Services

Dr Tod Owen is a GP Surgeon and operates fortnightly at the Clare Hospital.

The type of surgery he offers:

• Hernia Repairs
• Carpal Tunnel Repairs
• Vasectomy
• Skin Cancer Excisions
• Skin Grafts

To book a procedure with Dr Owen, please book a surgery consult first to assess suitability.

Clare Medical Centre has three practicing obstetricians:

• Dr Tod Owen
• Dr Marion Crompton
• Dr Rebecca Allmond

Whilst we don’t offer a specific private service, we make efforts to ensure your chosen doctor is involved in your birth care. There are times when your Obstetrician may be on leave and your care will be handed over to another Obstetrician. This will be discussed with you should this situation arise.

As a guide, Antenatal appointments are recommended at:

First Trimester – an initial appointment (please book a medium consult – 30 minutes) between 8-12 weeks

Second Trimester – at 16, 20, 24 weeks

Third Trimester – at 28, 30, 32, 34, 36 and every week after 37 weeks onwards

Please note: Patients that have been determined as NOT high risk will not need to see their Obstetrician for every visit, and can visit the midwife instead for some consults.

Obstetrician Referral

We Understand if you wish to be referred to a specialists Obstetrician in Adelaide for your care. If this is the case, please inform your Doctor and this can be arranged for you.

Shared Care

Shared care is offered to patients who are under the care of an obstetrician in Adelaide, and would like to have some consults locally.

Our GP obstetricians offer shared care:

• Dr Tod Owen
• Dr Marion Crompton
• Dr Rebecca Allmond

as well as our non-GP obstetrician, Dr Melanie Considine

These visits usually take place at 16, 24, 30, 32, 34 and 37 weeks.

Caesarean Sections

Dr Tod Owen, Dr Marion Crompton and Dr Rebecca Allmond can all perform caesarean sections are the Clare Hospital as required.

Postnatal Care

6 Week Postnatal Check Up

Mother and baby are generally booked for a 6 week check up following birth to ensure both are going well.

We do also have Dr Melanie Considine as an accredited Lactation consultant available for support during the postpartum period.

Fees apply for all antenatal appointments.

The Practice Nurses work in collaboration with the Doctors to provide a wide range of services such as:

• Asthma Care
• Enhanced Primary Care Plans for Chronic Health Conditions
• Electrocardiograms
• Cardiotocograph
• Home Health Assessments – Patients aged 75 years old or older
• Chronic Disease Management Plans with Enhanced Primary Care Referrals to Allied Health providers
• Health Checks
• Heart Monitoring – Holter Monitor
• Cardiac Rehabilitation Care
• Results
• Pre-Employment Medicals
• Home Based Sleep Studies
• Insurance Medicals
• Heavy Vehicle Medicals
• Home Blood Pressure Monitoring
• Spirometry – Lung Capacity Test
• Audiometry – Hearing Test
• Blood Testing – INR/Blood Sugar Levels
• Immunisations – Adult and Child
• Travel Immunisations (general advice, as we are not an accredited Travel Vaccination centre)
• Wound Care

Some Nursing services may incur a Nurse fee or a supply charge.

We offer extensive Skin Screening appointment clinics conducted by either Dr Gerry Considine, Dr Tod Owen or Dr Morne Scheepers.

These skin clinics are only to check for skin cancers. All other forms of skin conditions such as rashes, eczema and psoriasis can be reviewed by your regular doctor. If a suspicious lesion is found a biopsy or complete excision may be required. Biopsy procedures can sometimes be done during your consult. If the lesion is to be totally excised, a further appointment will be booked.

Dr Bernard Carney (visiting Plastic Surgeon) and Dr Tod Owen (GP Surgeon) also operate on Skin cancers/lesions at Clare Hospital as an additional service to the in-clinic procedures.

There is a fee associated with these appointments, which is rebateable through Medicare.

What is a Chronic Disease?

