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CLINIC NEWS:
COVID-19 Vaccinations Andrew Place Clinic is part of the national Covid-19 vaccination phase 1b and 2a roll out. Our Clinic is providing the AstraZeneca vaccine only. Please note, currently due to the recent demand for this vaccine, our next bookings are in mid June 2021. People under 50 years of age, please contact a Government Vaccine Hub on 1800 675 398 to have the vaccine injected under a State-Run Vaccination Centre. If you are under 50 years of age, you may consult your regular GP via a Telehealth consultation (please ask about your eligibility for a telehealth service) before booking your vaccination. Andrew Place Clinic is unable to vaccinate anyone under the age of 50 years and we do not have the Pfizer Vaccine. To access the Covid19 vaccination through a state vaccination centre (see link below). https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccination-centres Use the eligibility checker link to see if you are eligible. http://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility NEW PATIENTS If you are a new patient to Andrew Place Clinic, please download and print the following 2 forms to be completed in full, signed, dated and returned to a dedicated COVID-19 Vaccination Booking email address: covidvaccines@andrewplaceclinic.com.au new_patient_registration_form-_covid_vaccine.doc new_patient_consent_forms.docx New Patients are also asked to obtain a Health Summary from their regular GP and bring it with them on the day on their vaccination appointment. Once Registration Form and Consent Form have been received; a staff member will contact you via phone to book you in for a Covid Vaccine in one of our vaccination clinics. Please note this may not be on the same day that you email back your forms. EXISTING PATIENTS AT ANDREW PLACE CLINIC If you are an existing patient at Andrew Place Clinic, please download and print the following Consent Form to be completed in full, signed, dated and returned to a dedicated COVID-19 Vaccination Booking email address: covidvaccines@andrewplaceclinic.com.au existing_patient_consent_forms.docx Once the Consent Form has been received; a staff member will contact you via phone to book you in for a Covid Vaccine in one of our vaccination clinics. Please note this may not be on the same day that you email back your forms. If you wish to discuss Covid-19 Vaccinations please call 03 9467 1444 between the hours of 10am-2pm Monday to Friday only to discuss with reception staff. If you have any concerns you may be asked to discuss these with your regular GP before proceeding. Your patience is much appreciated during this very busy time. We thank you for your cooperation and for treating our staff with care. Preparing for your appointmentPlease do not come to your consultation and/or vaccination appointment:
If you cannot make it to your vaccination appointment, please contact us to arrange a new appointment. To stay informed about COVID19 Vaccines and information, please see links below: For non-English speakers, please find information regarding Covid19 Vaccination in your language here: https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines/covid-19-vaccine-information-in-your-language Learn about getting vaccinated: www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines/getting-vaccinated-for-covid-19 Information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine and what to except after you have been vaccinated: www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021/03/covid-19-vaccination-after-your-astrazeneca-vaccine-covid-19-vaccination-after-your-covid-19-astrazeneca-vaccination.pdf Information on COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021/04/covid-19-vaccination-information-on-covid-19-astrazeneca-vaccine_0.pdf Information/ Posters: cloud.loteagency.com.au/doh-vaccine-resources/preview/601259fe7fae7f1d7715f4be cloud.loteagency.com.au/doh-vaccine-resources AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine information sheet: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-information-on-covid-19-astrazeneca-vaccine Weighing up the potential benefits against the risk of harm from the AstraZeneca Covid19 vaccine: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-weighing-up-the-potential-benefits-against-risk-of-harm-from-covid-19-vaccine-astrazeneca AstraZeneca vaccine and thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/patient-information-sheet-on-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-and-thrombosis-with-thrombocytopenia-syndrome-tts What to expect after your AstraZeneca Covid19 vaccine: https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021/04/covid-19-vaccination-after-your-astrazeneca-vaccine-covid-19-vaccination-after-your-astrazeneca-vaccine.pdf Andrew Place Clinic celebrates 50 years in serving the local Community! In January 2021, Andrew Place Clinic was proud to celebrate its 50 years in being an established Family Medical Clinic with a devoted group of general practitioners serving the local and surrounding community area with a range of medical needs. Over the years the building itself has seen many renovations and even an expansion of Andrew Place Clinic to a second location at Bundoora Health, we have seen the introduction of many services, GPs, Registrars, Nurses, Reception Staff and Allied Health. 