Appointment Times
It is very important for us to be able to provide a prompt and efficient service. Arriving for your scheduled appointment on time, or letting us know if unforeseen circumstances may make you late or unable to attend your appointment. If you do need to cancel an appointment, we do require a minimum of two hours notice. If you require a longer appointment please advise the reception staff when booking the appointment. We reserve the right to reschedule any patient appointments that are late and to issue a cancellation fee (which is not rebateable through Medicare) to any patients that fail to attend their appointment without providing an appropriate reason. As our doctors are very busy and do book up quite quickly. Walk in appointments are usually unable to be accommodated.
In case of an emergency, please call 000 or visit your local hospital emergency department.
Fees and other Billing Arrangements
Longevity Medical Centre operates as a Mixed Billing Clinic. It’s important to note that no doctor at our clinic is obligated to bulk-bill under any circumstances. However, the decision to bulk-bill you or your child is at the discretion of the doctor and may depend on factors such as age, concession card status, and other considerations.
We have a set of consultation fees that are clearly stated throughout the clinic. We are able to process Medicare rebate claims at the practice, and any Medicare rebate will be directly deposited back into your nominated bank account.
ALL New patient appointments and Saturday appointments are privately billed.
Privacy Policy
At Longevity Medical Centre, we are committed to protecting your health and personal information in a confidential matter. We comply with Australian Government Legislation, ensuring that the privacy of our patients is maintained. Further information is available from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner on 1300 363 992. For more information ask for our Practice Privacy Policy at reception.
Reminders and Recalls:
The Practice has a computer reminder/recall procedure system available to provide systematic preventative health care. Reminders are available for Health Assessments, Asthma and Diabetes Care Plans, Vaccinations, Pap Smears and other matters considered to be important for ongoing patient care, condition management and illness prevention.
Speak to your doctor if you do not wish to be enrolled in a reminder program.
Repeat Prescriptions and Referrals:
Repeat prescriptions or specialist referrals require an appointment with your doctor, unless advised otherwise.
Prescription medication and referrals will generally require an appointment for review of the condition being treated as well as an opportunity to assess other health issues. Please note that medical care is best provided in person.
Prescriptions and referrals are available on request over the phone to assist people in the circumstance where they are not able to attend a face to face consultation.
The doctor reserves the right to decline a request for a prescription or a referral over the phone if they do not regard it as appropriate. The doctor reserves the right to not provide referrals for an indefinite (ongoing) period if they do not consider it appropriate. The provision of referrals and prescriptions outside of appointments will incur a fee.
Communication of Results
After your test results have been reviewed by a doctor, the appropriate form of action will be taken. If results are marked as normal then you will not be contacted unless advised by your doctor. However, you are welcome to contact reception for a copy of your results after they have been reviewed. If your doctor would like to see you for a consultation in regards to discussing your results you will then be contacted by either your doctor or a member of the reception team. If we are unable to contact you on the first occasion we will leave a message for you to call back or attempt to contact you again at a different time. If we have exhausted all of our means of communication to you our last resort will be to send you a SMS asking you to contact us at your convenience.
In the unlikely case of urgency or an emergency your doctor will contact you as soon as possible, if this fails we may attempt to contact the provided next of kin or emergency contact.
We do not send correspondence via email for privacy reasons.
Disease Registers
This practice submits patient data to various disease specific registers to assist with preventative health management. Consent is required from the patient with the option of opting in or opting out.
Vaccinations.
Vaccinations are offered at the clinic. Private vaccines can be purchased prior to appointment at the clinic and stored in our vaccine fridge.
Waiting times:
We are aware of the importance of our patients’ time and endeavour to see our patients at their booked times. This is not always possible, due to reasons including: medical emergencies, unexpected phone calls from other health workers regarding sick patients, earlier consultations running overtime because insufficient time was booked, extra family members being squeezed into appointments and many others. If your doctor is running behind schedule you will be notified. You may be offered an alternate doctor, if one is available, but the choice will be entirely yours.
Telehealth and Video consultations
Please understand that in many instances, the doctor is consulting and unable to take phone calls directly. Staff may take messages for the doctor if needed. We are very conscious of the risk of providing incorrect advice over the phone, and wherever possible, patients are encouraged to make an appointment to attend the clinic in person. However, for patients who may be affected by or at risk of the virus, we offer telehealth or video consultations as an option within the clinic.
Feedback and Complaints
If you have a problem or suggestion we would like to hear about it. Please feel free to talk to your Doctor or any of our staff. We take your concerns, suggestions and complaints seriously. However, if you feel we have not handled your complaint in appropriate manner and wish someone to mediate on your behalf you can contact Health Services Commissioner on 1300 582 113.
Longevity Medical Centre 