Chronic Disease is a long lasting condition that can be controlled but not cured. Patients suffering with chronic disease illnesses (present for 6 months or more) are managed closely at Clare Medical Centre to achieve the best health outcomes.

GP Management Plans and Team Care Arrangements can be created for these patients. These documents are created to target a patients specific needs relating to current physical, mental health and support services.

A number of providers may be involved in actioning these plans such as Doctors, Nurses, Specialists, Allied Health Providers (Physiotherapists, Podiatrists, Pharmacists, Chiropractors, Community Nurses and other local agencies).

Patients who have a GP Management Plan and Team Care Arrangement can also access 5 visits in a 12 month period to an allied health provider. This extra professional support may assist with acute situations such as joint issues or provide long term surveillance of potential complications such as provided by a podiatrist.

These plans assist the patients in understanding their care, managing referrals, and timing of visits and tests. This a chance for patients to be reminded of services or new treatments available to make sure they are receiving the best possible care.

Diabetes and Asthma can also be closely managed with yearly intensive reviews. Blood results and other investigations can be reviewed with the patient, with a focus on achieving the best possible health without disease complications.

Please speak to any of our CMC staff if you feel that you have a chronic disease and would benefit from any of these services.

Once a patient reaches 75 years of age (55 years of age for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander patients), they are entitled to a Home Health Assessment which is provided by our practice nurse Lisa Thomson.

During this assessment, the nurse travels to your home for a one on one appointment to assess if any assistance is required in and around the home, to maintain independent living. Following the home assessment, an appointment is arranged with your regular Doctor within the following weeks at one of our 3 clinics, Burra, Snowtown or Clare.

Patients can take advantage of this assessment yearly, but should the need arise for assessment sooner please discuss with either a Nurse or Doctor.

This assessment is bulk billed.

Pre-Employment Medicals

Clare Medical Centre is qualified to complete a wide range of Pre-Employment Medicals.

Majority of these bookings require 30 minutes with our Practice Nurse followed by 15 minutes with the GP. However the required length may depend on the detail being requested by the employer. Testing may include Audiometry, Spirometry, Urine Drug Screening (offsite), Radiology Scans and Blood Testing. *Please note: Urine Drug Screening is NOT instant. Pathology is sent offsite and results take up to 7 days.

If you have not yet had a medical completed by Clare Medical Centre, we require a copy of all paperwork to determine appointment length and complexity.

All completed documentation will be posted registered post (or emailed upon written request) by Clare Medical Centre staff directly to Employer/Company. No Paperwork will be given to the employee / patient at the completion of the consult.

Accounts need to be paid within 14 days.

If you wish to email a copy of your paperwork please send it to: cmc@claremedical.com.au - please include any additional specifications, along with your contact details so that we can contact you to arrange the necessary appointments.

Driving Medicals – Light Vehicle/Heavy Vehicle/Road train/Dangerous Goods/Passenger Vehicle Accreditation

Transport SA has a number of different forms that need to be completed by the Doctor i.e. Light Vehicle, Heavy Vehicle, Road train, Commercial Vehicle and Dangerous Goods Medical. Please specify which driving medical you require, so the appropriate booking can be made. You must bring the relevant paperwork to your appointment to be completed.

*Fees are subject to change.

Dr Gerry Considine has been a Designated Aviation Medical Examiner since late 2015 and has been offering aviation medicals in Clare and Burra clinics since the beginning of 2016. As a pilot, Gerry is passionate about General Aviation and is keen to support and encourage the industry at a local level.

The medical generally takes approximately 60 minutes and will involve vision tests, urine test and general medical examination with a practice nurse and Dr Considine. Sometimes additional testing (Spirometry, ECG, Echocardiogram) is required by CASA because of age or past history and although these tests can be done in Clare/Burra, they may need to be done on a later date depending on staff.

Unfortunately, Medicare does not cover the cost of aviation medicals, but all expenses are tax deductible if flying for a work related purpose.

