Diabetes Annual Cycle of Care

The clinical staff are proficient at providing comprehensive high quality care for people with diabetes. We are confident at managing people with diabetes from diagnosis, giving lifestyle and practical advice, monitoring progress, prescribing appropriate medications and managing most complications of diabetes.

We invite all people with diabetes to attend for yearly care plans with our practice nurses, where diabetes management is discussed and a plan is generated for the year ahead. This plan enables the person to access medicare-funded  allied health services which is essential to their care.

Chronic Disease Management Plans

These plans are for chronic disease sufferers, allowing them to access subsidised allied health. There are Medicare criteria requirements so please ask your doctor or practice nurses if you are eligible for this plan.

Childhood & Schedule Immunisation

Immunisations are the most significant public health intervention in the last 200 years, providing a safe and efficient way to prevent the spread of many diseases that cause hospitalisation, serious ongoing health conditions and sometimes death. The National Immunisation Program was set up by the government to improve the overall health of the population and eliminate these significant illnesses. The range of vaccinations is carefully drawn into a timetable throughout a child’s life and is called the ‘schedule’.

We stock all schedule vaccines and are provided free-of-charge from the government. Our highly experienced nurse immunisers are available every day excluding Sunday.

Please note that a vaccine should not be given when someone is unwell with a fever. You will be asked to wait for 15 minutes after the vaccine is given for safety reasons. It will hurt a bit and there may be some localised redness and soreness after the vaccine is given.

Flu Vaccination

New flu vaccines are developed each year according to anticipated strains of Influenza. The new Influenza vaccination is made available annually to patients around April/May each year.

• The government provides free flu vaccines for all vulnerable patients:
  Chronic conditions, eg asthma, diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, immunodeficiency etc
• Children 6 months old to 4 years inclusive
• Over 65 years old and over
• Pregnant women

For those patients not eligible for government funded flu vaccination, Emerald Medical Centre also stocks private flu vaccinations. These can be administered by our practice nurses at a cost of $20.

Travel Vaccination

We can provide a range of travel vaccines at Emerald Medical Centre. An initial appointment with your doctor will be required to identify the appropriate vaccinations needed for your travel, your GP may order blood tests in order to determine the need for vaccinations. A secondary review appointment would be required in most cases with your GP prior to administering vaccinations, this is to review/discuss blood test results with the patient. Doctor’s consultations are charged at standard fee rates. However, Medicare do not cover the cost of travel vaccinations therefore no concessions apply to travel vaccinations. Travel vaccination fees are fully out of pocket. Please see reception for the travel vaccination price list. Many private health insurance policies will offer a refund on these items please check with your individual health insurer.

Please note for Yellow Fever Vaccinations, patients need to attend a Travel Vaccination clinic. We do not stock these vaccinations.

Treatment Room Minor Ops

The newly refurbished Emerald Medical Centre has accommodated two excellently equipped and fully functional treatment rooms. Within these GPs can perform a number of procedures such as:

• Skin lesion biopsy or removal
• Lumps & bumps removal
• Ingrown toenail resection

You would require a consultation with a GP beforehand to plan the management plan.

Private fees regardless of Healthcare card or concession status apply to all medical procedures including cryotherapy at Emerald Medical Centre. Medicare rebates are available and payment is required at the time of your appointment.

Additional minimum $25 utility fee applies on these procedures due to use of equipment, dressings or consumables.

Please discuss fees with your doctor as all procedures attract a private fee.

Minor Injuries

We are equipped to deal with accidents that may happen such as skin injuries as well as musculoskeletal injuries such as sprains and basic bone fractures and sprains. Our clinical team have the expertise and equipment to perform procedures such as:

• Emergency skin repair of injuries with sutures
• Dressings
• Strapping ankles
• Plaster casts

If you are unsure if the injury can be dealt with at EMC please phone ahead and possibly speak to a nurse who can advise accordingly.

Dressing and Wound Management

Our very experienced nursing staff can manage all types of wounds at Emerald Medical Centre. A $25 utility fee will apply for the materials used for each dressing.

Iron Infusions

If your doctor prescribes an iron infusion, our nursing team are able to administer these for you. These appointments normally take 60-90 minutes. The appointment cost is $91 (with a rebate of $41.20 from Medicare) plus a $75 utility fee will be charged and is to be paid on the day.

Cryotherapy

Liquid nitrogen therapy is available at Emerald Medical Centre and is a simple measure in the management of warts, some sun damage spots and removal of skin tags. It is a slightly painful process and may require repeated treatments.

