Services

Better Medical is reviewing the implementation of a device to measure central blood pressure and arterial stiffness. These tests have been demonstrated in studies to be more reliable indicators of hypertension and heart disease risk than regular blood pressure tests.

Please register your interest with your local clinic today.

A healthy workforce is a happy and productive workforce.  Better Medical can work with your business and staff to develop customised health programs for your team, including delivery of certain services on site at your business.

This can include, but is not limited to:

• Medicals
• Preventative health programs
• Travel vaccinations and medicine
• Immunisations
• Regular testing
• Social health interaction to encourage health achievements

Please contact your local clinic to arrange a time for us to come and discuss our corporate health programs.

Annual flu clinics are held in April and May. Starting in 2016 we will be offering on-site Flu-vaccinations. A GP and Nurse will attend local businesses to provide flu vaccinations for staff. To book in your business, please contact your local clinic.

Better Medical operates a reminder system across all our clinics.  This ensures that routine investigations, check-ups, cancer screening, scripts and referrals are never forgotten or expire. Reminders can be configured to be sent via various channels, including SMS and email.  Please let us know if you are interested in this.

• Mental health management and counselling
• Acne management
• Sexual health including contraception advice and STD checks

• Immunisations
• Chronic disease management
• Over 75-year-old health checks
• Arranging help in the community

• Health checks for all ages
• Health assessment for 40-49 year olds at risk of developing type 2 diabetes
• 45 – 49-year-old health check for those at risk of developing a chronic disease
• Over 75 year olds health assessment
• Health assessments for those who have an intellectual disability
• Health assessments for former serving members of the Australian Defence Force
• Diabetes risk assessment
• Bowel cancer screening
• Skin checks
• Flu vaccinations
• Osteoporosis screening
• Nutritional advice

• General common childhood illnesses
• Chronic disease diagnosis and management
• Immunisation
  • We administer all childhood immunisations, including those on the Government’s immunisation schedule, those for travel purposes and vaccinations requiring a private script. We are pleased to observe a steady rise in our community’s childhood immunisation rates
• Nutrition advice including breastfeeding and first foods
• Regular checks of infants as recommended in the ‘Blue book’
• Regular health and developmental check ups
• Allergy assessment and advice
• Bedwetting and delayed toilet training
• Behavioural problems

• Including, but not limited to, the management of arthritis, cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic kidney disease, pain, osteoporosis, asthma, COPD, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and eczema.

• Asthma education
  • One third of asthma sufferers report that it interferes with their daily living and although it cannot be cured, it can be well controlled. Our doctors and specially trained practice nurses will ensure that you are using the right medication, at the right time and using the correct technique.

• Diabetes management
  • Our doctors and nurses work together to ensure diabetics are diagnosed early, receive excellent management and are closely monitored. They also coordinate diabetic care with trusted specialists and allied health professionals.

• Care plans
  • Patients who have a chronic condition are entitled to a care plan each year. Our chronic care nurse actively identifies patients with a chronic disease, helps the patient to set heath goals and discusses how these can be met. The plans are then used by health professionals to monitor and manage chronic conditions. When appropriate, a team care arrangement will occur, providing 5 subsidised referrals to specialists and allied health professionals every 12 months.

• Medication reviews
  • In conjunction with your local pharmacist. Ensures medications are appropriate, allows discussion about your medications and avoids any medication interactions.

• Removal of foreign bodies from eye
• Vision assessment

• Contraception advice
• Pregnancy tests
• Breastfeeding advice and postnatal care
• 6 week postnatal checks
• Infertility assessment and referrals as required
  • For referrals, both partners need to be assessed by a doctor
• Preconception assessments and advice

• Assessment and monitoring of blood pressure and cholesterol
• Cardiovascular risk assessment
• Lifestyle advice and prescriptions

• Our Practice is committed to the removal of vaccine preventable diseases in our community.
• Flu vaccinations
  • Those eligible to receive them free of charge from the Government – Each clinic is stocked with a supply of flu vaccinations for this purpose. Please inform staff if you require a vaccination and they will ensure one is set aside for you.
  • Private scripts – flu vaccinations are recommended for the general population to reduce morbidity and mortality from the flu illness. Patients are welcome to present for this purpose and they can receive their vaccination at the clinic once it has been purchased from the chemist.
  • Flu clinics – flu vaccinations are often given during dedicated flu clinics at our practices to provide efficient service for our patients. For further information, please contact your local clinic.

