Home Visits
This policy outlines the procedures for providing home
visits aligning with the 5th edition of the Royal Australian College of General
Practitioners (RACGP) standards. It is designed to ensure high-quality,
accessible, and efficient medical care for patients who require home-based
consultations.
Eligibility Criteria for Home Visits
·
Location: Patient must be within a 15km
radius of the clinic.
·
Medical Need:
·
Incapacitation due to illness or disability.
·
Postoperative patients who are immobile.
·
Elderly patients with mobility issues.
·
Patients with severe chronic illnesses.
·
Assessment: A preliminary telephonic
assessment by a general practitioner (GP) to determine the necessity of a home
visit.
Fees and Charges
·
Standard Fee: A base fee for home visits
will be charged, covering travel and additional time.
·
Additional Costs: Extra charges may apply
for after-hours visits, emergency consultations, or extended travel distance.
·
Billing Policy: Patients will be informed
about the fee structure during the booking process.
Booking Process
·
Request: Patients or caregivers can
request a home visit via phone or through the clinic’s website.
·
Confirmation: The clinic staff will
confirm the visit after assessing the patient’s condition and verifying
eligibility.
·
Appointment Scheduling: Efforts will be
made to accommodate the patient’s preferred time, subject to the GP’s
availability.
Procedure for Home Visits
·
Preparation: The GP will carry necessary
medical equipment and patient’s medical records.
·
Consultation: A comprehensive examination
and consultation will be conducted at the patient’s home.
·
Follow-up: If required, a follow-up plan
or referral to specialists will be provided.
Alignment with RACGP Standards
·
Quality Care: Ensuring that home visits
are consistent with the quality of care provided in the clinic.
·
Confidentiality: Maintaining patient
confidentiality as per the RACGP standards.
·
Record Keeping: Detailed documentation of
each home visit in the patient’s medical records.
Communication with Patients
·
Information Dissemination: The policy
details will be updated on our website and a summary is on our brochure.
·
Transparency: Clear communication
regarding the conditions and fees for home visits.
Improvement Strategies
·
Feedback Mechanism: Implementing a system
to gather patient feedback after each home visit.
·
Regular Review: Periodic review of the
policy to incorporate changes in healthcare regulations and patient needs.
·
Accessibility: Exploring options to
expand the radius of home visits for patients in remote areas.
13sick
When patients cannot be present at our practice, we must
also inform them about home and other visits, such as telehealth. Being
registered with 13sick, Patients can access home visits through their service
if we are unable to offer home visits or patients prefer not to use our service.
We advertise this service on our brochures, website, and on-site.
Home Visits:
- General Check-ups
- Chronic Disease Management
- Post-hospital Care
- Wound Management
Phone Consultations: Medical consultations are conducted
over the phone.
- Prescription Renewals
- Medical Advice and
Consultation
- Follow-up after in-person
visits
This policy aims to offer comprehensive, patient-centred
medical care through home visits while adhering to the highest standards set by
the RACGP. It will be reviewed annually to ensure it continues to meet the
needs of our patients and the evolving healthcare environment.