Accreditation
We are a fully accredited practice with Australian General Practice Accreditation Limited, the body set up by the Government and the profession to foster high standards of general practice.  Patient medical records could be confidentially reviewed as part of our accreditation process, but only when patients have signed their consent for this to occur.

After Hours
When the clinic is closed, please call our main clinic number and your call will automatically be transferred to our Locum Service, who will triage your call and advise you of a course of action.  Alternatively you can attend the Eastern Suburbs GP’s After Hours Clinic at 58 Nelson Rd, Box Hill (opposite Box Hill Hospital, phone 9845 2300), or the emergency departments of Box Hill, Maroondah, or Knox Private Hospital.

Appointments
On weekdays and evenings, consultation is by appointment.  We are committed to continuity of care and therefore we encourage you to see the same doctor, and will make every effort to achieve this for you.  If it is not possible, the receptionist will recommend alternatives.  Urgent consultations can usually be accommodated because of our flexible appointment system.  On weekends and public holidays patients are seen in order of arrival and no appointment is necessary.

Longer Appointments
Some consultations – for example insurance medicals, pre-employment medicals, female health checks (including Pap. Tests), men’s health checks, surgical procedures, travel health, hypnosis and allergy consultations – require a longer consultation.  Please inform the receptionist when you are making an appointment for these so enough time can be allowed.

Assessments for Over 75s
We are pleased to offer a comprehensive annual health review for patients aged over 75 years (or 55 years for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients). The Health Assessment is an opportunity to explore areas of health that may not be covered during routine medical care. Specifically the assessment looks at:

• Physical ability (how well you manage daily tasks)
• Social Support (what friends, relatives and other supports you have)
• Psychological wellbeing (how you are coping)

Health Assessments focus on preventative care - solving problems before they happen, and can identify things that could be done to help the patient live independently in their own home for as long as possible.

Health Assessments are done in two parts:

1. Firstly a practice nurse will perform a comprehensive interview, either at the surgery or in your home, which takes about one hour
2. Subsequently you attend your normal doctor for a medical checkup and completion of the assessment.

Blackburn Clinic is pleased to bulk-bill this service so there is no cost to you. Speak to your doctor or one of our nurses if you would like a Health Assessment.

Asthma Education Clinic
Blackburn Clinic is committed to promoting the better management of asthma in the community. Hence we offer the service of an Asthma Education Clinic. These sessions address: causes and symptoms of asthma, social and lifestyle issues, trigger factors and avoidance, medications and delivery devices, peak flows, emergency procedures and more. The sessions are run by an asthma educator, and adhere to the principles of the National Asthma Campaign.  Please see your doctor for a referral to this clinic.

Click here for our Asthma Clinic INFORMATION SHEET.

Autonomy
If is the policy of the Blackburn Clinic that all doctors have complete autonomy in clinical decision making, in whom they refer patients to, and to which pathology and diagnostic imaging services they refer.

Childhood Immunisations
Visits solely for scheduled childhood immunisations will be bulk-billed (Mon – Fri, during business hours).

Diabetes Register & Clinic
Blackburn Clinic has developed a specific Register to improve the care of our diabetic patients.  Participating patients make regular double appointments, which allow the doctor more time to help patients control their blood glucose levels, and monitor their blood pressure, cholesterol, feet and eyes.  Close monitoring will help prevent the onset of diabetic complications.  Patients on the Diabetes Register may receive reminders of appointments, and reminders if they have not visited the doctor for six months.  Patients should speak to their doctor to join the Diabetes Register.

Diabetes Clinic
All doctors at Blackburn Clinic can refer patients to our Diabetes Clinic, which provides:

• Diabetes education and information;
• Education and review of blood glucose meters and insulin delivery devices;
• Diabetes complications screening; and
• Diabetes care plan where appropriate and personal self management goals.

Click here for our Diabetes Clinic INFORMATION SHEET.

Documents and Forms
Sometimes a third party will ask you to have forms filled out by your doctor.  Examples of these include:- Immunisation certificates, Department of Social Security Reviews, school camp asthma plans etc.  Please make an appointment to see your doctor for these.  In certain circumstances, your doctor may agree to complete work for you without your attendance.  A.M.A. fees will apply to these services.

Feedback and Complaints
We are always keen to receive feedback about any of our services.  Regular surveys are conducted in our waiting room, so occasionally you may be asked to complete one of these.  If there are other matters you wish to raise with the practice, you may write to the Practice Manager.  If you need to take the matter further, you may write to the Health Services Commissioner, Level 30, 570 Bourke St, Melbourne  3000.  Phone: 8601 5200, Fax: 8601 5219.