• ECG
  • This is a recording of the heart’s electrical activity
• Blood pressure assessments
• Lung function tests (spirometry)
  • This test is used to diagnose and monitor lung conditions, especially asthma and COPD. It is conducted by one of our specially trained nursing staff and can generally be performed from 5 years old
• INR testing
  • This is required for the monitoring of warfarin, a blood thinning medication. It can be performed in conjunction with a pathology collection centre or in –house at some of our clinics using a designated machine.
• Pulse oximeter
  • This checks the oxygen level in the blood

• Light and heavy vehicle and motorbike drivers licence assessments
  • These are required for patients with certain medical conditions and those over 70-years-old who hold a heavy vehicle or motorbike licence.
  • Please be aware that health practitioners are legally required to report any condition that may affect a patient’s ability to drive
• Work and pre-employment medicals
  • These are generally not covered by Medicare and incur a private fee, which may be covered by your employer
• Medical reports

• Prostate checks and cancer screening
• STD checks
• Vasectomy advice
• Counselling

• Counselling
• Referral to psychology or psychiatry as required
• Mental health care plans
  • These assessments allow doctors to assess, diagnose, manage and monitor mental health conditions. They also entitle patients to subsidised psychology appointments
• Youth counselling
• Assessment, advice and management of drug and alcohol abuse

• Diagnosis, investigation and management of various sporting injuries and musculoskeletal issues and injuries, often involving coordinated care with trusted allied health professionals
  • We have connections with many quality allied health professionals in the Adelaide Hills including physiotherapists, exercise physiologists and occupational therapists

• Ear syringing to remove wax blocking the ear canal
• Plastering and plaster removal for broken bones
• In-grown toenail surgical procedures
• Management of wounds and lacerations, including:
  • Suturing (stitches)
  • Removal of sutures
  • Wound dressings
• Excision of skin cancers and other skin lesions
• Biopsies of skin lesions for diagnosis e.g. suspected skin cancers
• Removal of foreign bodies from skin
• Venepuncture and specimen collection
  • Pathology centres do the majority of blood taking and specimen collection but our doctors and many of our nurses are also able to offer this service if required

• Diagnosis and management of asthma and COPD
• Smoking cessation advice and management
• Lung function tests (spirometry)
  • This test is used to diagnose and monitor lung conditions, especially asthma and COPD. It is conducted by one of our specially trained nursing staff

• If you are injured at work, your consultations may be covered by Return To Work SA. Please discuss this further with one of our doctors

• Management of wounds and lacerations
  • Includes:
    • Suturing (stitches)
    • Removal of sutures
    • Wound dressings
    • Tetanus vaccinations
• Diagnosis of rashes
• Management of eczema
• Management of acne
• Removal of foreign bodies from skin
• Skin cancer checks
• Excision of skin cancers and other skin lesions
• Biopsies of skin lesions for diagnosis e.g. suspected skin cancers

• Pap smears
• Implanon insertion and removal
• Mirena insertion and removal
  • Please inform reception staff if you require this service so that they can book you with the appropriate doctor
• Breast checks and mammograms
  • Mammograms screening for breast cancer can be arranged by our doctors, or patients can arrange mammograms themselves through BreastScreen SA. However, if you have any concerns or symptoms, we strongly encourage you to make an appointment with one of our doctors
• Contraception advice
• STD checks
• Pregnancy tests
• Menopause assessment, advice and management

• A time honoured alternative medicine, proven to be beneficial for many pain sufferers, when administered by a trained professional in a clean clinical environment. Provided by Dr Stephen Daniels at our Hahndorf and Mt Barker South clinics

• Our doctors provide care to many of the residents of the local Aged care facilities and visit these facilities regularly. We provide ongoing care to existing patients that move to these facilities but can also take on the care of new patients if requested.
• We provide health assessments for residents of a Residential Aged Care Facility

Certain doctors  at Better Medical who have received specialised anaesthetics training are able to provide the following in-clinic anaesthetic services:

