Click the link below for Ozdocsonline information.
Our IWGP doctors currently registered with ozdocsonline
Dr. Linda Mann
Dr. Dianne Chambers
Dr. James Best
Dr. Aline Smith
Dr. Jacky Korner
Dr. Sam Hay
Dr. Vanessa Moran
Dr. Louise Harrison
Dr. Jenny Thai
INNERWEST GENERAL PRACTICE
The ways in which this practice complies with the legislation and the NPPs is set out below:
Collection
It is necessary for us to collect personal information from patients and sometimes others associated with their health care in order to attend to their health needs and for associated administrative purposes.
Use and Disclosure
A patient’s personal health information is used or disclosed for purposes directly related to their health care and in ways that are consistent with a patient’s expectations. In the interests of the highest quality and continuity of health care this may include sharing information with other health care providers who comprise a patient’s health care team from time to time.
In addition there are circumstances when information has to be disclosed without patient consent, such as:
• Emergency situations
• By law, e.g. mandatory reporting of some communicable diseases
• It may be necessary to disclose information about a patient to fulfil a medical indemnity insurance obligation
• Provision of information to Medicare or private health funds if relevant for billing and medical rebate purposes
There are some necessary purposes of collection for which information will be used beyond providing health care, such as professional accreditation, quality assessments, clinical auditing, billing, service monitoring activities, and disclosure to a clinical supervisor.
In general, a patient’s health information will not be used for any other purposes without their consent.
Data Quality
All patient information held by this practice relevant to the functions of providing health care will be maintained in a form that is accurate, complete and up to date.
Data Security
The storage, use, and where necessary, transfer of personal health information will be undertaken in a secure manner that protects patient privacy. It is necessary for the practice to keep patient information after a patient’s last attendance for as long as is required by law or is prudent having regard to administrative requirements.
Openness
This practice has made this and other material available to patients to inform them of our policies on the management of personal information. On request this practice will, generally, let patients know what sort of personal information we hold, and for what purposes, and how we collect, hold, use and disclose that information.
Access and Correction
Patients may request access to their personal health information held by this practice.
All request for access to personal health information will be referred to the practice Privacy Officer.
The practice encourages patients to ensure that information held is accurate and up to date and to amend any information that is inaccurate.
There are some circumstances in which access will be restricted or denied and the reason for this will be explained.
A charge may be payable where the practice incurs a cost in providing access. This is for administrative costs such as photocopying, etc.
This practice acknowledges the right of children and young people to privacy of their health information. Based on the professional judgement of the doctor and consistent with the law, it might be necessary at times to restrict access to personal health information by parents or guardians.
There is no cost for this service as it is covered by Medicare, however subsequent consultations dealing with medical issues arising from the health check would attract the usual practice fee.
The aim of the health check is to help find, prevent or lessen the effect of disease. After all, it is better to avoid disease than to treat it. This health check will give us the opportunity to look at your lifestyle and medical /family history to find out if you are at risk.
The health check would involve:
• updating your medical history and looking at your health issues
• doing tests (such as blood pressure tests, diabetes screen, cholesterol check, etc.)
• follow-up of any problems identified
• advice and information, for example-on how to make lifestyle changes to improve your health.
The pneumococcal bacteria can cause ear infections, pneumonia and more serious invasive disease such as meningitis and septicaemia. In Australia it is estimated that three in every 1000 children will have at lease one episode of invasive pneumococcal diseas by age five, and every year hundreds of children are hospitalised for treatment of pneumococcal infection.
An effective vaccine is available that protects against the seven types of pneumococcal becteria, which cause 85% of invsive pnemococcal disease in children younger than five. The Australian Standard Vaccination Schedule recommends vaccinating all Australian children at ages two, four and six months. It also recommends all children up to age two are vaccinated against pneumococcal disease.
What is pneumococcal disease?
Pneumoccal disease is caused by infection with the pneumoccal bacteria. Most commonly it causes; middle-ear infections; pneumonia. The most serious invasive diseases caused by the bacteria are; septicaemia (where the bacteria infects the bloodstream); meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain). Invasive disease can be treated with antibiotics, however, the illness can have serious outcomes, including deafness and disability. Although the risk is small it can be reduced by further vaccination.
How effective is the vaccine?
There are two types of pneumococcal vaccine available in Australia; a vaccine that can protect babies, children and adults against seven types of pneumococcal bacteria (Prevenar), and a vaccine that can protect older children and adults against 23 typess (Pneumovax 23). Up to age nine, children who are not in a high-risk group should be vaccinated with Prevenar because this vaccine is far more effective in children.
How safe is the vaccine?
The vaccine contains water, salt and sugars from the pneumococcal strains joined into a diptheria protein. It also contains aluminium to boost the body’s immune response to the vaccine. It does not contain antibiotics.
Need more information? The National Immunisation Program
http://immunise.health.gov.au/nip/public.htmP