Since this extra service is not funded by medicare, the clinic has to order and fund this extra treatment itself, so there is a $10 out-of-pocket fee for providing this service.

Ear Syringing

All our doctors are able to perform ear syringing. Please note you will need to prepare your ears for syringing before you see the doctor. Please call the clinic for instruction prior to your appointment.

Pathology

Melbourne Pathology is our preferred pathology service, and they have a collection centre at the front of the building  at 352 Belgrave-Gembrook Road. They offer a wide range of pathology investigations. They are open from 8am-4pm on weekdays and 8am-12pm on Saturdays. Most tests can be performed on a walk in basis, but it would be worth checking with your GP or the collection centre on 03 8532 7044

In order to have pathology tests performed your GP needs to provide a referral form. Most of these tests are bulk billed by the pathology provider. Your Dr will request tests that they think are necessary for your care.  A Medicare rebate is only possible on investigations suggested & managed by an AHPRA recognised practitioner for the improvement of a person’s health

.

Cervical Screening

Routine cervical screening is recommended for all women, and people with a cervix aged 25 to 74 who’ve ever had a sexual partner, even if they’re no longer sexually active.

Routine screening occurs every 5 years and can now be conducted via a simple vaginal PCR swab, which looks for the presence of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which is associated with most instances of cervical cell change. This swab can be performed by a clinician or self-collection by patients while at the clinic.

In cases where there are symptoms which need further investigation, it is recommended that a traditional screening procedure, also known as PAP test be performed.
Cervical screening consultations are available with your General Practitioner, or our Nurse Clinical Screening provider Amy Robertson.

Nurse appointment will be bulk billed and consult fees are associated with consults with a GP.

Contraception

Please make an appointment to see your doctor to discuss your contraception options. Implanons can be inserted with certain doctors. Enquire at reception for more information.

Pregnancy

The GPs & Nurses here are happy to advise and assist pregnant women with general matters before and after delivery of their baby. Our GPs can answer most queries, advise on lifestyle in pregnancy, symptoms and general medical problems and get the ball rolling with antenatal scan and blood test referrals.

Antenatal Obstetric care is something more specialised that unfortunately we don’t offer here at Emerald Medical Centre so would need to refer onto another service.

Emotional distress, such as depression and anxiety, can be effectively treated with psychotherapy delivered by a clinical psychologist..

Treatment is funded by Medicare provided a person has attended their GP for a ‘mental health care plan’. This is an extended appointment where a GP will take a comprehensive history, and get a thorough understanding of the diagnosis, and its possible causes, as well as discuss and plan suitable medical and non medical ways to treat the problem, one of which is the referral to a psychologist.

Once a mental health care plan is performed (and billed to Medicare) by the GP then the patient is able to attend for 6 psychotherapy treatment sessions initially. Once these sessions have been completed, if they and the psychotherapist deems it necessary to have more funded sessions, then they should return to their GP for a ‘mental health care plan review’ which, once billed to Medicare by the GP, enables them to have 4 more funded treatment sessions within that year.

Mental Health Care Plans

Emotional distress, such as depression and anxiety, can be effectively treated with psychotherapy delivered by a clinical psychologist. To read more click here.

Treatment is funded by medicare provided a person has attended their GP for a ‘mental health care plan’. This is an extended appointment where a GP should take a comprehensive history and get a thorough understanding of the diagnosis, its possible causes as well as discuss and plan suitable medical and non medical ways to treat the problem, one of which is the referral to a psychologist.

Once a mental health care plan is performed (and billed to medicare) by the GP then the person is able to attend for 6 psychotherapy treatment sessions over the next year. Once these sessions have been completed, if they and the psychotherapist deems it necessary to have more funded sessions then they should return to their GP for a ‘mental health care plan review’ which, once billed to medicare by the GP, enables them to have 4 more funded treatment sessions within that year.

45-49 year-old Health Assessment

At this age group there are often early signs of chronic disease that can be detected by a range of tests and managed to reduce any long term complications. These assessments are conducted initially with a nurse over an hour consultation where a comprehensive health history is taken and appropriate tests performed. You will then be followed up by your GP with all results.

75+ Health Assessment

This is a comprehensive annual health assessment that helps manage all aspects of your daily living, maintaining and promoting independence. The assessment then helps reduce any medical complications and hospitalisations.

QUIT Counselling

Susanne our Practice Nurse is a QUIT counsellor. If you are considering quitting smoking, please talk to reception for an appointment so we can help develop the tools appropriate to your quitting plan, and, if necessary, arrange appropriate prescriptions to assist. Follow up will need to arranged from there