GP Support

The Australian Locum Medical Service (ALMS) provides a Medical Deputising Service to complement and support General Practice in the provision of continuity of care to patients, both within and outside normal opening hours.

ALMS provides professional management of patient care whenever required. This includes, but is not limited to:

         

v  medical care throughout the defined after hours period for patients in their home, or residential aged care facility. Calls are triaged by suitably qualified and experienced staff and relayed to our doctors in the field. A detailed treatment report of each consultation is forwarded to the patient’s General Practitioner.

v  doctor phone triage on receipt of call. Patients are telephoned by the treating doctor prior to attendance and reassured that they will be consulted in a medically appropriate timeframe. Patients may be provided with valuable self care management advice prior to the doctor’s actual arrival and are appropriately referred to emergency services if required.

v   free doctor phone advice line. Medical phone advice is provided by our doctors at no charge and a report of such advice is forwarded to the patient’s General Practitioner.

v  recording of individual ‘patient specific’ management instructions for immediate access when required by our doctors, ensures continuity of care for these special need patients.

v  recording of specific Practice and/or GP instructions    for immediate access by our Call Centre staff and doctors, ensures that the service ALMS provides aligns with the policies of our General Practice subscribers.

v  access to care at any time the Practice is closed.           Our purpose built Call Centre is staffed 24 /7 by experienced and trained staff. This ensures appropriate triage and referral of patients to emergency services, or to the patient’s General Practitioner whenever required.

v  access to essential practice information 24 /7 for patients and other health care providers, including opening hours and emergency contact details for the relay of critical health information.

v  personalised call answering on request. Patients may call the Practice 24 hours per day and have their call answered in the Practice name. Automatic call diversion to an assigned dedicated number allows seamless access to medical attention.

v  access to ‘Independant’ a unique personal home alert system for elderly or infirm patients. ALMS works with the General Practitioner to have a detailed medical history available to our doctors. This is the only home alert system in Australia where a doctor is available to provide informed telephone triage and home care to the patient.

The Australian Locum Medical Service has maintained full Accreditation to Standards set by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners since 2002.                                      

ALMS provides evidential documentation to the Practice for PIP-After Hours Incentive claims.

ALMS has a thorough understanding of the specific Standards and assessment criteria relating to the provision of after hours care.                                                                                 

ALMS can provide supporting documentation for General Practice subscribers re compliance with the following essential RACGP Accreditation criteria:

v  Criterion 1.1.2 Telephone and electronic advice

ALMS doctors provide patients of the Practice with advice, or information related to their clinical care by telephone when required.

v  Criterion 1.1.3 Home and other visits

ALMS doctors provide patients with consultations outside normal opening hours in their home, in residential aged care facility, or residential care facility.

v  Criterion 1.1.4 Care outside normal opening hours

ALMS provides accredited medical deputising services by formal agreement with the Practice, to ensure reasonable medical care for patients outside normal opening hours.

v  Criterion 1.2.1 Practice information

ALMS provides the Practice with patient information leaflets, practice posters and patient fridge magnets to assist the Practice in providing adequate information about the Practice to facilitate access to care.

v  Criterion 1.5.1 Continuity of comprehensive care

ALMS collaborates with the Practice to ensure consistency of patient care and continuity of health information across health care events.

v  Criterion 1.5.4 System for follow up of tests and results

ALMS complements the Practice system for the follow up and review of tests and results, by ensuring 24/7 access to contact details for the relay of critical health information.

 

The Australian Locum Medical Service Practice Relationship Consultants provide personalised support by :                                                 

 - pro-actively seeking feedback from the Practice                    

 - presenting innovations in the provision of healthcare            

- providing patient feedback and activity reports                               

- communicating regularly with the Practice                                      

- visiting all subscribing practices four times each year