Asthma
There is no single test for asthma. Your doctor will decide if you have asthma based on talking to you, examining you and performing some breathing tests.
They will evaluate:
- What your symptoms are, how frequently these occur, and whether you notice any improvement with medicine (if you are using anti-asthma treatment)
- Your medical history
- Your family history
- Whether you have allergies
- What things or situations cause you to have symptoms (your triggers)
- Your lung function (possibly using breathing tests like spirometry or peak flow monitoring)
To assess how well your lungs work, a breathing test called 'spirometry' is carried out. You will be asked to breathe into a machine called a 'spirometer', which measures the amount of air you can breathe out as well as your lung capacity and other measurements.
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Credentialed Diabetes Educator (CDE)
A CDE is a Health professional who possesses comprehensive knowledge of and experience in prediabetes, diabetes prevention and diabetes management. They help educate you about your disease and the best ways to manage your blood sugar.
Diabetes Educator Services, diabetes education and care planning support, therapeutic intervention and lifestyle modification strategies to enhance quality of life.
A CDE will help you with:
- Healthy eating
- Being active
- Monitoring
- Taking medication
- Problem solving
- Healthy coping
- Reducing risks
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GIP Clinic Aged Care
A geriatrician is a specialist doctor who cares for people aged 65 and over. Most geriatricians are experts in dealing with people who have multiple conditions.
Some older adults have complex health needs. They might have lots of medical problems and use different types of medicine. They are also more likely to be frail, to have falls, and to have conditions like dementia or heart disease.
Most geriatricians have expertise in dealing with people who have multiple conditions. Some of them specialise in particular areas, including dementia and rehabilitation. Geriatricians might help manage:
- Dementia and other cognitive problems
- Problems with mobility and frailty
- Incontinence
- Nutrition
- Medicines
- Other medical issues
If you are seeing a geriatrician, they should conduct a comprehensive assessment to help them understand your physical and mental condition, as well as your social situation.
They might refer you to other specialists and to support services.
They might also put together a management plan or healthcare plan to help keep you as healthy and as independent as possible.
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ATSI Health Care
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People receive primary health care matched to their needs, by encouraging early detection, diagnosis and intervention for common and treatable conditions that cause morbidity and early mortality.
Indigenous Health registration for Closing the Gap program, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) health assessments, immunisations, advice on risky lifestyle behaviour, diabetes self-management and risk screening.
Support includes:
- Indigenous Health registration for Closing the Gap program
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) health assessments
- Immunisations
- Advice on risky lifestyle behaviour
- Diabetes self-management and risk screening
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Drugs & Alcohol Management
People who use alcohol and other drugs differ in many ways:
- How long they have used drugs
- The amount they use
- The extent of risk associated with their use
- Other health issues
- Social circumstances
- Personal resilience
These are all important issues to take into account when considering treatment for alcohol and other drug use. It is important to choose the treatment that is right for you. You may need a combination or sequence of services and because people change, you may need a different mix of services at different times.
There are a number of different treatment options for alcohol and other drug problems. Your health professional should be able to help you out with information about what treatments work best and what treatment is right for you right now.
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Home Medical Reviews
SFMC provides home medical reviews to help suit your needs. Contact us today to see how we can help.
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Chronic Desease Management
Chronic Disease Management provided by GPs, mental health nurse and Practice Nurses: collaborative care planning and review, diabetes annual cycle, provision of self-management strategies and behaviour change counselling provided. Case conferencing conducted with other providers and out of area families as needed.
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DVA CVC
The Coordinated Veterans' Care (CVC) Program is a team-based program designed to increase support for Gold Card holders with one or more targeted chronic conditions or complex care needs; and those who are at risk of unplanned hospitalisation.