50 years on........... we at Andrew Place Clinic take pride in providing quality, friendly and professional care for our many patients and their families, with some spanning for 4 generations and we are always welcoming new patients into the clinic and hope we will for many years to come. Flu Vaccination Information The 2021 flu vaccine is currently available at Andrew Place Clinic. Govt. Funded FLU and Private FLU vaccines are now available. Please call the receptionist team who can arrange an appointment for a booking time within a dedicated Flu Vaccination Clinic or ask your GP or Nurse at a scheduled appointment. Private Flu vaccines are $20. With the outbreak of Coronavirus, it is more important than ever to get vaccinated against influenza. It is recommended that you get your flu shot to protect yourself and your family. We have taken numerous steps to ensure that when you visit Andrew Place Clinic, you can do so as safely as possible. Please note that if you have had your COVID19 Vaccination; you need to allow a minimum of 17 days between having this vaccine and the influenza vaccine. We ask that prior to personal attendance at the clinic, you phone to announce your arrival while you wait within your car and one of the receptionists will advise you if the Nurse is ready. We will also do some simple checks/ questions to ensure you are not at risk of having the Coronavirus. We thank you for your understanding. Clinic Operating During the Pandemic and Lockdowns Andrew Place Clinic is open and operating during the current COVID-19 pandemic. The reminder from HOTDOC that is sent out 24hrs prior to your appointment can be used as evidence of your Medical appointment, should you need it. Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions we kindly ask for all transactions where possible to be performed via EFTPOS or CREDIT CARD. Thank you. If you have flu-like symptoms, including a fever, cough, headache, sore throat or shortness of breath, loss of smell or taste it is important you seek medical care early as these may be COVID-19 symptoms. Please contact us via phone prior to making a booking or visiting the Clinic. Please advise at the time of booking if you have been in an area identified as a COVID-19 hotspot or exposure site in the last 2 weeks or you been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19. It is mandatory that all patients attending for a face to face appointment wear a mask upon entering and while within the clinic or staff are in their presence. What we are doing to be a COVIDSAFE Clinic To maintain the safety of our patients and staff, we have implemented COVIDSAFE practices in our clinic:
What you can do to be COVIDSAFE at our Clinic Here's how you can help:
We are here to support all of our patients in the best way we can. We would like to encourage our patients to not neglect their healthcare and to continue with their usual regular check-ups, procedures and immunisations. Our Doctors are available for COVIDSAFE face to face consultations and via telehealth CHANGE TO SERVICES: Change to Telephone Consultations Requirements for Telehealth from 1st October 2020 Private & Bulk-Billed Telehealth (telephone) consultations are available at Andrew Place Clinic. For information regarding eligibility requirements with the recent change to Victorian COVID restrictions, please see information below. General Practitioners providing COVID-Safe telehealth services are not required to bulk bill their patients from the 1/10/2020. We have started seeing more patients in clinic. ALL calls for appointments must and will still be screened for symptoms. If a patient is displaying ANY symptoms, they will be offered a Telehealth appointment and/or COVID-Safe arrangements will be made. If your doctor approves the need for an in-clinic appointment, patients will be advised to call the clinic on arrival to check in from the carpark for their appointment, remain and wait in their car or outside and the doctor will call them before they enter the clinic. Some of our doctors will continue to work remotely on some sessions, so an in-clinic appointment may not always be available. For any new patients to the clinic, it is preferred that we see you in-clinic for part of your consultation, please phone and speak with receptionist staff to book an appropriate appointment time. Who is eligible for Telehealth with rebate? • All patients provided they have had at least one face-to-face consultation with a GP at this clinic within the last 12 months and hold a valid medicare card. * Patients may still have a telehealth consultation if they do not meet eligibility requirements however they will not receive a rebate from Medicare and will be out of pocket for a full private fee. Who will be Bulk Billed for Telehealth from 1/10/2020? (subject to meeting eligibility requirements)? • Patients who hold a current Pension Card (Aged or DSP) - Between 9.00am to 4.45pm Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays; outside these hours Concession or Private rates will apply. • Vet Affairs • Children under 12 years of age - Between 9.00am to 7.45pm Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays; outside these hours Concession rates will apply. Who will be charged Concession Rate for Telehealth with rebate from 1/10/2020? (subject to meeting eligibility requirements)? • Children aged 12yrs -15yrs - Between 9.00am to 4.45pm Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays; outside these hours Private rates will apply. • Patients on a current Concession