Vermont Medical Clinic – Providing High Quality Medical Care

CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION

Immunisation Clinic:
The clinic was successful in its application to be an immunisation clinic for the Stage 1b of the community roll out of vaccine. In essence Stage 1b applies to all people over 70, all health workers, and vulnerable people with pre-existing medical conditions. We will advise further when we have more detail about the vaccine program.

Updated hours:
We will close at 8PM on weekdays from next Monday 16 November until further notice. Our opening hours will be reviewed in response to any changes in the situation. We will be posting advice regarding immunisation as soon as we have it to hand.

We have taken numerous steps to reduce the risk of community transmission and protect our staff and patients but need to introduce some more measures.

Where it’s not necessary to be seen face to face please request a telephone consult. Some of our doctors do also have access to telehealth (video consults). These are easy to access and navigate and can allow your doctor to assess conditions you may normally book a face to face visit for.
Where avoidable please do not arrive at the clinic earlier than five minutes before your appointment time.
We will do our best to inform you if your doctor is running late. This is not always possible and sometimes doctors are able to make up lost time. It is quite unpredictable. If you do arrive and you doctor is running late we may ask you to return to your car and wait.
To reduce the number of people attending the clinic we request only booked patients attend the clinic, unless you are a carer or a parent accompanying a child under the age of 16 years.
All visitors to the clinic must be wearing a mask. Unfortunately we do not have the resources to provide masks.
If you have ANY respiratory symptoms such as a cough, sore throat, breathing difficulties or other COVID-19 related symptoms (https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/victorian-public-coronavirus-disease-covid-19) please do not come to the clinic.

We would like to thank you for your patience and understanding with our changes so far. These probably won’t be the last changes as we continue to adapt to ensure everyone’s safety is maintained as best as possible. Please also continue to be patient with our team, we are all doing the best we can in this challenging time.

TELEHEALTH AND PHONE CONSULTATIONS

Click HERE for information or to connect.
Stay home unless it is essential. You are safer. Our community is safer.

The clinic will be returning to our usual billing practices for telehealth and phone consultations from Tuesday 14th April. These services will still be bulk-billed where it is a legislative requirement or at the doctor's discretion. It is a legislative requirement that the service must be bulk-billed where the service is provided to a concessional or vulnerable patient or a child under 16 at the time the service is provided.

MASKS & FACE COVERINGS

Masks or face coverings must be used when attending the clinic from Thursday 23rd July unless you have an exemption according the Victorian Government rules. More info is available by clicking this text.

More about the COVID-19 Pandemic

The principles of our response

Vermont Medical Clinic is open but it is not business as usual. The principles of protecting our patients, doctors and other staff are paramount. Therefore we ask you to use alternatives to attending in person whenever possible. If you book online you will be asked several screening questions before you able to make an appointment. If you phone for an appointment, please be patient as the burden on our staff is large, and you will be asked some COVID-19 screening questions before an appointment can be made. Please be honest in your answers, and do not be offended, as the questions are asked to protect the vulnerable in our community by slowing the spread of COVID-19. Slowing the spread will help keep health resources available to all who need them. Please do not be offended if you have acute respiratory symptoms and are advised to remain at home and care for yourself, or if you come to the clinic and are turned away. Taking these precautions during this pandemic will result a lower spike in local cases with the result of less unnecessary deaths through a lack of resources. This is a dynamic situation and information will be updated here regularly.

COVID-19 Preparation Images - No cash transactions

Vermont Medical Clinic is protecting staff and patients with screening, triage, car park consultations, isolation rooms, and telehealth and phone alternatives to attending in person wherever possible. We know that many people will still require a face to face consultation so we are making this process as safe as possible.

Building entrance

Clinic entry triage

Please sanitise hands and wait

Please stay behind the tape

Social distance between chairs

Bags can go on the chairs

COVID-19 - Basic Facts

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE (04/03/2020):

If you have FEVER or RESPIRATORY INFECTION (e.g. cough or shortness of breath, with or without fever):

DO NOT DIRECTLY ATTEND THE CLINIC BEFORE CALLING US ON 9874 2422
YOU WILL RECEIVE INSTRUCTIONS ON WHETHER YOU WILL BE ASSESSED IN YOUR CAR OR WHETHER YOU SHOULD ENTER THE CLINIC, ALONG WITH THE PROCEDURE TO DO THIS SAFELY
SERIOUSLY ILL PATIENTS MAY BE ADVISED WHETHER TO ATTEND A HOSPITAL OR CALL AN AMBULANCE

HOW CAN YOU AVOID INFECTION?

You should pay close attention to good hand hygiene. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, especially before eating and after using the toilet.
Cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing with a tissue – or cough into your elbow. Dispose of the tissue into a bin and then wash your hands afterwards.
Face masks are now required to be used by members of the public in Victoria.

