Calls

Our doctors will always accept calls if they are not with a patient. During consultations, GPcare staff will take a message, and ask the doctor to return your call.

Urgent calls will be put through to the Practice Nurse for triage.

Calls from other health care providers will always be put straight through.

Training Practice

GPcare is a training Practice. Medical students and Registrars are part of the Practice.

Registrars are GPs who are fully qualified to see patients, they are undertaking extra training to gain fellowship of the Royal Australian College of GPs.

Medical students work alongside one of the doctors. Your permission will be sought before a student is permitted to be part of your consultation.
GPcare is a registered training organisation.