card from Centrelink - Between 9.00am to 4.45pm Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays; outside these hours Private rates will apply. Who will be charged Private Fee for Telehealth with rebate from 1/10/2020? (subject to meeting eligibility requirements)? • Any patient not listed above - Fees will revert to usual clinic structure and a full consultation fee will apply. It is each individual doctor's discretion if they choose to bill differently for a consultation Please refer to Fees tab for further outline of Telehealth consultations for Private, Concession and Bulk Billed patients MOLEMAP CHECKS recommenced on 29/10/2020 (available on Tuesdays and Thursdays for limited appointments) Andrew Place Clinic has recommenced limited MoleMap Check appointments as of 29/10/2020. This service is only available on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Please call the reception staff and/or refer to "Appointments - Practice Policies" Tab for further information. MoleMap Check fee is $153.00 during weekdays. (Service may be covered by Private Health Insurance, patients to check with their own Health Insurance Provider for coverage details. It is a non-medicare rebate service). Please note this service is for a MoleMap Check and images will only be taken on the day of any moles of concern. * Please Note: Saturday MoleMap Check appointments are currently suspended until further notice, upon return in the future; Saturday MoleMap Check appointment fee will be $183.00. IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT CORONAVIRUS As you are all aware we are still facing the coronavirus pandemic. This can be a worrying time but we, the Andrew Place Clinic staff, want to assure you that we remain dedicated to assisting our patients and their families throughout these challenging circumstances. In order to minimise the potential spread of the coronavirus we will be implementing some changes to the way Andrew Place Clinic runs and we would greatly appreciate your cooperation. Also be aware that this is a rapidly changing situation and as such advice and procedures are likely to change. Please continue to check out website for the most updated information. Due to the coronavirus pandemic we are unable to see any patients with cold or flu symptoms (including cough, fever, sore throat or runny nose) in-clinic without COVID-Safe arrangements being made. We ask that you book a telehealth consult – which is a consultation conducted over the phone (a facetime or zoom chat can also be arranged) for the doctor to make an assessment or consultation with you. If you are booking an appointment to consult with your doctor for an unrelated issue – but also have cold and flu symptoms – even if very mild – we ask that you arrange a telehealth appointment, inform the receptionist so that COVID-Safe arrangement can be made or postpone your appointment until you are symptom free. If you are concerned you have coronavirus please call the Austin Hospital Coronavirus Hotline on 9496 6606. You can also access the online risk assessment tool at www.austin.org.au. In order to minimise potential exposure to the coronavirus, while you are within the clinic we will be implementing the following:- · Please call the reception when you arrive for your appointment and remain in your car. Reception will log you as arrived and when the Doctor/ Nurse is ready to see you, they will call and instructed you when and if you are to enter the clinic. Upon entering the clinic ALL people must sanitise hands as they pass by reception and patients >12yrs old must have a mask on and worn appropriately and correctly when entering and while within the clinic. · Waiting room seats have been separated to create distances which will minimise your exposure to other patients, if you need to wait in the waiting room. By limiting the number of people in the waiting room/ clinic; we therefore reduce your risk. Similarly you may notice a change in the seating arrangements in all consulting rooms. · Please ensure you use hand sanitiser as you enter the clinic and then again on leaving. Again, these are worrying times and sometimes that worry can become significant distress. Please contact Andrew Place Clinic if you are concerned about your own mental health, or that of a loved one. For 24 hour a day telephone crisis support please contact Lifeline on 13 11 44. For Further COVID-19 Advice, patients can call: DHHS Hotline: 1800 675 398 (open 24 hours, 7 days) Austin Hospital: 9496 5000 Northern Hospital: 8405 8844 (only if they have a fever) Thank you for your understanding. In Preparation - Blood Pressure Machine & Electronic Temperature Probe “ In preparation for the upcoming prolonged physical distancing we would suggest each family consider purchasing an Blood Pressure machine ( we use Omron and recommend this for anyone over 40 years of age) and an electronic temperature probe ( we use Braun via the ear probe and recommend this for everyone) and familiarize yourself we how it works. This will help the doctors monitor your conditions and health whilst being at home.” STAFF NEWS: It's A Girl! Dr. Lisa Mifsud welcomes her first child into the world - Congratulations! It is with much excitement that Dr. Lisa Mifsud welcomed her baby girl - Emanuelle into the world on 13/01/2021. We wish Dr. Mifsud all the very best as she begins her life into parenthood with her beautiful baby daughter. Congratulations and Good Luck Lisa!! Dr. Mifsud