Keep Well Program

Who is Eligible for the Keep Well Program?

You may be eligible to be part of our Keep Well Program if you have an ongoing medical condition or have experienced certain conditions including heart disease, diabetes, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), kidney disease, stroke, osteoporosis, cancer or other conditions with complex care needs. Speak with your doctor to find out whether you may be eligible to take advantage of this program.

What is the Keep Well Program?

Our Keep Well Program is a planned cycle of regular visits that is personalised to meet your individual healthcare needs, taking into account your past and existing medical conditions. It aims to provide the care that will keep you as well as you can be, reduce your chances of getting sick or developing health complications, and maximise your quality of life.

What does it Involve?

• At your first Keep Well Program appointment, your GP (in collaboration with one of our practice nurses) will undertake a comprehensive assessment of your healthcare needs.
• After this, we will discuss your healthcare goals and identify the actions that need to be taken to achieve these goals.
• These goals and actions will form part of your personal management plan. You will be given a copy of this plan and it will be used as the basis for your ongoing care.
• We can also arrange Medicare-rebatable visits to other healthcare providers (including, but not limited to, specialists, dietitians, physiotherapists, exercise physiologists, podiatrists, psychologists) under a team care arrangement.
• Depending on your healthcare needs, we will provide you with a review visit every 3 to 6 months.
• Prior to your appointments, please check if you need any scripts or referrals so that these can be done during your visit.
• You will be bulk-billed for your management plan visits and review visits.

Indigenous Health

We acknowledge the Wiradjuri people as the traditional owners of the land on which we stand, and we welcome all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to our service.

If you are an Indigenous Australian, you may be able to save money on medicines and/or get better access to Medicare services to help with your long-term illnesses by registering for the Closing the Gap program . To be part of this program, just fill out Part B of the Indigenous Health Incentive and PBS Co-Payment Measure form and return this form to our surgery.

Also available is an Aboriginal Health Assessment every 12 months. During this check-up, we ask you questions about your health, check things like your weight, blood pressure, heart, lungs, tummy, and ears, and arrange any tests and treatments that will keep you as well as you can be. These health assessments are bulk-billed.

We recognise the importance of family and encourage you to bring your family members along to your visits if you would like to do so.

Sometimes it may be hard to get to appointments with doctors or physiotherapists, diabetes educators, dietitians, or other healthcare providers. Sometimes it may be hard to find transport to have tests done. Or you might find that it is difficult to afford the costs of appointments or tests. If this is the case, please let us know. We are happy to help make arrangements for transport and subsidies so that you can get the healthcare that you need.

Skin

We provide the following skin services at Dubbo Family Doctors:

• Skin checks
• Cryotherapy (freezing therapy) for sunspots and warts
• Biopsies of suspicious skin lesions
• Surgical removal of skin cancers
• Stitching wounds

Regular skin checks are recommended for people at higher risk of skin cancer:

• Fair complexion, a tendency to burn rather than tan, the presence of freckles, light eye colour, light or red hair colour
• Age over 40 years
• Previous skin cancer
• Immunosuppression
• Family history of melanoma (in mother, father, brother or sister) and multiple atypical moles

Can you spot a Skin Cancer?

Where can I get my Skin Spots Checked?

Health Checks

Health checks can save your life.

You don’t have to feel sick to be sick. Many preventable serious illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease, cancers and osteoporosis can be missed until they are well advanced. On the other hand, addressing your risks or detecting disease early means that you are much more likely to be cured.

At our practice, health checks are available for men and women of all ages.

Health checks for women

Health checks for men

Bulk-billed health checks are available for the following groups:

• People aged 45 to 49 years
• People aged 75 years and older
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• Residents of residential aged care facilities (Comprehensive Medical Assessment)
• People with an intellectual disability

Vaccinations (Immunisations)

We provide a range of vaccinations at our surgery:

• Childhood immunisations
• Adult immunisations
• Travel immunisations, including Yellow Fever immunisations.

See your GP at least 6 weeks before your departure date for advice on the vaccinations you may require for your trip as well as other travel advice.

The vaccines you need will vary depending on your health and your exact itinerary; for example, where you’re going, how long you’re going for, the season you’re travelling in, and so on.

Some of these vaccinations are to prevent you from becoming ill while you are away. Other vaccinations are required as a condition of entry to some countries.

Tests

The following tests are available at Dubbo Family Doctors:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG). ECGs record the rhythm and electrical activity of your heart. You may need to have an ECG if you have symptoms such as palpitations, chest pain or dizziness, to find out what the problem is. If you are about to have an operation, you may also need an ECG before the operation to check how well your heart if functioning. In some cases, an ECG may form part of a routine health check-up.
• Spirometry. Spirometry is a simple test that measures how much air you can blow out and how fast. Spirometry is useful in diagnosing and managing lung disease. It is especially useful for measuring and monitoring responses to treatment for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Spirometry can be thought of as a warrant of fitness for your lungs – regular testing is important if you have a respiratory illness.
• Ankle-brachial index (ABI). This test is done by measuring blood pressure at the ankle and in the arm while a person is at rest. An ABI test may be ordered by your doctor if you have symptoms suggestive of blockage in your leg arteries, or in certain conditions where circulation may be affected (for example, diabetes and chronic leg ulcers).