Free shingles vaccine for 70-79 year olds

A new vaccine is being provided free of charge for people aged between 70-79 through the National Immunisation Program. Zostavax is a vaccine to prevent shingles (see below for more information about shingles and the vaccine)

At Erskineville Doctors we currently have small stock of Zostavax. A doctor will write the order for the vaccine, but it can be given by our practice nurse. There are a few situations where we would not advise the vaccine, this is mainly in people whose immune system is severely compromised by a disease process or medications. You should discuss this with your doctor.

SHINGLES AND VACCINATION

Shingles (also known as herpes zoster) is a localised, painful, skin rash resulting from reactivation of the same virus (the varicella-zoster virus) that causes chickenpox earlier in life. Although usually self-limiting, shingles can lead to chronic neuropathic pain syndrome, and other complications.

About 20–30% of people will have shingles in their lifetime, most after the age of 50 years. Older people (particularly those aged over 70 years) are also more likely to have shingles complicated by chronic pain.

Vaccination of people aged 70–79 years is estimated to prevent about 41% of the cases of shingles and two-thirds of post-herpetic neuralgia cases in that population. In vaccinated people in whom an episode of shingles occurs, the pain, severity and duration is reduced by 50%.

For further reading go to NCIRS

When you phone for an appointment, please let our receptionist know that you would like this immunisation. If you are booking online choose the Immunisation appointment (15 min). You can book with our practice nurse if this is the only reason for your appointment, otherwise book an appointment with your GP. If you are likely to see us in the next few months you can just make a note to ask us about vaccines then.

My Health Records

my health record
My Health Record is a Commonwealth Government initiative to allow patients to create a personal online e-health record that contains important medical information for health practitioners to access in different locations. This can be particularly useful for patients with chronic medical conditions who see a number of specialists and sometimes require hospital care.

Your GP will be able to upload a Shared Health Summary to your Health Record. This will list your allergies, medications, significant medical conditions and immunisations.

Currently the My Health Records are also collecting information about:
• Medicare items claimed
• PBS medications prescribed and dispensed,
• children’s immunisation records
• Australian Organ Donor registry information

We have been advised by the Local Health District that hospitals are also ready to upload discharge summaries. In the longer term pathology and radiology reports will also be uploaded to your My Health Record.

Erskineville Doctors is already set up to access and upload information to your MyHealth Records. You can register for MyHealth Records at www.myhealthrecord.gov.au and if you already have a myGov account it can be linked to this account.

We can arrange assisted registration for our regular patients if you fill out a form giving us permission. You will need to have your Medicare card and photo ID for us to do this. Forms are available in our waiting room.

Once your registration is done you will receive a code (IVC) via SMS or email to access your health record online. You will be able to:
 add personal health notes and emergency contact details
 register your children for a My Health Record
 set privacy controls to allow you to control what information is uploaded and who is able to look at your record.

For more information about the privacy of your health information go to www.oaic.gov.au/individuals/faqs-for-individuals/health/resources-on-health-for-individuals.

Disclaimer: Erskineville Doctors does not administer the My Health Record program. This is a summary based on information available at https://myhealthrecord.gov.au. Patients are asked to read more detail at this website. Patients should review their medical records with their doctor before any information is uploaded to their MyHealth Record.

Medicare indexation freeze

In 2014 the Government put a freeze on indexation of Medicare rebates for four years from 1 July 2014 until July 2018. In the Federal Budget this week they announced extending this freeze until 2020.

Freezing Medicare rebates for four years is simply winding back the Government’s contribution to patients’ health care costs. In practice it means that the $37.05 rebate you currently receive for a standard consultation will not increase at all until 2020. The relative value of this and any other medical rebates will decline significantly over time, as businesses providing medical care will likely increase fees in line with the increased costs of running a business.

The chart below shows you how little Medicare rebates have grown in the past 30 years compared to other economic indices such as the CPI.
indexation freeze

Rebates are frozen across the whole sector, and will include GP, Specialist service, medical procedures and also pathology and imaging (the rebates for those services have not increased in 15 years). The proposed funding for hospitals will prop up existing services, which we know in some areas of medicine are quite patchy (eg. non-existent public outpatients clinic in many specialities).

