Patient Information
APPOINTMENTS
You can book a standard or long GP appointment either online or by phone.
Online appointments are made via online Booking System. Please ask the reception if you need more information regarding online bookings.
Please ask the reception if you need more information regarding online bookings.
We make every effort to accommodate your preferred time with your GP. however emergencies do occur, and though every effort is made to keep to appointment times, emergencies will be given priority. Our staff will attempt to contact you if unforeseen delays occur.
LONG APPOINTMENTS
Please let your receptionist know if you need a longer consultation. We strive to make sure we give each patient the time they need to prevent taking up the time of other patients. If in doubt, always ask our receptionists when making an appointment.
Examples of longer consultations include (but are not limited to):
• skin cancer checks and procedures
• pregnancy and antenatal check
• insurance medicals
• pap smears
• mental health consults
• mirena insertion/implanon insertions/removals
• a ‘list’ of health checks or concerns
• if there’s more than one person in the appointment (e.g. partner/child etc.)
• if you need an interpreter
• child immunisation
PATHOLOGY
We have an onsite pathology: The Australian Clinical Labs. The service from the Pathology will be provided from:
Monday – Friday 8:30am to 1:30pm.
Saturdays – 9:00am to 1:00pm
Tests
For various reasons Doctors may require ECG, lung function test, or even cardiovascular disease tests including the 24 hr BP monitoring.
Our clinic is well-equipped for this, and employ well trained nurses to conduct these procedures.
TEST RESULTS
Test results are generally available within one week of the test being performed. However, there are certain tests that take considerably longer.
In most circumstances, if your doctor has ordered blood tests or medical imaging, you are required to make a follow-up appointment to discuss the results personally. This enables us to maintain a high standard of medical care and ensures patient confidentiality, as it can be difficult to identify a person and convey test or scan results clearly over the phone. Also due to the privacy policy we do not provide the results over the phone. We do send a reminder when the test results are ready via text message. If your test results are abnormal and it is an urgent matter, your doctor will contact you in person to discuss these issues with you. Sometimes, your doctor may be away or off sick. If you had tests or medical imaging done and you have not been advised about the result or have any follow-up appointment scheduled with your doctor, please contact our reception to arrange an appointment with one of our other doctors to discuss the results with you.
SCRIPTS AND REFERRALS
If you need a script, a repeat of a script or a referral letter to a specialist from your GP, please make an appointment with your Dr.
ADDITIONAL SERVICES
We have accredited diabetic educator and a dietitian to provide essential care for all ages including children, older people, people with chronic illnesses.
PRIVACY POLICY
Your medical record is a confidential document. At AFMC General Practice, it is our policy to maintain security of personal health information at all times and to ensure that this information is only available to authorised persons involved in patient care.
If you require a copy of your health information, we will need to receive a request in writing and signed by you. A fee will be charged for retrieval of your record, in line with the Health Records Act 1997.
AFMC is fully committed to respecting your privacy and takes its obligations seriously. We adhere to the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988 and subsequent Amendments, the Health Records Act 1997 (Vic) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).
AFTER HOURS MEDICAL SERVICES
For urgent home visits and bulk-billed after-hours consultations, we recommend:
• National Home Doctor Service – Phone 137 425 (13 SICK) which is available from 6pm – 8am
HOME DOCTOR VISITS
On occasion and at doctor’s discretion, a doctor may visit a regular patient at home however there is an extra charge for this service. Nursing home visits are done on arrangement with the doctor. Please speak to reception to arrange.
FEEDBACK AND SUGGESTIONS
We welcome any feedback. Please refer to this page on how to make suggestions or complaints.
At Avenue Family Medical Clinic, we continually strive to provide the best possible health care. We would love to know if you think there’s any way, we can do things better.
Please tell us about your experience with us and let us know how you think we can improve our service to our patients.
Feel free to speak your mind with your doctor directly or any of our staff when you are in our practice.
You may also email any feedback to info@theavenuemedicalclinic.com.au
Alternatively, you can pick up a feedback form from our reception desk and leave it in the feedback box once you have completed the form.
We assure you that AFMC is receptive to any and all feedback, positive or negative.
If there should be any complaints, we will always endeavour to resolve them directly. However, if we are unable to resolve your complaint, you may make an official complaint to: Health complaints commissioner.
At The Avenue Family Medical Clinic we have your medical health care covered under our expert team of practitioners. We are committed to assist you with the correct medical diagnosis and provide the specific tailor-made treatment for your well-being.