Communication

Our practice provides a health service that accommodates a diverse multicultural population including those with disability.

Our practice encourages patients to utilise the free Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) for reasons including:

• Quality patient care
• Risk management
• Impartiality
• Professional conduct
• Confidentiality
• Efficiency and effectiveness
• Accuracy
• Experience

Qualified medical interpreters should be the interpretation medium of choice. The use of patients’ relatives and friends as interpreters is common. Our practice discourages this (except in emergency situations) as it may present the following problems:

• The friend or relative may put their own interpretation into the translated communication.
• Using friends or relatives in sensitive clinical situations or where serious decisions have to be made may be hazardous.
• The use of children as interpreters is not encouraged.

Our practice utilises a free AUSLAN (Australian Sign Language) services for patients who are deaf.

Should you require alternative modes of communication during your GP or nurse appointment at 7Springs Medical Practice e.g. Translator interpreter services (TIS), National Auslan Interpreter Booking Service (NABS) or National Relay Services (NRS) please advise our Reception staff at the time of booking so arrangements can be made.

SMS

SMS is one of the methods used to contact you for appointment reminders and reminders for results or test follow-ups with your given consent.

Please note reminders for all appointments are sent the day before and will require you to reply to confirm this appointment. We may call if your appointment have not been confirmed via SMS. Please ensure you contact us if your details change, and we will ask you to confirm your contact details at all appointments to ensure they are up-to-date in our system.

Emails

As all health information is sensitive by nature, all communication of health information, including via electronic means, 7Springs Medical Practice ensures all appropriate measures are taken to protect the patient’s privacy at all times when communicating via email. 7Springs Medical Practice will only send information via email after discussing with you the privacy risks of using unencrypted emails and gaining your consent to use this form of communication.

7Springs Medical Practice uses Argus and Medical Objects to communicate with other medical Practices.

7Springs Medical Practice is currently using AutoMed Systems for online appointment bookings and uses consent forms to consent patients for the use of the mobile phone numbers for the purpose of confirming appointments.

TeleHealth using healthdirect Video Call

7Springs uses healthdirect Video Call for our teleheath appointments. This service has been provided to 7Springs by the Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN (Primary Health Network).

Your teleheath appointment can be conducted on a PC, mac or smartphone with sufficient internet access and a supported web browser.