• Pre-anaesthetic consultations and checks
• Obstetric pre-delivery anaethesia assessment and education (e.g. epidurals, high risk obstetrics)
• Variety of nerve blocks, including:
  • Ankle nerve blocks
  • Wrist nerve blocks
  • Intercostal nerve blocks
• Chronic (long term) pain management

• This is the use of liquid nitrogen to eliminate warts and skin lesions such as sun spots and early cancers. It is currently available at our Hahndorf, Mt Barker, Mt Barker South and Strathalbyn clinics

• Increased knowledge and community awareness has improved the management of developmental disabilities. As it is a complex field, patients benefit from practitioners who have a greater understanding of the medical, social and financial challenges faced by patients and their families. This is a special interest of the adept Dr John Entwistle who practices at our Hahndorf and Mt Barker South clinics

• In partnership with Australian Hearing, monthly hearing clinics are offered to all patients over 26 years of age. This screening test is FREE and takes 10 minutes. You will be provided with an immediate result. If further testing is required, eligible patients will be offered a comprehensive hearing test with Australian Hearing (Pension and eligible Veteran card holders). This is provided at no cost. Please speak with one of our friendly reception staff to book in for your hearing test.

• Our assessment nurse can visit you at home to conduct part of the assessment and then you will need to visit your regular GP to have it completed and discuss any recommendations or issues. If you are interested in a Health Assessment, please discuss it with your GP today.
• What is a Health assessment?
  • Health Assessments provide an opportunity for your GP to undertake an in –depth assessment of your health. The assessment will cover medical, physical, psychological and social aspects of health. All people aged 75 years and over who are living in the community or in hostel level aged care accommodation are eligible
• What is the benefit?
  • It  allows your doctor to pay extra attention to areas of your health that are hard to cover in a normal consultation such as nutrition, sleep and hearing. A health assessment also provides you with an opportunity to raise any concerns that you may have about your health.

• A home visit can be arranged if a patient is too unwell to attend the clinic. This is organised on a case-by-case basis and requires the treating doctor to agree to the appointment. It will only be considered for existing patients of the practice.

• Many of our doctors have admitting rights to the local hospitals. This allows them to admit patients to hospitals if they feel it is necessary and aids continuity of care of patients.

• Hypnotherapy is a powerful tool that can assist patients to achieve their goals. It is especially useful for those wanting to change their behaviours including overcoming fears and anxiety, quitting bad behaviours and improving sleep. Performed by Dr Jane Alderman at Stirling and Dr John Entwistle at Hahndorf or Mt Barker South

• For patients undergoing desensitisation treatment

• Registration for Closing the Gap (CTG)
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Health Assessment
• Immunisations
  • Those who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Straight Islander are eligible and encouraged to receive additional immunisations as per the Government’s immunisation schedule. These immunisations are provided at all of our clinics and we are happy to discuss these vaccinations in detail

• This is called ‘Point of care testing’ and allows rapid INR results without having to visit a pathology collection centre to have blood collected

• Infusion of iron in the event that iron levels are very low and intervention is required

• Shared care provides a collaborative approach to obstetric care by combining the varied skills of Midwife, GP and Obstetrician. It is important that you see one of our obstetric shared care (OSC) GPs once your pregnancy has been confirmed by 10 weeks gestation. There are some essential tests that need to be arranged at this time. Our OSC GPs will advise you and other parties of further care requirements.

• Provided by our skilled GP obstetrician, Dr Peter Sargeant. He can provide shared care, full antenatal care, delivery at Mt Barker hospital and post-natal care and breastfeeding advice
• Recommend seeing your doctor by the 8th week of pregnancy or as soon as you are aware of pregnancy.

• This field of medicine focuses on the care of patients who are at the end of their life. Issues at this time include pain, malnutrition and grief and these require a knowledgeable and empathetic practitioner

• Specific medical requirements must be met for those who perform these activities and few doctors are proficient in this field.
• Provided by Dr Richard Wilson at our Stirling clinic

• Skin cancer is common in Australia and many of our doctors have undertaken further study to improve their recognition and management of skin cancers. This service is often delivered during dedicated skin clinics. This service includes:
  • Skin cancer checks
  • Excision of skin cancers and other skin lesions
  • Biopsies of skin lesions for diagnosis e.g. suspected skin cancers