General Patient Consent
This consent explains the care, tests, treatments, supplements and procedures that may be offered at IMH Gold Coast. Your practitioner will recommend only those appropriate to your individual circumstances.
1. Our Approach to Care
IMH Gold Coast provides conventional medical care as well as integrative medical care.
Our integrative approach considers the patient's overall health, medical history, lifestyle, nutrition and other relevant factors, and may combine conventional medical care with nutritional, lifestyle and other adjunctive approaches where appropriate.
Some adjunctive tests, treatments and products may fall outside conventional medical practice in Australia, and the supporting scientific evidence ranges from established research to limited or emerging evidence.
Where relevant, your practitioner will discuss the reason for a recommendation, expected benefits, important risks, limitations or uncertainties, reasonable alternatives and any monitoring required.
Adjunctive treatments are intended to support your overall management and are not intended to replace appropriate established medical, psychological, physical or specialist care where such care is indicated.
You are encouraged to ask questions and are free to accept or decline any recommended test or treatment.
2. Testing and Investigations
Your practitioner may recommend pathology, imaging, functional or other investigations to assist in assessing your health and planning your management.
Standard medical investigations will be used where clinically appropriate. Functional or adjunctive tests may also be offered where they may provide useful additional information; these may fall outside conventional medical practice, may have limited or emerging evidence, and do not replace established investigations where clinically indicated.
The purpose and relevant limitations of recommended tests will be discussed with you. Some tests may not be covered by Medicare or private health insurance.
With your consent, IMH Gold Coast staff or practitioners may obtain relevant previous pathology, radiology, specialist or other healthcare reports where reasonably necessary for your care.
3. Oral Nutritional Supplements and Other Products
Vitamins, minerals, nutritional supplements and other oral adjunctive products may be recommended as part of your management.
Some nutrients may be recommended at doses much higher than usual dietary intake or recommended daily intakes and may require clinical review or laboratory monitoring.
Supplements can cause side effects and may interact with medications or other supplements, particularly at higher doses or over prolonged periods. Nutrients that may cause adverse effects include, but are not limited to, vitamin B6, iodine, lithium, selenium and molybdenum. Symptoms may include tingling or altered sensation in the hands and feet, metallic taste, nausea, fatigue, agitation, mood changes or worsening of your existing condition. Please tell your practitioner about all medications and supplements you are taking.
If you develop any concerning or unexpected reaction, stop the relevant supplement where appropriate and contact your practitioner for advice.
Take supplements only as directed, attend recommended reviews, pathology testing or monitoring, and do not continue a high-dose or practitioner-supervised supplement beyond any specified review date without review.
Do not share supplements recommended or prescribed for you.
Supplements and products recommended by IMH Gold Coast practitioners may include ARTG-listed or ARTG-registered products, practitioner-only products and compounded products.
Some products may not be included on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) for the particular use proposed and may require access through an applicable Therapeutic Goods Administration pathway, such as the Special Access Scheme (SAS). Where relevant, this will be discussed with you and any additional consent or documentation will be obtained.
4. Intravenous (IV), Intramuscular (IM), Injection and Other Procedures
Depending on your individual circumstances, your practitioner may recommend IV infusions, IM injections or other injection-based or procedural treatments.
These may include vitamins, minerals, nutrients or other substances and, where clinically appropriate, treatments such as local anaesthetic injections, glucose injections, PRP or other procedures offered by the practice.
Risks vary with the substance, dose, route, procedure and your medical circumstances. They may include pain, bruising, bleeding, infection or irritation at the treatment site; dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, trembling, changes in blood pressure, dehydration, allergic reactions or interactions with medications. Other possible complications include nerve injury, changes in blood glucose, heart rhythm disturbances, shortness of breath or other treatment-specific reactions. Rarely, serious allergic reactions or other significant complications may occur and, in extremely rare circumstances, death.
Some treatments require screening, pathology testing or other assessment. Any important treatment-specific risks, precautions or monitoring will be discussed with you beforehand, and separate consent may be obtained where appropriate.
Please tell staff immediately if you experience unusual symptoms during or after treatment. You may stop treatment at any time where it is safe to do so.
5. Musculoskeletal Medicine
Musculoskeletal medicine may involve physical examination, manual treatment, acupuncture or hypodermic needling, injections into joints, muscles or other soft tissues, exercise prescription or other techniques appropriate to your condition.
Examination and treatment may require close physical contact, particular positions or movements and, where necessary, removal of clothing from the affected area. Your practitioner will explain what is required, your privacy and dignity will be respected, and you may ask for an examination or treatment to stop at any time.
Treatment may occasionally cause temporary soreness, discomfort or an increase in symptoms.
Depending upon the procedure, uncommon or rare complications may include bleeding, infection, nerve injury, fracture or pneumothorax (collapsed lung).
Cervical manipulation is rarely performed at this practice. If cervical manipulation or another procedure carrying significant additional risk is considered appropriate, its specific risks, benefits and reasonable alternatives will be discussed with you before proceeding and additional consent may be obtained.