LATEST INFORMATION

Welcome to Vermont Medical Clinic

"As the principal GP since 2016 I have overseen many changes to Vermont Medical Clinic. In our new location there is a wide variety of services, but keeping the most important part of good general practice, that is a strong relationship with a trusted competent GP, is the most critical part of the care we provide. I hope coming to see your doctor here is a great experience for you. We are building up the services in the practice and in the centre to maximise your convenience while maintaining the traditional care that you expect in a doctor-owned independent family practice." - Dr Jim Glaspole

About Vermont Medical Clinic

Independent Doctors

Staffed by dedicated general practitioners since 1960, Vermont Medical Clinic is committed to providing good medical care over a person's whole lifetime.

These are the current general practitioners: Dr Jim Glaspole, Dr Lidija Suntesic, Dr Merran Gowans, Dr Shelly McIllree, Dr Julie Chang, Dr Cynthia Boudeville, Dr Diane Phillips, Dr Leila Radfar (skin cancer only), Dr Lydia Tkacz, Dr Tania Poon, Dr Jerry Wang, Dr Dan Epstein, Dr Jerome Klein, Dr Lufi Mulyadi and Dr Sharee Walford.

New Location since 2017

The clinic is located in Vermont South Medical Centre and is well equipped to treat most medical conditions and is accessible to persons with mobility problems. Disabled parking is available in the basement carpark and at the front of the building. On our floor we are co-located with a pathology collection centre, pharmacy, dentist, optometrist, cafe and Capital Radiology will. Upstairs are a private hospital, a fitness studio and specialist consulting rooms.

More about the medical centre

Operating Hours

Monday - Friday 8.00 - 20.00

Saturday 8.00 - 16.00

Sunday - closed (temporary)

The clinic is closed on public holidays.

Online Appointments - Click Here

Clinic News

BILLING POLICY CHANGE - from 1 March 2021

We believe that access to good medical care should not be limited by an ability to pay. We cannot continue bulk-billing as many patients as we do currently as the amount received does not cover our costs. From 1 March full pensioners, veterans, children twelve and under, and those in financial hardship will STILL be bulk-billed. People receiving part pensions and older children aged 13 to 17 will receive a discount on our usual fees. Thank you for your support as we continue to care for you.

REGISTRARS - Goodbye and Hello!

Farewell to our registrar Dr Sharee Walford, it has been a great six months having you with the clinic and best wishes from all at the clinic for the exams and her future career. On 1 Feb we will welcome Dr Gowthri Ragunathan and Dr Nish Nayar who will commence six month placements as registrars.

NEW SERVICES

PAEDIATRIC SPEECH THERAPY: Sessions will be available from mid-September. These sessions will be run by Natalia Ehrlich, a qualified paediatric speech pathologist.

SWEATING CLINIC: Botox injections for excessive armpit sweating are now available at the clinic with a qualified dermatologist, Dr Josephine Yeatman.

CHANGES TO CURRENT SERVICES

ADJUSTMENTS TO OPERATING HOURS: We are slightly increased our operating hours as the pandemic recedes. These are now:
Monday to Friday: 8am – 8pm Saturday: 8am – 4pm Sunday: Closed. We will review our hours in response to the pandemic situation.

DIABETES EDUCATION: As of 1st September 2020 a fee of $54.60 is payable to see our Diabetes Educator if the visit is not covered by a referral under a care plan. There will be no out of pocket cost for visits allocated under a care plan.

ASTHMA EDUCATION: We will be ceasing our Asthma Education clinic as of 1st September 2020. Any patients with concerns regarding their asthma, or who have future bookings with the Asthma Educator should continue to see their GP.

TELEPHONES: We have changed phone provider over the last week and there have been a few issues, we apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused.
We now know what the problem is.
Please update your Vermont Medical Clinic contact number to 03 9874 2422. If you have 03 8547 1140 please delete, this number will no longer be active after 13th September.

NEW GP, GP REGISTRAR AND RECEPTIONIST: We would like to inform you that we have two new doctors starting soon. Dr Sharee Walford is a GP registrar and will be joining us on a full time basis from Monday 3rd August. Dr Trish Hough will be joining the team mid-October and will more than likely be working Monday and Thursday afternoons. We also have a new team member on our front desk, Rachel, who started last week and is settling in well.

DR LUFI MULYADI: We are very happy to announce that Dr Lufi Mulyadi has joined the practice permanently from 1 July.

SKIN CANCER CLINIC: Full body skin cancer checks are recommencing from the week starting 3 May 2020. Some extra precautions are being taken, particularly with masks to be worn by patients.

NEW DOCTORS: We welcome Dr Daniel Epstein and Dr Jerome Klein to our GP team. Their biographies and working hours will be fully updated shortly but the short version is that Dr Epstein is an academic GP based at Monash University. He will be typically working on Tuesdays and Thursdays but will have periods of absence while completes his PhD. Dr Klein will usually be working on three days per week. He is also studying for fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP).

DEPARTURE OF DR PAUL NGUYEN: Dr Paul Nguyen left general practice after Christmas 2019 to pursue other interests. Please be advised that he will not be able to provide ongoing care at any other location.