Fees for Aviation Medicals are as follows:

Aviation medical - $200 plus GST (45min appointment)

CASA Processing fee is payable online by credit card at the time of the medical: Class 1 & 3 - $75, Class 2 - $65.

If required:

• ECG $40 plus GST
• Audiometry $50 plus GST
• Additional paperwork completed post appointment - $50 plus GST per 15 mins

When booking, please advise the reception staff you are booking for an aviation medical and quote your 6-digit Aviation Reference Number (ARN). This will allow the practice to pre-load your medical and streamline the process.

It is important to bring your correctional lenses (glasses) and standby/backup pair also.

*Fees are subject to change.

Q fever is an infection caused by Coxiella burnetii, a type of bacterium found worldwide except New Zealand. The infection is almost always related to direct or indirect contact with animals such as cattle, sheep or goats, although a wide range of animals including cats, dogs and kangaroos may carry the infection.

Q Fever vaccination is a two step process. Firstly, a skin test and blood sample on the first visit, and seven days later, patients return. On the second visit, the vaccination is administered depending on the patients results from the prior test.

There are currently 4 qualified doctors within the Clinic who can administered the Q Fever vaccine; Dr Philip Gribble, Dr Morne Scheepers, Dr Gerry Considine and Dr Tom Nottage. Please make it known to reception you are requiring the Q Fever vaccine at time of booking so the appropriate booking can be made.

Clare Medical Centre is fortunate to currently have a team of six GP Anaesthetists:

• Dr Philip Gribble
• Dr Lisa Koo
• Dr James McLennan
• Dr Lisa Beament
• Dr Prashan Kuruppu
• Dr Geordie Beath

Our team provide anaesthetic services at the Clare Hospital for planned surgeries with visiting specialists and also for emergency anaesthesia when required. Often patients will be asked to present at the Clare Medical Centre prior to their planned surgery to undergo a Pre-Anaesthetic Check with an anaesthetist. This ensures that the patients current health and medical conditions are carefully considered before proceeding with any surgery at Clare Hospital to ensure the best possible outcome for the patient.

Palliative care is person and family centred care provided for a person with an active, progressive, advanced disease, who has little or no prospect of cure and who is expected to die, and for whom the primary goal is to optimise the quality of life. Clare Medical Centre provide a comprehensive palliative care service in conjunction with the Clare Hospital and sometimes with specialist palliative care consultants from Adelaide.

Our GP Team at Clare Medical Centre understand a patients needs during their end of life care are higher and recognise the importance of helping people live their life as fully as comfortably as possible when living with a life-limiting or terminal illness.

Clare Medical Centre can offer both surgical and medical terminations of early pregnancy.

Medical terminations can be booked in at the rooms up to 9 weeks into a pregnancy. Please phone reception to arrange a booking. As this is a time sensitive service, all efforts will be made to ensure patients can be accommodated, however we cannot guarantee that we will be able to provide a suitable booking within the 9 week period as only some doctors are qualified to provide this service. The patient will need results of an obstetric ultrasound and blood test (Quantitative HCG, Full Blood Count and blood group) before a medical termination can go ahead. These tests can be arranged through the patient’s usual GP (at CMC or elsewhere).

A surgical termination can be performed at Clare Hospital up to 12 weeks gestation. A consult must occur at the Medical Centre first with one of the doctors accredited in surgical terminations, at this appointment generally arrangements will be made for the procedure to occur at the hospital. The patient will need results of an obstetric ultrasound and blood test (Quantitative HCG, Full Blood Count and blood group) before the surgical termination can be arranged. A pre-anaesthetic assessment is normally undertaken at the medical centre prior to the surgery booking.

There is a cost for both medical and surgical terminations of pregnancy. Please enquire with reception at time of booking.

The doctors are highly involved with our local hospitals providing an on-call service at Clare, Snowtown and Burra Hospitals. Other services we provide at Clare Hospital include:

• Inpatient Care
• Outpatient Service
• Iron Infusions
• Steroid Injections under Ultrasound Guidance
• Support for Chemotherapy services