Support for you:
- Your care is based on a personalised Care Plan developed by your GP along with a nurse coordinator and in consultation with you
- Your GP and nurse coordinator work with you as a team to better manage your health and quality of life
- Your nurse coordinator contacts you regularly to monitor your health and your progress against your health goals
- Your nurse coordinator gives feedback to your GP and helps you make appointments with other health care professionals
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Holter Monitoring
A Holter monitor is a battery-operated portable device that measures and records your heart’s activity (ECG) continuously for 24 to 48 hours or longer depending on the type of monitoring used. The device is the size of a small camera. It has wires with silver dollar-sized electrodes that attach to your skin. The Holter monitor and other devices that record your ECG as you go about your daily activities are called ambulatory electrocardiograms.
Regular electrocardiograms (ECGs or EKGs) let your doctor look at your heart’s activity at one point in time during your ECG test. But abnormal heart rhythms and cardiac symptoms may come and go. That’s why your doctor may want to evaluate your heartbeat over time while you go about your normal activities. You may be asked to wear a Holter monitor if you have fast, slow or irregular heartbeats called arrhythmias.
Wearing the monitor may tell your doctor:
- If your medicines are working
- Why you have symptoms such as dizziness, faintness or the feeling that your heart is racing or skipping a beat
- If your heart is getting enough oxygen to meet its needs
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Complex Mental Health Service
This program has been funded by COORDINARE -South Eastern NSW Primary Health Network and has been providing FREE Mental Health support for patients in the Shoalhaven since 2017.
This service is funded as part of the transition to stepped care services and will be provided by Credentialed Mental Health Nurses, Social Workers, Psychologists and Psychiatrists
Mental Health Services are provided based on identified needs and are flexible with the ability to offer a variety of interventions and intensities of service dependent on needs, personal choice and control.
Core services provided include:
- Comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment
- Collaborate person centred recovery planning and goal setting
- Clinical Care Coordination
Patients referred stay under the care of their regular GP. The Mental Health teamwork using a collaborative approach providing consults, advice, ongoing management as well as regular progress feedback.
The mental health service entails:
- Free Mental Health Service
- Uncapped Sessions
- Specialist Mental Health Assessment
- Regular Intervention & Review
- Provision & Evidence-Based Treatment
- Education Regarding Managing Illness
- Relapse Prevention Strategies
- Collaborative Approach
- Consult, Advice & Ongoing Management
- Link to Local Community Support
- Regular Progress Feedback
- Care Coordination
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Early Childhood Life
We are staffed by trained health professionals and registered nurses who specialise in child and family health.
Early Childhood Health Checks and Immunisation Services provided by early childhood nurse-led clinics. Adolescent health services are provided by GPs, early childhood nurse and mental health nurse.
Some services on offer are:
- Breastfeeding
- Coping with sleeping and crying problems
- Immunisations
- Safety
- Baby’s growth and development
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Immunisations
Immunisation from an early age is highly recommended for all Australian children. Having your child immunised helps to protect them from the most serious childhood infections, some of which may threaten their lives.
Before the immunisation, you need to tell the doctor or nurse if your child:
- Is unwell, temperature over 38.5 C
- Has had a severe reaction following any vaccine
- Has any severe allergies to any other medication or substances
- Has had any vaccine in the past month
- Has had an injection of immunoglobulin or received any blood products or a whole blood transfusion within the past year
- Was a pre-term infant born less than 32 weeks gestation, or weighing less than 2,000 g at birth
- As a baby, has had an intussusception
- Has a chronic illness
- Has a bleeding disorder
- Does not have a functioning spleen
- Lives with someone with a disease or who is having treatment that causes lower immunity
- Has a disease which lowers immunity
- Identifies as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person
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Keeping Kidneys Healthy
The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs. Each kidney is about the size of a fist. Your kidneys filter extra water and wastes out of your blood and make urine. Kidney disease means your kidneys are damaged and can’t filter blood the way they should.
You are at greater risk for kidney disease if you have diabetes or high blood pressure. If you experience kidney failure, treatments include kidney transplant or dialysis. Other kidney problems include acute kidney injury, kidney cysts, kidney stones, and kidney infections.
