Practice Policy

Practice Information Sheet

Westcott Street Medical Centre does not regularly monitor social media. Do not attempt to contact us on social media for appointments or urgent matters. If you have an urgent matter or need an appointment please call the practice between the hours of 8:30am and 5:00pm on 02 4909 8491.

Our practice complies with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) national law, and takes reasonable steps to remove testimonials that advertise our services (which may include comments about the practitioners themselves). Our practice is not responsible for removing (or trying to have removed) unsolicited testimonials published on a website or in social media over which we do not have control.

When using the practice’s social media, all members of our practice team will not:

· Post any material that:

o Is unlawful, threatening, defamatory, pornographic, inflammatory, menacing, or offensive

o Infringes or breaches another person’s rights (including intellectual property rights) or privacy, or misuses the practice’s or another person’s confidential information (e.g. do not submit confidential information relating to our patients, personal information of staff, or information concerning the practice’s business operations that have not been made public)

o Is materially damaging or could be materially damaging to the practice’s reputation or image, or another individual

o Is in breach of any of the practice’s policies or procedures

· Use social media to send unsolicited commercial electronic messages, or solicit other users to buy or sell products or services or donate money,

· Impersonate another person or entity (for example, by pretending to be someone else or another practice employee or other participant when you submit a contribution to social media) or by using another’s registration identifier without permission,

· Tamper with, hinder the operation of, or make unauthorised changes to the social media sites,

· Knowingly transmit any virus or other disabling feature to or via the practice’s social media account, or use in any email to a third party, or the social media site,

· Attempt to do or permit another person to do any of these things:

o Claim or imply that you are speaking on the practice’s behalf, unless you are authorised to do so

o Disclose any information that is confidential or proprietary to the practice, or to any third party that has disclosed information to the practice

· Be defamatory, harassing, or in violation of any other applicable law,

· Include confidential or copyrighted information (e.g. music, videos, text belonging to third parties), and

· Violate any other applicable policy of the practice.

Westcott Street Medical Centre does not regularly monitor email. Do not email for appointments or urgent matters. If you have an urgent matter or need an appointment please call the practice between the hours of 8:30am and 5:00pm on 02 4909 8491.

There are risks associated with electronic communication in that the information could be intercepted or read by someone other than the intended recipient. Email communications with other healthcare providers is undertaken securely. Email communication with patients is discouraged; however, where initiated by the patient, the risks are communicated and patient consent is obtained.

Our practice is mindful that even if patients have provided electronic contact details, they may not be proficient in communicating via electronic means and patient consent needs to be obtained before engaging in electronic communication. Electronic communication includes email, facsimile and Short Message Service (SMS). Communication with patients via electronic means is conducted with appropriate regard to privacy.

Our practice’s primary reason for communicating electronically to patients is to issue appointment reminders and we verify the correct contact details of the patient at the time of the appointment being made.

Whilst not encouraged, our practice allows patients an opportunity to obtain advice or information related to their care by electronic means, but only where the general practitioner determines that a face-to-face consultation is unnecessary and that communication by electronic means is suitable. Our practice will only provide information that is of a general, non-urgent nature and will not initiate electronic communication (other than SMS appointment reminders) with patients. Any electronic communication received from patients is also used as a method to verify the contact details we have recorded on file are correct and up-to-date.

Communication with patients via electronic means is conducted with appropriate regard to privacy. Before obtaining and documenting the patient’s consent, patients are fully informed of the risks associated with electronic communication in that the information could be intercepted or read by someone other than the intended recipient. Our practice also has an automatic email response system set up so that whenever an email is received into the practice, the sender receives an automated message reinforcing information regarding these risks.

When an email message is sent or received in the course of a person’s duties, that message is a business communication and therefore constitutes an official record. Patients are informed of any costs to be incurred as a result of the electronic advice or information being provided, and all electronic contact with patients is recorded in their health record.

The practice uses an email disclaimer notice on outgoing emails that are affiliated with the practice stating, ‘The content of this email is confidential and intended for the recipient specified in the message only. It is strictly forbidden to share any part of this message with any third party, without written consent from the sender. If you received this message by mistake, please reply to this message and follow with its deletion, so that we can ensure such a mistake does not occur in the future’.

DOWNLOAD Westcott Street Medical Centre Privacy Policy

Westcott Street Medical Practice is a Mixed Billing Private Medical Practice. All patients without eligibility criteria will incur a fee as per the fee schedule listed on our website. The following will continue to be bulk billed**.

·         Patients under 16 years of age
·         Patients with a valid pension, or health care card
·         DVA card holders
·         Patients attending a GP management plan appointment for their chronic condition.

Patients are asked to present their cards at each visit for bulk billing. 

**Please note that some consultation types will not be bulk billed. All procedures are privately billed, the fees for procedures may vary depending on complexity of procedure, time and circumstance.

Private patients, Pre-employment or other medical/ fitness checks, travel vaccinations, form filling, Implanon removal and/or insertion, ear syringing  workers’ compensation, motor vehicle accidents and other insurance claims are not bulk billed, and patients will need to pay a fee at the time of consultation.

Workcover:  If you are attending the practice for work related injuries, it is practice policy to bill every consultation privately, payable at time of consultation until your provide your insurance claim number.

If you are having difficulties paying your fees, please talk to your doctor or to the reception staff.

For more information regarding our fee structure please see one of our friendly receptionists