Contact us
Doctors of Coburg North
Coburg North Village Shopping Centre
120 Sussex Street( Cnr Gaffney Street)
Coburg North VIC 3058
Phone: 03 9354 7050
Fax:03 9350 2393
Info@doctorsofcoburgnorth.com.au
Opening Hours
Monday- Friday 08.00am-6.00pm
Saturday & Sunday 08.00am-6.00pm
Public Holidays 09.00am-3.00pm
Doctors of Coburg North is Mixed Billing GP Clinic
To allow us to provide this service, a current Medicare card is required.
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Feedback
We always welcome comments and suggestions regarding the care you receive at this practice.
Please feel free to talk to the doctor or the receptionist. You may prefer to email us at feedback@doctorsofcoburgnorth.com.au or use our suggestion box. We will try our best to resolve any issues to obtain the best outcome. If the problem cannot be resolved in this manner, you may contact the Health Care Complaints Commission on (02) 9219 7444
Prevent Health Information
For your convenience we have health information brochures available at reception area
Patients’ Right in Healthcare
Patients have the right to request the doctor of their choice when available. Doctors can advise patients of appropriate health choice in order for them to make an informed decision.
Appointments
Patients must make an appointment at this practice, and GP’s try their best to run on time. The practice accepts walk-ins under circumstances but booking patients will be seen first. if its emergency please visit to nearest Emergency Department or dial 000
Patients who need to cancel or change an appointment with a GP need to notify reception 4 hours minimum before appointment time. For allied health service, it is essential to notify reception for any cancellation or changes to appointments 24 hours prior to appointment; otherwise there will be a no-show charge.
If you require long consultations, medical paperwork or another family member needs to be seen by a doctor please notify reception staff when making the appointment.
Tests Results/Prescriptions/Referrals
Patients test results will not be released over the telephone or through any other communication method. Patient will be contacted to arrange an appointment if results require urgent follow-up. Patients are requested to make a follow-up appointment with their GP to discuss their results after the Pathology or Radiology test done. Patients should see their GP for all prescription requests and referrals will not be written out for patients without seeing a GP.
Recall
This practice is committed to preventative care and has a system of registering patients for recall.
We also participate in the use of National/State reminder systems.
Reminder Services
Our practice is committed to preventative care. You will receive reminder notices for health care services appropriate to your care. The reminder notifications are sent either by mail, telephone or SMS to patients confidentially. Please advise reception staff if you do not want to be part of the notification system.
Phone Calls
Phone calls to doctors are taken during normal opening hours. The phone calls will be taken by reception, they will forward your concern or request to the doctor and they will return your call at their earliest convenience.
After Hours
After Hours Please call Doctor Doctor on 13 26 60, if you require a Home visiting GP to attend at your place, if its emergency please visit to nearest Emergency Department or dial 000
Home Visits during Surgery Hours
Home visits may be available for regular patients who live locally within 5Km radius and are too ill or frail to attend our practice. These visits are generally performed during lunchtime or after the clinic has closed in the evening. Please contact us on 03 9354 7050 if you require this service.
Electronic communication
Doctors of Coburg North primary reason for communicating electronically to patients is to issue appointment reminders and recalls and we verify the correct contact details of the patient at the time of the appointment being made. Patient consent needs to be obtained before engaging in electronic communication. Electronic communication includes Email, Facsimile and Short Message Services (SMS).
Patient Health Information
Informed Brochures Board is available for your convenience in the waiting room area
Referrals
Referrals to a specialist may be made during the consultation. Standard referrals are valid for one year so please ensure you book an appointment before your referral runs out.
Prescriptions
Prescriptions may be written during a consultation. If you need repeat prescriptions, we ask that you make an appointment to see one of our doctors, where the condition for which the prescriptions are written can be checked.
Fees
The practice Mixed Bill medical consultations for patients . Our receptionist can advise you of costs not covered by Medicare.
If you do not have a Medicare card, you will be advised by reception of your out of pocket costs.
Confidentiality
Your medical record is a confidential document. It is the policy of this practice to maintain security of your personal health information at all times and ensure this information is only available to authorized members of staff.
Patients of our practice have the right to access their personal health information under the Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000.
This practice is dedicated to your confidentiality and privacy of health information. At times, the doctor participates in research, professional development and quality assurance. This can involve in the collection of patient data. However this information is de-identified and those involved in analysis of the data would not be able to identify which patient has been included.
Interpreter Service
If you require an interpreter please let us know when you book your appointment. We can book an interpreter via The Interpreter Services. This service is free of charge to patients who have a valid Medicare Card.
Patient Privacy Policy
Aim
This information aims to explain clearly how personal information about you and your health is recorded and managed in this practice. Your doctor will be happy to discuss this with you.