6. Privacy and Electronic Communication
IMH Gold Coast handles personal and health information in accordance with its privacy policy.
You consent to IMH Gold Coast communicating with you electronically where appropriate, including by SMS/text message, email and other electronic communication methods used by the practice.
These may include appointment reminders, accounts, administrative information, information about your healthcare and other practice communications.
Email and SMS may not be completely secure and could be accessed by another person.
Relevant electronic communications sent or received in relation to your healthcare may be documented or stored as part of your clinical record.
Your personal and health information will not be intentionally disclosed to another person without your consent except where authorised or required by law or otherwise permitted under applicable privacy requirements.
You are responsible for advising the practice if your email address, mobile telephone number or other contact details change.
You may withdraw your consent to routine electronic communication by notifying the practice. Alternative communication arrangements can then be made where practicable.
7. Use of De-identified Information for Research
IMH Gold Coast supports appropriate clinical research, evaluation and improvement of healthcare.
You may consent to de-identified information derived from your health information or clinical care being used for research, clinical evaluation, education, statistical analysis or quality-improvement purposes.
Reasonable steps will be taken to remove information that identifies or could reasonably identify you, and your name, address and contact details will not be included.
Your decision whether or not to consent to the use of your de-identified information for these purposes will not affect the medical care or treatment you receive at IMH Gold Coast.
Where a research project requires identifiable health information, specific participation, additional procedures or additional consent, this general consent does not replace any consent, privacy or ethical requirements that may apply to that research.
Use of my de-identified information as described above:
☐ I CONSENT
☐ I DO NOT CONSENT
8. WorkCover, Employment and Other Third-Party Medical Assessments
This section applies only where you are attending for a work-related consultation, pre-employment assessment, Workers' Compensation assessment or another assessment undertaken for an authorised third party.
Where applicable, you authorise the examining or reviewing practitioner to provide relevant information obtained during the assessment to the employer, prospective employer, insurer or other authorised party for the purpose of the assessment.
The nature and scope of information to be provided will depend upon the purpose of the assessment and applicable legal and professional requirements.
9. Fees and Financial Consent
IMH Gold Coast is a private billing practice.
Private fees may apply to consultations, tests, supplements, treatments, procedures, consumables, prescriptions and administrative services. Some services may attract Medicare or private health insurance rebates, while others may not.
Consultation fees may vary according to the practitioner, consultation duration and services provided. The current fee schedule is available from the practice and may be updated from time to time.
Cancellation fees may apply where adequate notice is not provided in accordance with the practice's cancellation policy.
You are entitled to ask about the likely cost of a recommended service before deciding whether to proceed.
Where appropriate, you may choose to obtain recommended supplements, tests or other services from another provider.
The practice or a practitioner may receive a direct or indirect financial benefit associated with recommended supplements, products, tests or services.
10. Patient Acknowledgement and Consent
By signing below, I confirm that:
I have read and understood the information above and have had the opportunity to ask questions.
I understand the general nature of the integrative and adjunctive approaches offered by IMH Gold Coast.
I understand that evidence, benefits, limitations and risks vary between tests, treatments, supplements, products and procedures, and that some may fall outside conventional medical practice or may not be covered by Medicare or private health insurance.
I understand that I am free to accept or decline a recommended test, supplement, treatment, product or procedure.
I understand that important risks and reasonable alternatives of individual recommendations will be discussed with me where applicable, and that some treatments or procedures may require additional specific consent.
I consent to electronic communication with IMH Gold Coast as described above and understand the limitations and potential security risks associated with electronic communication.
I have indicated above whether I consent to the use of my de-identified information for research, clinical evaluation, education, statistical analysis or quality-improvement purposes.
I understand that private fees may apply and that I may ask about costs before proceeding.
I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time before treatment, or during treatment where it is safe to do so.
I understand that signing this general consent does not mean I agree in advance to any future recommendation. I will tell my practitioner if I do not consent to, or have concerns about, any recommendation, and I am encouraged to ask questions before deciding.
I understand that the practice or a practitioner may receive a direct or indirect financial benefit associated with recommended supplements, products, tests or services.
Electronic Communication Consent (Email / Text)
I confirm I wish to communicate with IMH Gold Coast via email/text and I understand that:
- It is my request to use email / text;
- Email / text is not a totally secure system for sending and receiving information;
- Any decision to use email / text communication will be documented in my clinical records;
- Emails may be printed and stored in my clinical records;
- Text communications may be documented in my clinical records;
- No emails, whether sent by me or by a staff member, will be forwarded to anyone else without the consent of the parties, except where required or permitted by law;
- Any decision made by me to stop the use of email / text will be respected upon written notice. Any resumption will require a new Consent Form;
- Confidentiality will be respected by staff at all times.
I confirm that I have understood the conditions set out above and have been made aware of the associated risks with regards to data protection.