What it all adds up to is less money being given back to you to cover your medical costs. It also reduces the capacity of small businesses such as Erskineville Doctors to bulk-bill our less well-off patients. We aim to be a practice that is for everyone in our local community, and we pride ourselves in already being what the government is now calling a “healthcare home” for all of our patients and their families, not just those with chronic and complex health needs. We don’t want to reduce the quality of your care by rushing you through appointments.

We will be writing to the major parties about these budget proposals now and in the lead up to the Federal Election. We urge you to take the time to read the detail of these proposals and make up your own minds, and write your own letters as you see fit.

Some useful sources of information:
https://ama.com.au/media/prof-brian-owler-ama-tv-2-july-2015-medicare-rebate-freeze
http://yourgp.racgp.org.au/Your-GP/antifreeze (see the bottom of the page for draft letter to Sussan Ley, Minster for Health)
https://croakey.org/health-budget-analysis-part-1/ – for wider discussion of budget implications for health

Antenatal Shared Care

Antenatal Shared Care

Antenatal Shared CareDr Jenny, Dr Patti, Dr Cara & Dr Annabel can manage your pregnancy care in conjunction with RPAH or RHW. We will explain the process for shared care in consultation during early pregnancy.

Appointments

Appointment Only

Please call to make an appointment as consultations are by appointment only. Standard consultations are 15 minutes long. Please tell our receptionist if you require a longer appointment.

Longer appointments are suggested if you have more than one issue to discuss. You will also need a longer appointment for childhood immunisations , for a mental health issue, if you need a Mental Health Care Plan to visit a psychologist, or to organise a care plan (including for allied health referrals). Our receptionists will ask some questions to help book you for the right length of time. We appreciate being able to take the time to give you the care you need. Booking the right appointment length also helps our GPs to run on time!

For URGENT matters we hold some appointment places for our regular patients who ring on the day. Our receptionists will ask some questions about your medical needs so that we can prioritise your care and that of other patients.

Health Registers

Health Registers

Erskineville Doctors participates in national/state health registers for the following items:

  1. Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) – for immunisations given up to the age of 20 years (note the change from 7-20 years commenced in 2016)
  2. NSW Pap Test Register for all Pap test results

You will receive reminder notices from these organisations for overdue childhood immunisations or Pap tests.  NSW Health has also developed a “Save the Date” application for childhood immunisations.

The practice will not send additional reminders for scheduled childhood immunisations, or routine 2 yearly Pap tests.

The practice also keeps it’s own registers of patients with specific health problems who need routine follow up, eg. Diabetes. We will also enter recalls for individual patients based on their health needs.

We will be using email where possible to send you reminders or recalls. To be able to send you reminders or recalls, or anything that might constitute direct marketing, you need to let us know that you do not want to receive such correspondence.

If you wish to opt out of either any registers for reminders or recalls please let your doctor know.

When you participate in other screening programs such as Breastscreen or the Bowel Cancer Screening Program you will be asked to nominate your regular GP and the results will be forwarded to us for our records or for follow up as needed.

Privacy at Erskineville Doctors

Privacy at Erskineville Doctors

We treat all health information in strictest confidence. We will not disclose your information to third parties without your informed consent. Patients have a right to access their personal health information in accordance with the Privacy Amendment Act 2002. We can provide you with a copy of our practice Privacy Policy.

A transfer of your medical records to another practice will incur a reasonable administration fee to cover the cost of photocopies and registered post-delivery.

Interpreter Service

Interpreter Service

If you require an interpreter for your consultation please let our reception staff know so that we can arrange a phone interpreter. Please call us on 02 9557 2266.

Test Results

Test Results

It is the combined responsibility of the doctor and the patient to follow up on results of tests and referrals. At your consultation your doctor will ask you to come back to discuss any investigations they are ordering. In some situations we can make arrangement to send you results. If we receive a result that needs urgent action we will contact you via phone.