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Could you kindly comment about the "at an arms length" aspect of electronic methods by which to show dissatisfaction, say in Google or Facebook, etc, please?
We assume you mean the difficulty in potentially dealing with or responding to such feedback. Please note this current MIPS article which provides some key recommendations on how to manage.
How can we communicate with a patient with low English skills?
Your AHPRA code of conduct does stipulate some requirements. Please refer to 3. Effective communication , 8. Making sure, wherever practical, that arrangements are made to meet patients’ specific language, cultural and communication needs, and being aware of how these needs affect understanding. Various resources are available nationally such as:
If a patient chooses not to follow medical advice, for example given a referral to specialist for condition and didn't go, in spite of understanding risk of delay, and later there is a medical complication. What is my liability?
In all cases you should carefully document your warnings, options, benefits and consent and follow up plan and do your best to communicate appropriately. If you do have that contemporaneous record, we will be in the best position to defend any allegations made against you.
Would you allow a patient to record a consultation or part of a consultation so that they can correctly report to family members and caregivers not present?
Yes. This would clearly be beneficial to the patient and assist in ensuring the advice provided is clearly understood by the patient and caregivers. It is also a current record of your advice, consent, management plan etc. so would assist with defending any complaint brought against you.
Due to Covid 19 all GPs income has reduced. Is MIPS going to give any concession for the membership fee this year?
MIPS has in place a number of measures to assist members. These include a freeze on fees for 2020/21, Please refer to Assistnace for members during COVID-19
What do you say to a patient if they say they were very dissatisfied with the care of your colleague.
Best not to get involved or comment on the dissatisfaction expressed as you may not be privy to the full or correct history. However, play your part in ensuring ongoing continuity of appropriate care is provided by you.
I’m in dentistry and have been out of a job for 3 weeks. Will you be offering any discounts for us who have been affected?
Please refer to Assistnace for members during COVID-19
You discussed working within your scope of practice. I work in the hospital setting, how can say an orthopaedic surgeon complete anaesthetic procedures (such as intubation)?
They shouldn’t. This would potential be a serious misconduct issue if the appropriate qualifications, training and experience, regulatory and or employer approval, and insurer approval are not in place. In terms of patient harm and civil action, there would be no defence.
What do you do if a patient says that if treatment cannot be completed due to COVID-19 and the patient is considering contacting the dental board. What should we do?
The government has restrictions on your practice due this public health care Emergency, with the protection of PPE, practitioner and patient safety at the forefront. Carefully articulate this to the patient and document. In such circumstances we are confident the Dental Board would not investigate.