Let us help you meet accreditation against the RACGP Standards 5th Edition.
The 5th edition affects your practice newsletter depending on your practice offerings, requirements highlighted within your self-assessment for accreditation, what your surveyor may indicate during your on-site assessment and what your practice wants.
This information IS COMPULSORY on your Health News Newsletter:
- our practice’s address and telephone numbers
- our consulting hours and details of arrangements for care outside normal opening hours
- our practice’s billing principles
- a list of our practitioners
- our practice’s communication policy, including when and how we receive and return telephone calls and electronic communications (including reminder systems)
- our practice’s policy for managing patient health information (or its principles and how full details can be obtained from the practice)
- how to provide feedback or make a complaint to the practice
- details on the range of services we provide.
WE RECOMMEND this as well, to enhance your practice, if space permits (but it is not compulsory for accreditation).
- names of clinicians working in your practice and perhaps their special interests.
- names of staff providing clinical care to patients (with their consent) [e.g. Practice nurse, first name only.]
- how and when to book a longer consultation.
- arrangements for home and other visits.
- health promotions
It is all up to you! Please be aware that type size should cater for those with poor eyesight (RACGP recommendation).
STOP PRESS: You can now have Paying Promotions in Health News
Some of our practices allow nearby physios, pharmacies, etc to promote helpful services to patients (e.g. wheelchair hire, back care classes).
This is perfectly acceptable and may cover the costs of your newsletter! We can add a disclaimer that places your practice a safe distance from the service provider.
It’s simple. All promotions should meet the MBA Code of Conduct (see www.amc.org.au), which agree with ACCC requirements, that is:
- Information should be accurate and verifiable.
- Make only justifiable claims about the quality of services or outcomes.
- Do not guarantee cures, exploit patient fears, or raise unrealistic expectations.
- Do not offer inducements or use testimonials.
- Avoid unfair or inaccurate comparisons with other service providers.