Your Personal Health Information
Your doctor needs information bout your past and present health in order to provide you with high quality care. This practice will make sure that you are able to discuss your health with your doctor in private.
Information is called “personal health information” if it concerns your health, medical history or past or future medical care and if someone reading it would be able to identify you.
This practice follows the guidelines of the “Handbook for the Management of Health Information in Private Medical Practice” The handbook was produced by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the Committee of Presidents of Medical Colleges with the support of the General Practice Computing Group. The handbook incorporates the provisions of Federal and State Privacy Legislation. This means that your personal health information is kept private and secure.
The practice has a written policy on personal health information – this policy is available to all patients for inspection.
Your Medical Records
Your doctor will do his/her best to make sure that your medical records:
- are accurate, comprehensive, well organised and legible
- are up to date
- have enough information for another doctor to care for you
- do not contain offensive or irrelevant comments about you
- contain a summary of your care
- can be used to remind you, with your permission, to return for follow up, check ups and reviews.
Your doctor will only collect information which is relevant to your medical care. If you are uncertain as to why information is being requested, ask your doctor.
If you want access to health care and maintain your anonymity, ask your doctor.
Providing your information to other doctors
The doctor(s) in this practice respect your right to decide how your personal health information is used or disclosed (for example to other doctors) In all but exceptional circumstances, personal information that identifies you will be sent to other people only with your consent. Gaining you consent is the guiding principle.
In this practice, it is customary for all doctors to have access to all the medical records. If you have any concerns about other doctors at this practice being able to see your records discuss your concerns with your doctor.
It is important that other people involved in your care, such as other doctors or health professionals, are informed of relevant parts of your medical history so they can best care for you. Your doctor will let you know before this occurs. If you have any concerns about this discuss them with your doctor.
Providing your information to others
- Your doctor will not disclose your personal health information to a third party unless:
- you have consented to the disclosure
- this disclosure is necessary because you are at risk of harm without treatment and you are unable to give consent – for example you might be unconscious after an accident
- your doctor is legally obliged to disclose the information (eg. Notification of certain infectious diseases or suspected child abuse or a subpoena or court order)
- the information is necessary to obtain Medicare payments or other health insurance rebates
- there is an overriding public health and safety interest in the release of the information.
There are times when disclosure is necessary for the doctors in the practice to carry out a review of their practice for the purpose of improving the quality of care provided and the activity has been approved under Commonwealth or State legislation. This provides safeguards to protect the confidentiality of the information provided.
In any of the above cases only information which is necessary to achieve the objective will be provided.
Using health information for quality improvement and research
We use patient health information to assist in improving the quality of care we give to all our patients by reviewing the treatments used in the practice.
We may also use information that does not identify you in research projects to improve health care in the community. You will normally be informed if your information is to be used for this purpose and will have the opportunity to refuse to have your unidentified information used in this way.
Wherever practicable, the information used for research will not be in a form that would enable you to be identified. The publication of research results which use your information will never be in a form that enables you to be identified.
In some circumstances, where the research serves an important public interest, identifiable medical records can be used for medical research without your consent under guidelines issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council. This research must be approved by an official ethics committee.
Security of information in the practice
Many medical practices will transfer their medical records to computer systems in the next few years. We will ensure that any of your personal information that is put on computer will be kept private in the same way as occurs with paper records. This will protect your record from unauthorised access.
Your access to your health information
You have access to the information contained in your medical record. You may ask your doctor about any aspect of your health care including information in your record. We believe that sharing information is important for good communication between you and your doctor and for good health care.
Information in your record can be provided to you by way of an accurate and up to date summary of your care, for instance if you are moving away and are transferring to a new doctor. Do not hesitate to ask your doctor if you want a summary of your care for any reason. If you request a summary or direct access to your full medical record, your doctor will need to consider the risk of any physical or mental harm to you or any other person which may result from disclosure of your health information, and may need to remove any information that may impact on the privacy of other individuals.
Your doctor will be pleased to provide a full explanation of the health summary or medical record provided.
Depending on what is involved, you may be asked to contribute to the cost of providing the information.
Do we disclose your personal information to anyone outside Australia?
In relation to medicals and consultations procured or requested by our overseas clients, we may disclose your personal information to these clients in their countries of operation. We do not otherwise disclose your personal information to overseas recipients. In the event that we would like or are required to do so, we will obtain your consent.
Resolving your concerns regarding the privacy of your health information
If you have any concerns regarding the privacy of your health information or regarding the accuracy of the information held by the practice, you should discuss these with your doctor. Inaccurate information will be corrected or your concerns noted in the records. For legal reasons, the original notes will be retained.
Further information on Privacy Legislation is available from:
Office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner
1300 363 992
Office of the Health Services Commissioner (Victoria) 1800 136 066
‘Your Privacy is our Business