Aboriginal Health Service – Hobart

Aboriginal Health Service – Hobart

In case of an emergency call 000

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Clinical & Admin Staff

GPs

Clinic/Admin Staff

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Making and Appointment

Please let the receptionist know if your call is urgent
The service will endeavor to accommodate your needs. However, if your call is urgent, or there are no appointments available a clinic staff member will triage the urgency of your request based on clinical best practice and make arrangements for you to see the appropriate clinical staff member.

Appointments can be booked up to four weeks in advance with your chosen doctor. You are encouraged, where possible, to see the same doctor each visit.

If your visit is urgent or needs to be booked on a day when your usual doctor is not working, then you will be booked with an alternative doctor.

Urgent and semi-urgent appointments can be booked on the day.

Some appointments require longer bookings, where possible you are encouraged to inform reception staff of your appointment requirements. You may require more appointment time if you have more than one issue to discuss, or if you have complex health needs or any paperwork to be completed.

Please allow extra time for you appointments as most clients will see a Health Worker or Nurse prior to seeing the Doctor at each visit.

Fees

We bulk bill all clients of the Aboriginal Health Service. However, there may be costs associated with seeing doctors and specialists outside the AHS.

Please contact the external provider to obtain their fee structure prior to seeing them, or speak with a clinic worker to help you gain this information.

Doctor’s Clinics

Monday
9.20am – 4.40pm Dr Antje Vogelsang-Sharman
9.20am – 4.40pm Dr Nicole Randriamahefa
9.20am – 1.00pm Dr Cindy Clayton

Tuesday
9.20am – 4.40pm Dr Jessica Kneebone
9.20am – 4.40pm Dr Nicole Randriamahefa
9.20am – 4.40pm Dr Natasha Lovatt

Wednesday
9.20am – 4.40pm Dr Diane Hopper
9.20am – 4.40pm Dr Nicole Randriamahefa
9.20am – 1.00pm Dr Cindy Clayton

Thursday
9.20am – 4.40pm Dr Jessica Kneebone
9.20am – 4.40pm Dr Nicole Randriamahefa
9.20am – 4.40pm Dr Anna McKinlay

Friday
9.20am – 4.40pm Dr Derek Christian
9.20am – 4.40pm Dr Natasha Lovatt
9.20am – 4.40pm Dr Antje Vogelsang-Sharman

GP Registrars also work at the Aboriginal Health Service. These are fully qualified doctors who are completing their training to be a registered GP. They are usually with us for 6-12 months. They work under the guidance of Dr Diane Hopper.

REMINDERS
If you wish to be reminded about an appointment, please let reception know as we will send a text reminder the day before your appointment. We can also send reminders for external appointments if you let us know the date and time, we can enter it into our system.

If you do not wish to receive text/phone call reminders please inform the receptionist.

Please ensure your details are up to date at each visit.

PHONE CALLS
Your calls to staff at the AHS are important to us and to you.

The team the the AHS appreciates your calls. If your call is not urgent it may not be possible to speak with a clinic worker immediately. If this is the case the receptionist will take a message which will be triaged by the clinic staff for a return call.

WORKERS COMPENSATION
The Aboriginal Health Service does not see patients requiring medical assistance for Workers Compensation. We have arrangements with alternative practices to see our clients, otherwise you can see another provider of your own choice.

Repeat Prescriptions

If you require a repeat prescription to be written by the doctor, please speak with the receptionist. Phone, or in person requests are the only forms accepted for repeat prescription requests. The clinic staff will let you
know if the doctor is unable to provide the script and will help you make an appointment . Some medications will not be accepted by phone requests.

Please allow 48hrs for the request to be processed

It is the practice of the Aboriginal Health Service that prescriptions will not be given to family members who are staff, unless your authorisation has been given to the doctor.

Services Available

The AHS provides a variety of services including but not limited to:

• GP Clinics
• Child Health Nurse Appointments
• Check-ups including Adult Health Checks
• Antenatal Care
• Counselling
• Immunisations
• Nutritional Advice
• Smoking Cessation Programs
• Diabetes Clinic
• Youth and Family Support
• Paediatrician Clinic
• Physiotherapy & Exercise Physiologist
• Cardiovascular Program
• Aged Care Program

Client Identification

You will be asked by staff to identify yourself when you call the AHS. This is to ensure your privacy and the privacy of others, and to meet requirements of being an accredited practice. You will be asked to give your name, date of birth, address and phone number. Please don’t be offended by this process as it is important to ensure that we are speaking to the correct person.

Close the Gap Prescription Assistance

The AHS participates in the Close the Gap initiative to support community to manage their chronic disease and prevent the onset of chronic disease. Eligible Aboriginal clients can receive free medication if on a Health Care Card, or if not, they can receive a subsidised medication at a cost of $7.00 per medication, When you visit the AHS please speak to reception or an Aboriginal Health Worker to check your eligibility and enrol in this incentive.

Complaints

If you have any concerns about the way we have handled your health information, you should generally first raise it with the doctor or another staff member concerned. If for some reason you feel that you are unable to raise it with the Regional Manager, Raylene Foster, If you are dissatisfied with the way your concern has been handled, you can make a direct complaint to the AHS Medical Director or TAC CEO. Alternatively you can contact the places listed below:

Test Results

For urgent results (pathology and radiology) your practitioner will advise you of the process depending on individual circumstances. If the results show significant abnormalities that require follow up, we will contact you according to the urgency of the result. This will usually be by phone or text message with a letter sent if you do not respond. Texts will ask you to contact us to make an appointment. Otherwise, please allow a minimum of 48 hours from the time of collection or attendance at radiology, then phone the clinic stating you wish to follow up your results. We will take your name and contact details and clinic staff will usually make returns calls between 4 and 5pm to allow results to be reviewed by a GP.

Recall and Reminder System

Our service is committed to preventative health care. You will be included in our recall and reminder system. We may issue you with a reminder notice from time to time offering you preventative health services appropriate to your care. If you do not wish to be a part of this system, please let your doctor or the receptionist know. With your consent, recalls and reminders may be sent by text message. Flu immunisation reminders are sent to all adult clients and do not require individual consent. Please let us know if you do not wish to receive these reminders.

Management of Your Health Information

Your medical record is a confidential document. It is the policy of the AHS to maintain security of personal health information at all times, and ensure that this information is only available to authorised staff. We abide by the Australian Privacy Principles available at – https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/health-information/

In addition to this we also have a Personal Information and Privacy Policy which outlines how your information is handled: you can obtain a copy of this at the AHS and/or by mail at your request. You can also obtain a
copy of your records on request.

Adult Health Checks

An Adult Health Check is a well persons check. It is designed to detect any early signs of chronic disease and to support those who have a family history of chronic disease, to stay healthy and not develop these later in life. Health workers or nurses will run through a series of questions, give brief advice and referrals, and arrange for you to have a blood test if necessary. If you would like to make an appointment please call AHS on 6234 0777.