We will continue to be a part of your healthcare team and ask that you help us to help you by reading and using this resource I have COVID, the infection.  Now what?

If you are unvaccinated, have had only one vaccine, are severely immunocompromised or pregnant, please let us know ASAP (book an urgent telehealth consultation) as there are specific management pathways we may need to facilitate

• please take the time to read through the information on I have Covid, the infection.  Now what? and commence the Symptom Diary

• all consultations will be done via telehealth
  • if we need to escalate care to face-to-face, we will be able to direct you to an appropriate resource, such as a  The Respiratory Clinic or emergency department

     Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 years –  information for parents and guardians   

The TGA has granted approval for the Pfizer vaccine to be administered to children from age 5 and up.   ATAGI have authorised a lower dose of the vaccine (1/3 of the adult dose) to be given 8 weeks apart, from January 10, 2022.  Appointments can be made by calling our reception team on 5507 9600

Please be patient with our team, they are experiencing a large volume of calls and are doing the absolute best they can

Please book your second appointment when you book your first.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE!

Please click on the link below for the vaccination consent form

Consent form and information about Covid-19 vaccination for children aged 5-11 

The Christmas/New year holidays will be here before we know it

We want to advise our patients that the practice will be closed from midday on Friday, 24th December & will re open on Tuesday 4th January 2022

Please remember to update your scripts!

For any urgent medical care whilst the practice is closed, patients can attend the Port Macquarie Base Hospital Emergency department or call an ambulance on 000

The reality is that Medicare rebates do not cover the cost of providing you with a safe and high-quality service. The fees charged by this practice have to cover all of our practice costs including employing receptionists and practice nurses, and meeting our operating expenses such as rent, medical equipment, electricity, computers and insurance.

It is not possible for the practice to meet costs without this change.

As of today 8th November 2021,  the practice will now be charging you a fee for consultations as per our practice policy.

Our software allows for on the spot processing through Medicare and in most cases, if you have provided Medicare with your bank details, the rebate will be back in your bank account within 24hrs.

Alternatively, if you have an EFTPOS card with Cheque or Savings, we can put the rebate in instantly, please discuss with our reception team for more information.

Born and bred in Port Macquarie, Dr Kate Coleman moved away for her medical studies and subsequent placements, she’s returned for GP training and is relishing the opportunity to live and work in her hometown.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I was born in the coastal town of Port Macquarie, where I spent my entire childhood and schooling years. I then moved to North Queensland for University and completed my medical degree at James Cook University (JCU). I was attracted to the regionally-based aspect of JCU, as it had a large focus on regional and remote medicine. I also loved the outdoor lifestyle tropical North Queensland had to offer. Aside from exploring nature, I enjoy surfing, camping, walking my 2 Labradors and being surrounded by my family and friends.

Why did you decide to become a GP?

One of my first GP placements as a student was with a local Port Macquarie GP, Dr Adam King, who is now one of my supervisors. He introduced me to the versatility and attractable lifestyle of working as a GP in an area like the Mid North Coast. This included running a local family practice with his wife Dr Debra King, an outreach medical clinic in Long Flat, assisting orthopaedic surgery, and days in specialised areas of sports medicine.

After this exposure, I was then further inspired through my placements at JCU across regional and rural Queensland, including Mt Isa, as well as rural Sri Lanka and South Africa. These placements highlighted the importance of access to primary care and preventative medicine, along with the challenging factors of third world experiences. I decided working in a regional area, as a family physician, was particularly fitting for me, my interests in preventative medicine, and desired family lifestyle.

What do you like most about community-based GP training?

Working in the community as part of GP training has allowed me the opportunity to have a grasp on what it is like to work in a close knit community of a regional area. This includes building close rapport with patients and their families, providing their ongoing care for multiple presentations, whilst also being well supported by my local GP supervisor Dr Debra King.

Being a part of the medical community in a regional town allows for the opportunity to network, and meet medical specialists and surgeons in the region, working closely with them providing care to patients, and being easily accessible for advice if required. It has also led to being aware of all the local allied health, and community-based programs available to patients in the local community.

What do you enjoy about living and working in Port Macquarie?

I have really enjoyed returning to my hometown of Port Macquarie and am proud to be working amongst the Mid North Coast community, providing ongoing care for the local patients. Having this unique connection and building rapport with the patients has been a highly enjoyable and attracting part of working here.

At my current practice, I have also been able to work at the local university, UNSW, with teaching of final year medical students, and maintain my hospital skills by working at the local Ramsay Private Hospital as a CMO. On top of this, I am surrounded by many of my close friends and family and have a fantastic lifestyle close to the beach. It did not take much to convince my husband to move here from Queensland 4 years ago!

