The Port Sorell Medical Centre is committed to promoting optimal health, achieving a state of individual wellness and well being, with focus on disease prevention. We are committed to providing the best possible patient experience through clinical outcomes, research, education and a holistic rapport.
Our practice has policies to ensure culturally appropriate care is given to all our patients. To assist us, we encourage patients to self-identify their cultural background. We also ask for this information on our New Patient Registration Forms, and at the time of consultations where indicated.
Our practice also recognises and respects the rights of our LGBTQIA+ community, and to ensure our medical records contains identified gender and the appropriate pronoun, we ask this information on our New Patient Registration Forms, and at the time of consultations where indicated.
Our Practice offers the following Services:
PRACTICE INFORMATION
Medical record confidentiality
A “medical record” is a general term for all the information collated about a patient for the purpose of treating that patient.
The provision of quality healthcare relies on a doctor and patient relationship of trust and confidentiality. Your medical records are confidential. Our policy is to always maintain security of your personal health information. In the interest of providing quality healthcare, we have developed a privacy policy that complies with the Commonwealth Government legislation and recognises the rights of our patients to privacy, along with the purpose of why and how we collect your personal information. This Practice protects your personal health information to ensure it is only available to authorised staff members.
To view a copy of Practice’s Privacy Policy please click the link Privacy Policy Copies are also available in our waiting room, and at reception upon request.
Should you wish to transfer your medical record from Port Sorell Medical Centre to another practice, on receiving your signed consent from your new practice, we are happy to forward a Health Summary free of charge. If you require your complete record to be transferred, a fee is payable to cover administrative costs involved with this. At present this fee is $22 inclusive of GST.
Please be advised once your record is transferred, you will be unable to return to our practice within two (2) years of your file transfer.
Fees and billing arrangements
Port Sorell Medical Centre is committed to delivering our patients the highest quality in healthcare. To enable us to do this, our services are privately billed. We accept cash, cheque, EFTPOS, and most major credit cards (surcharges apply for card payments- surcharge rates as at Oct 2023). Please note Saturday appointments attract a higher fee. Click the link to view our Practice Fees as at 1st November 2023.
Full payment is required at the time of service. Medicare rebates can be claimed at the time of payment and reimbursed to you either immediately via our Tyro electronic claiming system, or overnight with Medicare processing your refund into your nominated account listed with them.
Our Practice offers Bulk Billing to DVA Gold Card patients. Patients covered by a Pension Card, Commonwealth Seniors Card, or a Health Care Card are billed at a concession rate. It is the doctors discretion as to whether your consult will be Bulk Billed to Medicare. Our reception staff are unable to amend billing instructions. If you have any concerns please discuss this at the time of your consult with your doctor.
Fees to cover consumables, for example multiple dressings, procedures, or vaccinations, may be invoiced. We will inform you of any out-of-pocket expenses, where possible, prior to these appointments.
The following services are not covered by Medicare and will not have a refund benefit claimable. These appointments may require payment at the time of the appointment;
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Worker’s Compensation.
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Insurance, Pre-employment, and Commercial driver’s licence medicals.
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MAIB consultations
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Services for patients who do not hold a Medicare card.
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Aftercare following a procedure done through the private system.
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Services provided for visitors not covered by Medicare. Australia has a reciprocal health agreement with certain countries enabling their citizens to claim a rebate through the Medicare system on urgent medical care or medically necessary care, where the care can not wait until you return home. Countries that are not covered by this agreement requires claiming through the patient’s travel insurance company. It is recommended that all travelers obtain travel insurance prior to leaving for their journey.
Test results and follow-up
It is your responsibility to ensure you attend specialist appointments and have all tests performed that are requested by your doctor, then follow-up any results or specialist communications after. Our practice policy is that reception staff are unable to interpret or provide results over the telephone or at the reception counter, with the exception of cervical screenings. It is preferred that an appointment is made to receive any results. Results are generally available within a week of any tests, so please book a results appointment in a timely manner.
Your doctor may contact you prior to your booked appointment if your result is abnormal or requires urgent attention, however, do not assume your result is normal if this does not occur. Please also be aware that normal results may still require further testing and/or referral to a specialist.
Referrals and prescriptions
Doctors providing referrals to specialists and prescriptions are responsible ethically and legally to ensure these are correct and warranted, therefore, a consultation with your doctor is necessary for you to request these. Doctors in this practice are competent at handling common health problems, however when necessary they may refer you to a specialist for further management or opinion. You can discuss this openly with your doctor.
Please be advised it is your responsibility to ensure your specialist referrals and scripts are up-to-date. We may not be able to accommodate last-minute requests for appointments for repeat referrals or repeat prescriptions. Medicare does not permit the back-dating of referrals.
Repeat prescriptions can be requested through the Hotdoc App with a private fee being charged. This fee is not covered through Medicare and does not have a refund which is claimable. Terms and Conditions apply to all requests for prescriptions, and all requests are directed to your usual doctor. Please speak to our friendly reception staff for more information. This practice has strict guidelines and policies regarding prescriptions for drugs of dependence including bezodiazepines. Repeat Prescription Policy for Drugs of Dependence inc Benzodiazepines
Telephone Calls
Most problems are best dealt with in consultation. If you require information, our friendly reception staff will pass your request on to the relevant person. Due to your privacy and that of others, it is not our practice policy to interrupt your doctor during consultations for routine requests. Instead, we will relay a request detailing relevant information, with a request for them to return your call.
Patient Feedback
Port Sorell Medical Centre is serious about the quality of our services and our continuing improvement. Feedback is welcome in any form.
Please feel free to talk to your doctor, nurse at the time of your appointment, or to our reception staff, or practice manager either by telephone or in person. You can also use the “Contact Us” option in our website.
We take your concerns, suggestions and complaints seriously. We believe that problems are best dealt with within the practice, however if you wish to take your matter further and lodge a formal complaint, you can contact:
Health Complaints Commissioner Tasmania
Phone: 1800 001 170
Mail: GPO Box 960 Hobart TAS 7001
