PATIENT INFORMATION

Appointments Information

GP Appointments – Current Patients:

Please call to arrange appointments or book appointments online via. the link on our Website.

Weekdays: 08:30AM to 10:00PM

Weekends: 08:30AM to 06:00PM

Public Holidays: Closed

GP Appointments – New Patients:

We welcome new patients at all times. We encourage new patients to make double appointments due to the need to collect relevant information about your medical history and to arrange for any old records to be transferred from your previous medical centre if applicable.

You can download our new patient registration form from our website which can be completed before arriving for your appointment or please attend our centre at least 10 minutes prior to the appointment to allow for completion of forms.

Online Appointment booking T & Cs

For convenience purposes, patients are requested to use the ‘Book Appointment’ widget (this serivice is facilitated by the company HotDoc) on our website to book an appointment with their preferred doctor. Standard and longer consultations can be booked using this service.

We do not guarantee that our website, or any content on it in relation to our online appointment system, will always be available or be uninterrupted. Access to our website is permitted on a temporary basis. We may suspend, withdraw, discontinue or change all or any part of our website without notice. We will not be liable to you if for any reason our website is unavailable at any time or for any period.

You are responsible for making all arrangements necessary for you to access our website (including, having access to an internet connection and an appropriate browser).

You are also responsible for ensuring that all persons who access our website through your internet connection are aware of these terms of use and other applicable terms and conditions, and that they comply with them.

Allied health professionals Appointments

Allied health professionals work varied sessions. Appointments with our visiting allied health professionals can be made at any time. Further details are available with our reception staff.

Forms & Leaflets

1. Transfer of Records form
2. Adult New Patient Registration form – Demographic and Clinical
3. Child New Patient Registration form – Demographic and Clinical
4. Practice Information Brouchure
5. Integrative Medicine Leaflet
6. Patient Privacy Leaflet

Privacy & Confidentiality

• No information shall be collected at the Balwyn Central Medical without patient written or implied consent.
• All patient information collected shall be used to provide a comprehensive approach to patient care.
• Information will be collected in a manner that ensures protection of privacy and confidentiality.
• Please advise us if your details alter so that our information is accurate and up to date.
• No information that identifies the patient will be released to third parties without consent.
• There may be circumstances where the doctor will be obliged to release details of a patient’s personal health information without their express consent- this may be the case if the situation was an extreme emergency, or if legally compelled to do so.
• Balwyn Central Medical operates a fully computerised medical records system. All doctors and employees have individual passwords to allow access. Information is backed up daily and passwords changed regularly.
• Administrative staff with access to your personal health information have signed confidentiality agreements.
• Some medical information is downloaded directly into your medical record eg pathology results. These are encrypted to ensure confidentiality.
• When patients move to another medical practice, we will support continuity of care by preparing a relevant summary of your medical records. When we receive a form signed by you authorising transfer of medical information, we will send this summary to your new GP.
• Patients may wish to directly access the full details in their medical records. Advise the staff of your request. The Practice Manager will contact you to outline the procedure. A written request for access to your medical record will be needed before we can proceed. We will advise you of times that the doctor will be available to go through your medical records with you. This will be as soon as reasonably convenient within 30 days.
• We would encourage you to arrange a time to consult with the doctor to review your records. A fee will be charged for this service that will reflect the time taken. There is no medicare rebate available for this service.
• A fee will also be charged if a printout of your complete medical record is required – this will reflect the time taken to prepare such a document. There is no medicare rebate available for this service.
• We can provide an electronic version of your records for which a fee will be charged to prepare your record. There is no medicare rebate available for this service.
• Rarely patient access to details in the medical record will not be available. If this happens, a full explanation will be offered.
• It is the policy of the Balwyn Central Medical at this time to retain all medical records – no records are destroyed.
• If there are concerns regarding information collected at the Balwyn Central Medical and how it is used please discuss the issues with the Practice Manager or one of the doctors.

Test Results

Accessing your Test Results

Pathology or Diagnostic imaging Test results

Call us anytime to check if your test results have been received by us. Please allow 3 to 5 days for routine test results unless marked urgent by your doctor.

A follow up appointment will be needed to discuss abnormal results. We will recall patients either by phone or by letters for all abnormal results.

Reminder Recalls:

From time to time to perform preventative health assessments and to educate patients of the need to undergo certain tests as recommended by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), your doctor may choose to include a reminder in your medical record.

Our practice nurse will speak to you over telephone to discuss these appointments. If you change your telephone or address, or if you prefer not to receive this reminder, please advise our practice nurse.