Would you recommend Port Macquarie/North Coast to doctors thinking of GP training?

Port Macquarie allows for a well-balanced training opportunity as a GP. Not only does it have the lifestyle factor, but there are also many practices in Port Macquarie offering fantastic opportunities for GP registrars to become a part of, providing very capable and supportive supervisors and workplaces.

There are many different options for special skills training through local practices or the local public hospital. There is a local medical school, UNSW, with the opportunity to teach the local students through their training. There is also a local private and public hospital allowing maintenance of, or furthering, desired skills and interests.

What are your career plans after fellowship (if you know )?

At this stage, I am not sure where my career will take me. I am definitely eager to stay on the Mid North Coast. I enjoyed teaching the local medical students, as well as being interested in extra skills in women’s health and skin cancers. Opportunities to work in close by rural towns is also an experience I would like to do more of.

If you’d like to know more about GP training in Port Macquarie or other towns on the North Coast, visit our regional profile.

https://gpsynergy.com.au/case_studies/dr-kate-coleman/

COVID-19 UPDATE

As from 6pm Saturday anyone entering the practice will be required to wear a mask for the duration of your time with us

 Please sanitise your hands upon entry

 If you have travelled to any of the current hot spots in Sydney in the past 14 days please notify us to reschedule your appointment or by offering a phone consultation with your GP

 If you have ANY cold or flu like symptoms please DO NOT enter the practice, the health & safety of our staff, patients & yourselves is our top priority!

 Please come to your appointment alone as we will have strict social distancing in place and cannot allow for extra friends, family or children

Let’s all work together to stay safe and healthy to hopefully prevent things getting worse for our community

Thank you & stay safe 

The Grange Family Medical Centre & Medical on William would like to advise that we are now also an approved Pfizer vaccine provider & will start vaccinating the week of Monday 5th July 2021

Please call 6584 5244 or 5507 9600 for an appointment in one of our clinics

There are a few things you could do before your appointment to be ready & stay safe

Click on the below links. The below information contains information about pre & post vaccine. Also the Pfizer vaccine consent form that is needed on the day of your appointment.

Read,  complete & bring to your appointment

Pfizer vaccine information

After your pfizer vaccine

Consent form for Pfizer 2

Consent form for pfizer1

If you are not a patient of either Medical on William or The Grange Family Medical Centre you will need to complete a “New Patient Information form”  if you can please do this prior to your appointment and return to our reception staff either by fax 6584 5244 or email thegrangeclinic@gmail.com

We also require a copy of you patient health summary from your regular GP.

PATIENT-INFO-FORM-MOW-1

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING

Make sure your details are up to date with Medicare Medicare Online , if you are eligible (note that you can still have a COVID-19 vaccine if you are not eligible for Medicare). You can do this via:

• The Medicare Online Account  through myGov
• The Express Plus Medicare app
• Calling the Medicare program
• Check that you are eligible for the Pfizer vaccine

Pfizer is recommended, available and funded (at this point in time) for the following groups:

• Everyone between the ages of 40 and 59 years inclusive

People between the ages of 17 and 39 years inclusive who fit into the following categories:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
• Those who have funding under the NDIS
• Carers for those who are funded under the NDIS
• All workers in category 1a and 1b, which includes aged and disability care workforce, emergency services eg paramedics and quarantine and border protection workforces

You should not attend a Pfizer COVID19 vaccination appointment if you:

• are unwell with a fever, cough, runny nose or other symtpoms that could be from COVID-19
• are awaiting COVID-19 test results
• have tested positive with COVID-19 and you are in isolation
• are in quarantine
• are a close contact of someone with COVID-19

Plan ahead for two doses

• It is important that you receive two doses of you COVID-19 vaccine, There should be at least three weeks between the two doses if you receive the COVID-19 Pfizer (Comirnaty) vaccine

What to expect at your vaccination appointment

You should bring the following to your COVID-19 vaccination appointment:

• photo ID, if you have one
• Medicare card, if you have one
• employee ID, if you are getting a COVID-19 vaccine because of you occupation.
• information about any of you medical conditions, allergies, bleeding disorders or immunocompromise (i.e. weakened immune system)
• information about any medications you are taking
• information about any previous COVID-19 vaccine received (vaccine brand and date of vaccination)
• information about any reactions you have had to any vaccine in the past
• the name of your current GP/s and any specialist doctors you see
• a face mask