Many local constituents around Australia have at one point or another contemplated using the 24-hour doctor service.

Whether it is dealing with an ailment late at night, getting an online pathology test early in the morning, during a weekend or across a public holiday, these practitioners step in and fill a breach when the regular hour crowd have clocked off.

That is why it is important to value the 24-hour doctor service without taking it for granted.

 

Operating For Patient Convenience

Just knowing that the 24-hour doctor service is there and available can be enough of a benefit for many local constituents. From those living in the hustle and bustle of the inner city to a quiet rural community in the country, these practitioners can cater to those residents that don’t enjoy the travel to a practice or find it restrictive. Between respective work, family and social commitments it can be a struggle to find that hour within the working week to see a specialist without taking time off. That simple convenience is enough of a reason to appreciate and value their services.

 

Lowers Demand on Emergency Rooms

Those patients who are unfortunate enough to be rushed to an emergency room will know the frustration all too well when there is a backlog of others already waiting for care. That is where the 24-hour doctor service is fundamental to alleviating pressure on the medical system. Local constituents that are suffering from physical and mental conditions can require immediate care, but there will be a sliding scale of importance and determining which conditions are life threatening and which are just inconvenient. Their presence removes that pressure for individuals who want to be seen but don’t have an issue that is classified as life threatening or immediate.

 

Catering To House Visitations

House visits can be part of the operating model for a 24-hour doctor service if they deem it suitable and within their parameters. There will be other medical outlets who won’t cater to that need and instead leave their practice door open or rent a space inside a hospital to see their patients. Yet it is with the house visit that can offer the most convenience for individuals, lying in their own bed and staying close to their medication and surrounded by partners and loved ones. When the logistics are too difficult to transport an individual and they still want to be able to see their GP, this is where they shine.

 

Flexible Billing Policies

There will be different approaches to the billing policies for the 24-hour doctor service. It will be dependent on a number of factors, from the location of the practice to the type of care that is required, the use of treatments and medicines to the involvement of Medicare and private health insurance details. By and large these institutions will offer flexibility where there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to billing patients. In many cases a house callout will require a flat fee payment irrespective of the treatment, but there will be other factors involved for those that visit their GP at a practice or hospital room.

 

Help To Formulate Practices and Health Strategies At Home

When a 24-hour doctor service does intend to make a home visitation, they can assess the surroundings and make recommendations for what activities and behaviours should be followed. This can help to define a strategy for constituents who are restricted by certain elements or have to encounter specific difficulties including maneuvering between tight spaces, up a flight of stairs or down dark passageways to a basement. If there are physical impairments, the doctor is well positioned to pass on their recommendations and ensure the patient is not placing themselves at risk, elements that are not understood or communicated in the doctor’s office.