Purpose of the Policy:
This policy establishes clear guidelines that foster a collegial and cooperative environment within the practice, ensuring that patient care is delivered seamlessly and professionally. By treating patients as clients and recipients of care, the policy emphasises respecting patient autonomy and freedom to choose their preferred practitioner without undue influence. This approach helps avoid conflicts arising from competition among practitioners, ensuring that the focus remains on delivering high-quality care rather than patient retention or acquisition.
Furthermore, the policy aims to maintain a harmonious working relationship among doctors within the practice. The policy minimises potential misunderstandings by setting expectations for how care is managed during temporary absences and how patient transitions are documented and handled. It ensures that all practitioners are aligned in their approach to patient management. This collaborative approach not only enhances the continuity of care for patients but also promotes a positive, supportive work environment for all healthcare providers within the practice.
Policy on Collegial Approach to Patient as a Client Management
Preamble:
Patients require clinical care and are clients of a doctor and medical practice. The relationship between a doctor and a patient involves providing healthcare services and the client-service dynamic. In situations where patients are shared between doctors or where there is potential for transitioning care, it is essential to have a policy that upholds a collegial approach to the patient as client management.
Policy:
- Respect for Patient’s Choice:
- The practice and doctors will respect a patient’s choice of practitioner. Recognising that patients are also clients, the practice and doctors will not engage in activities that aim to persuade or influence clients to change their preferred doctor.
- Non-Solicitation of Clients:
- The practice and doctors will not solicit clients from other practitioners within the practice. As clients of the practice, patients must feel free to make their own decisions without being actively convinced to switch from one practitioner to another.
- Documentation of Client Transitions:
- Any client decision to move from one practitioner to another must be carefully documented in the patient’s file. This documentation should include the client’s reasons for the change if provided, and any relevant communication with the client regarding the transition.
- Guidelines for Establishing Client Transitions:
- Without a clear statement from the client about moving from one practitioner to another, the practice will follow a rule of thumb. To consider the practitioner change as established, a client must have visited another practitioner at least three times for two unrelated reasons while their previous practitioner was available.
- Ownership of Care Plans:
- The practice and Medicare recognise that care plans belong to the location or practice rather than the individual practitioner. This approach supports the continuity of care, ensuring seamless client management even if the client changes doctors.
- Temporary Care, Care Plan Reviews, and New Care Plans:
- When a doctor is absent on holiday or leave, other doctors within the practice may need to provide Care Plan reviews or, when necessary, create new Care Plans for that doctor’s clients. The practice and doctors will ensure that such arrangements are conducted in a legally appropriate manner and should only occur when necessary. These arrangements must be reciprocal, collegial, and amicable among all doctors involved.
This policy ensures that the practice and all doctors treat patients as valued clients, maintaining a respectful and professional environment that prioritizes client satisfaction and high-quality care.
