Practice Policies

Booking and Billing Policy

We are committed to providing high-quality medical care to all our patients. To ensure our services are accessible and efficient for everyone, we have established the following policies regarding bookings and fees.

Appointments and Cancellations

• Booking an appointment: Fees are payable either prior to or after each consultation, depending on the booking method and appointment type.

• Cancellation Notice: We require a minimum of 24 hours' notice for any appointment cancellation or change. This allows us to offer the appointment to another patient who may be in need of care.

• No-Show Fee: A no-show fee of $50 will be charged for appointments that are not cancelled at least 24 hours in advance or for patients who do not attend their scheduled appointment. Please note that this fee is not covered by Medicare and is payable in full by the patient.

Outstanding Payments

All outstanding debts must be settled before any new bookings can be made. This ensures the smooth running of our practice and allows us to continue providing excellent care.

Medication and Prescription Policy

Our practice is dedicated to the responsible prescribing of all medications. We have a zero-tolerance policy for prescription misuse and are committed to ensuring patient safety.

• 'Doctor-Shopping': We actively participate in national real-time prescription monitoring systems to identify and manage any instances of 'doctor-shopping', where patients seek to obtain excessive prescriptions from multiple doctors.

• Addictive Prescriptions: The prescription of medications with addictive properties will be managed in accordance with state and national guidelines. Our doctors may require a specific management plan, including regular reviews and communication with other health providers, to ensure patient well-being. Prescriptions will not be provided on an ad-hoc basis or through a phone request, and we do not prescribe certain drugs of addiction to new patients.

Zero Tolerance Policy

The safety and well-being of our staff, patients, and visitors is our highest priority. We have a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of abuse. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Verbal or physical aggression

• Threatening or intimidating behaviour

• Harassment

• Sexist, racist, or discriminatory language

Any behaviour that falls under this policy will not be tolerated.

Policy Breaches and Patient Dismissal

Patients who breach any of the above policies may be asked to leave the practice and may not be allowed to return for future appointments. This is a last resort, but it is necessary to ensure the safety and integrity of our practice.

Patient File Transfer Policy

Upon patient request or if a patient's relationship with the practice is terminated, we will facilitate the transfer of their medical file to a nominated suitable doctor. To cover the administrative costs associated with preparing and forwarding the records, a patient file handling fee of up to $80 will be charged. The patient file will be released once this fee has been paid.

Additional Business Policies

Please note that our practice operates within other business locations. These locations may have their own additional policies, terms, and conditions that you are required to adhere to. We recommend familiarising yourself with any policies specific to the premises you are visiting.

Privacy and Website Terms and Conditions

For information regarding how we handle your personal health information, please refer to our full  Privacy Policy, available at https://affirmmedical.com.au/en-au/privacy. 

Our website Terms and Conditions can also be found at https://affirmmedical.com.au/terms-and-conditions