Frequently Asked Questions

What is MyMedicare?

MyMedicare is a new voluntary patient registration model. It aims to strengthen and formalise the relationship between patients, the medical services clinic, general practitioner (GP) and primary care teams. Evidence shows that seeing the same GP and healthcare team regularly leads to better health outcomes for patients.

You can formally register with the medical services clinic or register with your preferred GP from 1 October 2023.

Learn more about how to register on our MyMedicare at Next Practice page. Or you can contact the Patient Advocates at the clinic directly for more information.

What is a GP Registrar?

A GP registrar is a medical professional currently completing their specialist training to become a fully qualified General Practitioner (GP). In this final stage of training, they provide patient care under supervision, continue to develop their skills and knowledge, and collaborate with other healthcare providers to deliver comprehensive primary care.

Because of the structure of the GP Registrar training program, GP Registrars will only be at the practice for a limited period.

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How should I communicate with the care team between appointments?

In order to ensure continuity of care we will arrange follow up appointments for you, as required. If you require assistance in between this time please call the clinic on 02 43 063070. Please do not email sensitive medical information, as we cannot guarantee your privacy.

What is the best way to contact the clinic?

There are two main ways to contact Next Practice Erina via phone or email. If you are experiencing an emergency please contact '000' immediately.

For general enquiries, email is the most efficient way to communicate with us. Our email address is erina@nextpracticehealth.com and we will respond to all emails within one business day. General enquiries in regards to appointments, services we provide, fee's etc and individual health issues should not be emailed, please contact the clinic via phone for these instances.

Our phone lines operate during our opening hours. If our Patient Advocates are busy attending to other calls, or if you’ve phoned after-hours, you will hear a message with clinic information and then have the option to leave a voicemail during operating hours. We will respond to your message within one business day. Our phone number is (02) 4306 3070.

If you are contacting us about creating, changing or cancelling an appointment, please note that you cannot book or alter appointments via email. For your convenience you can make appointments via the website or by phoning the clinic. If you need to alter an appointment please call our Patient Advocates on (02) 4306 3070.

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Where can I purchase supplements and medications?

Next Practice Erina has an in-house dispensary where you can purchase quality supplements, according to your Health Practitioner’ recommendation.

Please note, supplements are not meant to replace healthy lifestyle choices, they are there to support your health journey and we will endeavour to keep them as minimal as possible. Purchasing repeats between appointments is allowable at the advice of your prescribing practitioner. Supplements are only for the intended person, and you are required to advice us of any change in cercyumstances so we can adjust for safety if required.

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When should I book a follow up appointment?

Your practitioner will let you know the suggested follow up intervals and your appointments can be booked accordingly. These can be done for you with your Patient Advocate before you leave the clinic, or by yourself at home through the online booking system. Depending on the type of follow up or therapy, please also take note on the length of follow up that you need.

New patients for other practitioners

When booking a new patient consultation with another practitioner, please ensure that you have already filled in the appropriate forms that have been sent to you prior to your appoinemnt.

Privacy

At Next Practice, patient confidentiality and privacy are paramount. You can find a link to the Privacy Policy at the bottom of this web page on the right hand side.

Can I get to the medical centre on public transport?

Train

The nearest public train station is at Gosford, where you will be able to catch a bus to Erina.

Bus

The nearest bus stops to Next Practice Erina are either at Erina Park or Karalta Road, just after Karalta Lane.

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What if I need after-hours care?

After hours care:

Healthdirect helpline 1800 022 222

13 SICK (137 425)

www.homedoctor.com.au

Alternatively After hours care can be access by calling 0491 630 928. Please be aware his will incur a charge of $180 for a Telehealth consultation and $360 if a home visit is required.

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What if I need an interpreter service?

If you, or a family member, need an interpreter for your appointment, Please call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 1300 131 450 for immediate access to a telephone interpreter.

If you need help, you can also speak with one of our friendly Patient Advocates in the waiting area.

More information: www.tisnational.gov.au

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How can I share a compliment or complaint?

We strive to provide the best possible service and we always want to know how you feel, so please email us at erina@nextpracticehealth.com

How will I receive test results?

You will be given any test results by your regular doctor, unless agreed otherwise. Please note that they will need to be viewed by a doctor prior to releasing.

How can I request a repeat or refill prescription?

For repeat prescriptions you will need an appointment with your doctor. We do this so we know we are looking after you as best as we can.

We also have an in-house dispensary where you can purchase practitioner-only supplements under your Health Practitioners prescription. You will need to consult with your practitioner for repeats, safety and duration of use.

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How will I receive my appointment confirmation and reminders?

When you make a booking you will receive a confirmation email at the time of booking. You will also receive a reminder for your appointment five days prior to your appointment, and again 24 hours prior to your appointment.

How can I reschedule or cancel an appointment?

If you need to reschedule or cancel your appointment, please notify the centre at least one business day prior to the appointment. Appointments cancelled within 24 hours or no show, will result in a cancellation fee. The amount of the fee will be equal to 70% of the consultation cost.

Are your services covered by private health fund?

Some of the services available at Next Practice may be covered by your private health fund. In order to have the most accurate information on whether you will receive a rebate or not please contact your private health fund provider to find out your level of cover.

How do I receive a bill or make a payment?

The billing policy is simple and clear. The GPs and Practitioners endeavour to be transparent and affordable whilst providing a high quality service. Please refer to the fees page on our website for more details. The doctors here accept payment by credit and debit card through an EFTPOS terminal for Visa and Mastercard cards. They do not take cash payments and no cash is held on premises.

What if I am seriously unwell?

In the event of a medical emergency, please call 000 or attend your nearest hospital.

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How do I receive a referral to other services or practitioners?

Your current doctor may refer you to another practitioner or specialist in order to best support and manage your condition. Referrals can be discussed during your consultation with the GPs at the clinic.

i-scribe and how it is used during consultations?

i-scribe is an automatic transcription service that our some of our general practitioners use to capture the consultation in its entirety and transcribe medical notes. i-scribe does not store any audio files. The transcription data is stored in Australian services for 7 days.

i-scribe has the same level of encryption as Hospitals and other Electronic Medical Record Software that is used in this clinic.

Should you prefer not to utilise this technology during your consultation with your practitioner, kindly let us know and we will accommodate your preference. More information can be found at www.akuru.com.au

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