Kidney education groups help educate you for your particular needs. Provide you with the support you need to continue in your day to day life.
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Nutritionist
A nutritionist is an expert in the field of food and nutrition. They advise people on what to eat in order to lead a healthy lifestyle or achieve a specific health-related goal.
Duties for a nutritionist or dietitian include:
- Assessing client health
- Formulating realistic and worthwhile goals for clients
- Crafting the right diet and exercise plans for individuals
- Support and motivate clients with regular meetings
- Keep track of client progress
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Podiatry
Podiatry is not just for the aged. Our two full time Podiatrist's treat an arrange of foot related conditions.
Our Podiatrists offer the following services;
- General treatments,
- Nail surgeries,
- Diabetic foot assessment and care,
- Biomechanical assessment,
- Orthotic therapy,
- Footwear education,
- Foot mobilisation and manipulation
Our clinics are modern with updated gait analysis software and 3D foot scanners. We pride ourselves on supplying accessible and affordable healthcare with bulk billing available to eligible patients.
For more information please see our Facebook page - Podiatry Shoalhaven Family Medical Centres.
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Laser Clinic
We combine dermatology practices with the latest and greatest in skincare technology, thus providing you with the most effective solution to your skin care needs.
Services on offer:
- 3D Laser Facial
- Fractional CO2 Laser Resurfacing
- Laser Hair Removal
- Scarring & Stretchmarks
- Spider Vein Removal
- Emerge Fraxel Laser
- Intense Pulse Light Therapy
- Laser Surgery
More Information on our website
www.vincentialaser.com.au
Book an appointment today call: (02) 4443 2443
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Pain Management
Pain is a very common condition. The occurrence of pain rises as people get older, and women are more likely to experience pain than men.
There are two main types of pain.
- Acute pain – a normal response to an injury. It starts suddenly and is usually short-lived
- Chronic pain – continues beyond the time expected for healing. It generally lasts for longer than three months.
Pain may be anything from a dull ache to a sharp stab and can range from mild to extreme. You may feel pain in one part of your body or it may be widespread.
Studies suggest that a person’s emotional wellbeing can impact the experience of pain. Understanding the cause and learning effective ways to cope with your pain can improve your quality of life.
Key pain management strategies include:
- Pain-relieving medicines
- Physical therapies (such as heat or cold packs, massage, hydrotherapy and exercise)
- Psychological therapies (such as cognitive behavioural therapy, relaxation techniques and meditation)
- Mind and body techniques (such as acupuncture)
- Occupational therapy
- Community support groups.
The most common causes of pain in adults include:
- Injury
- Medical conditions (such as cancer, arthritis and back problems)
- Surgery
The most commonly reported types of pain are headache and back pain (although pain involving the limbs, shoulder and neck is also common)
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Pre-Employment Medicals
A pre-employment medical assessment screens individuals for factors that may limit their ability to safely perform their job and avoid injury. It is therefore often best for the employee and best for the business if pre-employment medicals are undertaken.
Pre-employment examinations may include physical exams as well as health inquiries including drug and alcohol tests, psychological tests, and physical or mental health assessments. Additionally, employees may be required to have physicals if health or fitness is a job requirement.
The Pre-employment Medical examination tests such things as:
- Vision
- Hearing
- Lung function
- Blood pressure
- Heart rate and
- General fitness
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Medication Management
Closing the Gap is a government strategy that aims to reduce disadvantage among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Indigenous Health registration for Closing the Gap program, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) health assessments, immunisations, advice on risky lifestyle behaviour, diabetes self-management and risk screening.
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Pathology
Pathology investigation suspicious skin lesion removal for diagnosis, diabetes and cardiovascular risk screening, monitoring parameters in clients with a chronic disease. Majority of specimens collected onsite by pathology provider (all service providers compliment the pathology recall system to ensure a robust follow-up process).