AFTER HOURS SERVICE (Changed hours from 16th November 2020): The after hours service is open until 8 pm on weekdays, 1pm to 4pm on Saturdays. Bulk-billing is automatic for children under 16, pensioners and veterans and is available on request for those suffering financial hardship. For more information click this text.

NEW PRACTICE MANAGER: We welcome Daniel Rossiter, who has commenced work at the clinic on 26 August 2019, and wish him a long and successful career here.

CONTINENCE & PELVIC FLOOR SERVICE: The clinic is pleased to offer a continence and pelvic floor service. More information is available HERE.

Our Hours and Services

The clinic is open on six days per week but not on public holidays, usually from 8 am to 8 pm on weekdays, and 8.30 am until 4 pm on Saturdays. The doctors at the clinic offer general medical services, minor surgery including removal skin lesions, drainage of abscesses, and repair of wounds using sutures or glue, iron infusions, lactation consultancy, psychological counselling, immunisations, aged care including visits to aged care facilities, paediatrics, women's health, men's health, travel medicine, and skin cancer surveillance and treatment.

Fees and Pathology Tests

This clinic bulk-bills children under 16 (other than children seeing Dr Julie Chang, who are discounted), pensioners and veterans, with discounted fees for Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders. WorkCover and TAC patients are liable for the costs of care until claims are accepted by the insurer. Pathology tests (next door at Clinical Labs) and medical imaging services (on the same floor at Capital Radiology) are usually bulk-billed. Patients are expected to return to the clinic to discuss all results of investigations.

Long consultations and procedures - please book by telephone

It is preferable that long consultations, procedures and other non-standard and allied health services are booked by phone to ensure that an appropriate length of time is scheduled. The receptionists can advise about the length of time required.

Allied Health Services

As well as medical and nursing services, the clinic has several allied health providers available each week: Dr Phoebe Kho is our psychologist, Dr David Jayapaul is our podiatrist, Ms Varsha Bhikha is our physiotherapist, Ms Bridget Wilkes is our diabetes educator, and Ms Natalia Ehrlich is our speech pathologist.

2020 Influenza vaccine

The waiting list for 2020 Influenza vaccine has been closed.

Free 2020 Influenza vaccine for people aged 65 or older, and 2020 Influenza vaccine for those under 65 with medical conditions and other indications is currently available. If you wish to receive a vaccine, please book by phone. Private 2020 influenza vaccines are in short supply but we will advise when we receive more stock.

Supplies are replenished at unpredictable intervals. Please ensure you book specifically for influenza immunisation so we can ensure a vaccine is available for you when you attend.

Influenza and Pneumonia Vaccine Availability

Free Influenza 65 plus

This is available. Please phone for an appointment.

Free Influenza under 65 as below

This is available. Please phone for an appointment.

Private influenza under 65

Current supply is only for patients who have been on the waiting list and have received a message to book an appointment.

Pneumonia vaccine

Healthy non-Indigenous adults are now recommended to receive a single dose of 13vPCV (Prevenar) at age ≥70 years. Healthy non-Indigenous adults who do not have risk conditions for pneumococcal disease are no longer recommended to receive 23vPPV (Pneumovax).

Please do not attend if you have any respiratory symptoms, fever, or have returned from overseas travel in the past two weeks. Influenza vaccination is recommended for ALL people over 6 months of age.

Free seasonal influenza vaccine is funded for the following groups at higher risk of complications from influenza:

all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months and over

all children aged 6 months to less than 5 years of age (including Aboriginal and medically at risk)

all individuals aged 5 years and over with medical risk conditions, namely:

cardiac disease, including cyanotic congenital heart disease, coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure

chronic respiratory conditions, including suppurative lung disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and severe asthma

other chronic illnesses requiring regular medical follow up or hospitalisation in the previous year, including diabetes mellitus, chronic metabolic diseases, chronic renal failure, and haemoglobinopathies

chronic neurological conditions that impact on respiratory function, including multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, and seizure disorders

impaired immunity, including HIV, malignancy and chronic steroid use

children aged 6 months to 10 years on long term aspirin therapy

pregnant women (influenza vaccine can be given at any stage of pregnancy)

people aged 65 years and over (vaccine that is specifically designed to produce a higher immune response is available for this group).

General Information

Our location

We are located in the brand new Vermont South Medical Centre in Burwood Hwy, Vermont South. It is easily accessed from Morack Road via the driveway behind Fort Knox storage or directly from Burwood Hwy.

Our History

Vermont Medical Clinic was founded in 1960 by Dr Graham and Dr Jean Corbett. A partnership with formed when Dr David Glaspole joined the practice in 1965, two months before the current practice owner, Dr Jim Glaspole, was born. The doctors at the clinic are proud to be part of a long tradition of providing medical care to citizens of Vermont and surrounding areas.

Mariemont Surgery

Dr Diane Phillips has joined Vermont Medical Clinic from Mariemont Surgery which has closed. Mariemont Surgery patient records have been transferred here to optimise continuity of care. We welcome the doctors and patients from Mariemont to Vermont Medical Clinic.

BOOK YOUR

APPOINTMENT

All Appointments - Book here

Telehealth Information