Fees
We are a high quality private billing clinic (there will be an out of pocket expense).
A.M.A. recommended rates apply to consultations. Full payment is expected at the time of the visit. Credit cards and EFTPOS facilities are available. Pensioners, Health Care Card holders, children and students under 21 will be charged a substantially discounted fee, which will leave a small out of pocket gap if the account is settled at the time of the visit. Veterans’ Affairs card-holders are bulk-billed at all times.

After Hours fees :our normal consulting times are 8.00am – 6.00pm Monday to Friday, and appointments booked outside these hours will be charged at our After Hours rates, which result in a larger out of pocket gap.

Procedures performed in our well-equipped theatre will incur an extra charge. Concession patients will be charged a reduced fee, which will leave a gap.

Missed Appointment fee: A fee will be charged for patients who fail to attend their appointment, and do not cancel within a reasonable time.

Home Visits
During weekdays we do home visits for our patients in the local area if necessary.  Where possible we ask that you ring before 10.00 a.m. to arrange these.  Sometimes demand for this service will exceed our ability to respond and you may be asked whether you would like a locum visit arranged.  A.M.A. fees will be charged for all home visits.

Men’s Health Checks
Blackburn Clinic has developed an in-depth Men’s Health Check, designed for males aged 35-65 years.  A preventative health strategy suitable for busy men or companies wishing to safeguard their male workers. 

Click here for our Men’s Health Check INFORMATION SHEET. 

Parking
Ample parking for 140 cars, including disabled parking, is available at the rear of the clinic.  An undercover drive through main entrance (in Maple Street) allows for patient drop-off at the main entrance.  There is easy wheelchair access and no steps or stairs.  Wheelchairs are available at reception.  Please never leave your car parked in the drive-through area as Ambulances frequently need access to our main entrance.  Patients are asked to use the public footpath in Maple Street to walk from the car park to the clinic. 

Prescriptions
Normally an appointment will be made to see a doctor for repeat medication.  In certain circumstances, your doctor may be prepared to write a prescription without your attendance.  There is a nominal charge for this.  The phone request should be made before noon, and we will endeavour to have the prescription ready the following evening.

Privacy
Your privacy has always been a high priority at Blackburn Clinic.  We take great care of private information about you that is held in our records, and we comply with both the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic) and the Privacy Act 1998.  If you would like a copy of our Privacy Policy, please click here.

Repeat Referrals
Consultations are generally required solely for repeat referrals.

Reminder System
To improve continuity of care, we offer a reminder service.  If, for some reason you do not wish to use this service, please notify us. While we make every effort to send reminder letters, we must stress that it is your responsibility to return for further assessment or check-ups if your doctor has indicated this is necessary.

Results of Investigations
Unless previously organized with your doctor, patients are asked to make an appointment for results of investigations. If your doctor has specifically advised that you may obtain your results by telephone, please ensure you ring the doctor who ordered the tests, at a time indicated to you by the doctor. Results of investigations will not be given to you over the telephone by nursing or reception staff or by doctors other than the one who ordered the test.

Telephone Calls to Your Doctor
If you phone the Clinic requesting to speak to your doctor, you may be asked to leave a number on which you can be contacted.  Most doctors return phone calls at the end of their session (either during their lunch break or at the end of the day).  If the matter is urgent, either your doctor, another doctor or the practice nurse will be able to take your call immediately.

Please understand that in many instances, the doctor or nurse will be unable to provide advice over the telephone.  Blackburn Clinic is very conscious of the risk of providing incorrect advice over the phone, and wherever possible, patients are encouraged to attend the clinic in person.

The 45-49 Year Old Checkup
We offer a comprehensive checkup designed to detect and prevent chronic disease, and enable early intervention strategies to be implemented, for those 45-49 year olds with any of the following risk factors: smoking; physical inactivity; poor nutrition; alcohol or drug abuse; excess weight; high blood pressure; high cholesterol; impaired glucose or diabetes; family history of chronic disease.

Travel Medicine
We are a Licensed Travel Vaccination Centre, enabling us to provide a range of travel resources, advice and vaccines including Yellow Fever, Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid, Meningococcal, Polio and Tetanus, and travel vaccination certificates (Yellow Books).  Please see our LINKS page for further information about travel medicine.

Waiting Times
We are aware of the importance of our patients’ time and endeavour to see our patients at their booked times.  Unfortunately due to a range of reasons this is not always possible.    If your doctor is running behind schedule you may be offered an alternate doctor, if one is available, but the choice will be entirely yours.

Women’s Health Check
We offer a whole body checkup, which is much more comprehensive than a standard gynaecological check. 

Click here for our Women’s Health Check INFORMATION SHEET.