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Psychology
Psychological therapy is more than just talking. It involves working towards goals set out at the beginning of therapy and is an active process of making changes to get different results in your life. Therapy is a structured process of learning strategies and coping tools to help manage mental health disorders, relationship difficulties and life stressors. Crystal works from a wholistic perspective using different approaches to suit individual needs, working with those from 18-65 yrs. Fees apply for appointments, with Medicare rebates available for 10 visits (with a valid Medicare card).
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Minor Procedures
Procedural Treatments GPs attend to minor excisions, biopsies, removal of foreign bodies, insertion of Implanon and other hormonal treatments, Intravenous fluid replacement for dehydrated patients, catheter insertion, application of plaster of Paris for fractures, Intravenous antibiotic therapy, allergy desensitisation, wedge resection, removal of toenails, suturing of lacerations, resuscitation and stabilisation of patients in cardiac arrest.
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Pharmacy
Medical Centre Pharmacy
No queue, no waiting.
Medicine delivery
Now available!
@ Worrigee & Vincentia
Worrigee Medical Centre
Phone: 02 4421 8449
Fax: 02 4422 6880
Opening Hours
Monday - Friday
8:00am - 6:00pm
53 Isa Road, Worrigee
Vincentia Medical Centre
Phone: 02 4443 2059
Fax: 02 4422 6880
Opening Hours
Monday - Friday
8:30am - 5:30pm
5 Halloran Street, Vincentia
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Smoking Cessation
Quitting smoking is one of the most important things you can do to reduce your risk of cancer. Tobacco smoke contains more than 7000 chemicals, including over 70 carcinogens (chemicals known to cause cancer).
There are immediate health benefits as soon as you quit smoking, even if you already suffer health problems:
- Twelve hours after stopping, almost all nicotine is out of your system with most by-products gone within five days.
- After 24 hours, the level of carbon monoxide in your blood has dropped dramatically, meaning your body can take and use oxygen more efficiently.
- After two days, your senses of taste and smell start to return.
- After two months, blood flow to your hands and feet improves.
- After one year, your risk of heart disease rapidly drops
- After 10 years, your risk of lung cancer is halved.
Many smokers need to practise quitting several times before they give up for good. Keep trying. Practice helps you plan what to do the next time you get an urge to smoke.
Approaches:
- Cold turkey
- Nicotine replacement therapy
- Prescription drugs to help
- Alternative therapies
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Social Worker
A social worker is a health professional who helps people in times of crisis. Their clients may include families, students, hospital patients or the elderly.
Social workers can provide their clients with practical support, counselling, information and emotional support. They can suggest different ways of looking at the problem and will be able to give their client the information they need in order to make a difference to their life.
Social workers provide:
- Collaborate with other professionals to evaluate patients’ medical or physical condition and to assess client needs.
- Advocate for clients or patients to resolve crises.
- Refer patient, client, or family to community resources to assist in recovery from mental or physical illness and to provide access to services such as financial assistance, legal aid, housing, job placement or education.
- Investigate child abuse or neglect cases and take authorized protective action when necessary.
- Counsel clients and patients in individual and group sessions to help them overcome dependencies, recover from illness, and adjust to life.
- Plan discharge from care facility to home or other care facility.
- Monitor, evaluate, and record client progress according to measurable goals described in treatment and care plan.
- Identify environmental impediments to client or patient progress through interviews and review of patient records.
- Organize support groups or counsel family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, and supporting the client or patient.
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Telehealth Services
Telehealth Services - all centres are equipped to allow for telehealth specialist consultation services.
Telehealth is the use of digital information and communication technologies, such as computers and mobile devices, to access health care services remotely and manage your health care. These may be technologies you use from home or that your doctor uses to improve or support health care services.
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Travel Medicine
Plan ahead and book a consultation with your Doctor to discuss which vaccines and medications may be recommended for your destination.
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Woman's Health
Our Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner is available to you to provide you with all your needs for better health and wellbeing.
Maternity Services Shared care arrangements provided in collaboration with the clients’ obstetrician and/or hospital maternity services.
Some of the services on offer are:
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