INDIGENOUS HEALTH
We acknowledge the traditional landowners of Australia and we welcome all Aboriginal and Torres Islander people to our services.
About indigenous health
Many indigenous Australians experience poorer health than other Australians to have mental health problems and chronic diseases such as respiratory diseases, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, trachoma and rheumatic heart disease.
TELEPHONE
To maintain confidentiality, we avoid telephone interruptions to doctors. The nurse may be able to assist you. Should you wish to speak to your doctor, a message will be taken, and your call returned as soon as possible.
Urgent enquiries will be put through to the doctor.
PATIENT PRIVACY
This practice protects your personal health information to ensure it is only available to authorised staff members for the intended purposes and to comply with the Privacy Act. To obtain a copy of our Privacy Statement or your medical records, please ask at reception.
RECALL AND REMINDER SYSTEM
As our practice is committed to preventive care, we may send you an occasional reminder regarding health services appropriate to your care.
If you wish to opt-out of this, please inform our reception staff.
BILLING
At GC Heart and Specialist Centre we offer bulk-billing for a range of cardiac services.
Services that are bulk billed:
- Echocardiograms
- 24 hour Holter monitors and
- Exercise stress echocardiograms.
Services that are NOT bulk billed:
- 24-hour blood pressure monitors – $120 (out of pocket fee)
- Exercise Stress Tests – $70 (out of pocket fee)
For cardiac consultations:
- Our Cardiologists privately charge. Once you have paid in full with a valid referral, your rebate with Medicare will leave you with an out of pocket expense of approx. $40 – $60
- Our Endocrinologists privately charge. Once you have paid in full with a valid referral, your rebate with Medicare will leave you with an out of pocket expense of approx. $65 – $135
CANCELLATIONS
Please inform us (either by phone or email: info@gcheart.com.au ) at least 24 hours before to cancel your appointment. Since, in the event of your cancellation we can put another equally deserving patient in your place who has been waiting to have the test performed. Failure to notify the practice with enough time will result in a cancellation fee.
As a stress echocardiogram involves multiple members of staff, as well as a cardiologist, failing to give adequate cancellation notice will result in a $450.00 fee.
As the clinic is not open on weekends, appointments on Monday will need to be cancelled the Friday before.
TEST RESULTS, REPEAT PRESCRIPTIONS, REFERRALS
In order to monitor your health and fulfil our ethical and legal responsibilities, we require that you attend your doctor in order to receive all results or scripts
Our receptionists are unable to provide you with your results over the phone.
COMMUNICATION POLICY
It is our practice policy that doctors do not take phone calls from patients or return patient’s phone calls. If a patient needs to speak to a doctor, they must make an appointment to come in and see their preferred doctor.
Reception staff are happy to put forward requests; however, it is at the doctor’s discretion in how they choose to proceed.
DISABILITY FACILITIES
This practice is designed for wheelchair access. We have a wheelchair available if required. Should you have special needs, please discuss them with your doctor.
CAR PARKING
For your convenience car parking is available in the GC Heart Specialist Centre car park.
MANAGEMENT OF PERSONAL HEALTH INFORMATION
Your medical records are private and confidential and only available to authorised members of staff. All information at GC Heart Specialist Centre is managed in accordance with the National Privacy Principles of the Privacy Act available at www.privacy.gov.au/health.
SUGGESTIONS OR COMPLAINTS
If you have any concerns, complaints or suggestions about any aspect of our service we would appreciate hearing about them and will take them seriously.
Please use one of the following:
Phone: 07 5532 8272
Use the suggestion box.
Matters which are unable to be resolved within the practice may be referred to:
Office of the Health Ombudsman
133646 (133OHO)
complaints@oho.qld.gov.au
PO BOX 13281, George Street
Brisbane 4003