will be on Maternity Leave until further notice. Congratulations - It's A Girl! Cara - Our Practice Manager welcomes her daughter into the world. We are excited to announce that our Practice Manager Cara welcomed her first child - a baby girl named Everly into the world on 27/01/2021. We wish Cara all the very best as she enters into Parenthood and begins the next exciting chapter of her life. Congratulations and Good Luck Cara!! Cara will be on Maternity Leave until further notice. Georgia will be Acting Practice Manager at Andrew Place Clinic, alongside Betty at Bundoora Health until her return. Dr. John Wong has joined Andrew Place Clinic as our Registrar as from 08/02/2021 Dr. John Wong has joined the GP team as our Registrar and began working at Andrew Place Clinic from 08/02/2021. He is now available for appointments. With his commencement, we are excited to have another male doctor available for consultations. A full biography can be viewed on the Doctors page. He will be working on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays and one Saturday a month. Dr. Sanjay Sudarshanan has joined Andrew Place Clinic as our Registrar as from 01/02/2021 Dr. Sanjay Sudarshanan has joined the GP team as our Registrar and began working at Andrew Place Clinic from 01/02/2021. He is now available for appointments. With his commencement, we are excited to have another male doctor available for consultations. A full biography can be viewed on the Doctors page. He will be working on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays and one Saturday a month. Dr. Christina Illing has returned to consulting sessions at Andrew Place Clinic for both in-clinic and telehealth appointments. Dr. Christina Illing has resumed working sessions at Andrew Place Clinic and is now available for appointments. Currently she is working remotely via telehealth appointments only on Monday and Thursday afternoons and Wednesdays and is available for in-clinic appointments on Monday and Thursday mornings and limited Saturdays. Dr. Genevieve Shing has returned to consulting sessions at Andrew Place Clinic. We would like to welcome back Dr. Genevieve Shing who has resumed working sessions at Andrew Place Clinic after her maternity leave and is now available for appointments on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and some Saturdays. Her full biography can be viewed on the Doctors page. Dr. Laurence Elder has joined Andrew Place Clinic. Dr. Laurence Elder has joined the GP team and begun working at Andrew Place Clinic and is available for appointment bookings. With his commencement, we are excited to have another male doctor available for consultations. A full biography can be viewed on the Doctors page. He will be working on Tuesdays, Thursdays and some Saturdays. Dr. Joe Giarrusso has Retired! Congratulations on your retirement! After 43 years of dedication and caring service to the patients of Andrew Place Clinic, our beloved Dr. Giuseppe (Joe) Giarrusso has retired. We hope he has a wonderful retirement. He will be missed but never forgotten. Dr. Giarrusso has done so much for all of us and while we will be sad to see him go, we wish him all the best in this next stage of life! We are wishing him endless days of happiness with his friends and family and hope he makes sure he works just as hard relaxing as he has during his long career. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication. Dr. Giarrusso last day consulting was on Tuesday 30/6/2020. DOCTORS LEAVE DATES: Doctors on leave in June The following doctors will be on leave in June Dr Susan Lewis: 14/6/2021 to 18/6/2021 (Working at the Mallee Clinic) Doctors on leave in July The following doctors will be on leave in July Dr Susan Lewis: 12/7/2021 to 30/7/2021 Dr Melanie Hemsley: 28/7/2021 to 31/7/2021 Doctors on leave in August The following doctors will be on leave in August Dr Melanie Hemsley: 1/8/2021 to 2/8/2021 Dr Susan Lewis: 9/8/2021 to 13/8/2021 (Working at the Mallee Clinic) Doctors on leave in September The following doctors will be on leave in September Dr Leanne Cole: 10/9/2021 to 26/9/2021 Doctors on leave in October/ November The following doctors will be on leave in October Dr Leanne Cole: 29/10/2021 to 2/11/2021 Doctors on leave in December 2021/ January 2022 The following doctors will be on leave in December 2021/ January 2022 Dr Leanne Cole: 18/12/2021 to 3/1/2022 CHANGE TO POLICY FOR RECEIVING RESULTS, REPEAT PRESCRIPTIONS, REFERRALS AND TELEPHONING YOUR DOCTOR Please refer to the "Appointments Tab" on our website for further information regarding changes to our Clinic's policies relating to Receiving Results, Repeat Prescriptions, Referrals and Telephoning your Doctor. No Requests will be taken or actioned and results will not be given out on the weekend or on a public holiday and can only be given out via the telephone after 11am on weekdays. Any non-urgent requests will be forwarded to your doctor and will be actioned within the 10 business days. If the matter is more urgent, we recommend that you make an appointment to see your doctor. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. SMS REMINDERS Due to changes in accreditation requirements we require each patient’s verbal consent to send SMS reminders. Please contact reception to consent and note that you will not be able to receive SMS reminders, including those for upcoming appointments with your GP, until this has been done. Thanks for your cooperation. |