Inviting Indigenous Patients to your Practice
There is a common misconception regarding the number of Indigenous patients in the Sydney metropolitan area and that Indigenous health is an issue for remote communities. The fact is that a high proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Australians live in major metropolitan areas but many GP’s often say, “I don’t have any Indigenous patients”. The most common reality however is that in these areas there is more likely to be an under-serviced Indigenous population due to limited access to general practice services.

There are many rewards in treating Indigenous patients in private practice both professionally and financially. In order to encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients to your practice, you need to make it more accessible to them. Kath Ryan in her article featured in the Medical Journal of Australia Careers Magazine (2011), has some simple ways your practice can make Indigenous patients more welcome:

• Make them feel comfortable. Often this can be as simple as a change in attitude from all practice staff including the GP. There are a number of providers who are currently offering cultural awareness training for practice staff and GP’s as part of the ‘Closing the Gap’ Initiative.
• Become familiar with the Indigenous-specific MBS and PBS items and services, including any other state or local government programs, such as the Indigenous PIP incentive.
• Health promotion material directly relevant to Indigenous patients such as posters in the waiting room or brochures. Many of these resources are available from CSGPN and through organisations such as the RACGP or NACCHO (National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations).
• A transparent and defined protocol which allows patients to identify themselves as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
• Preparedness to bulk bill Indigenous patients or refer patients to bulk-billing specialists. Although this may prove more difficult, negotiating with local specialists to bulk-bill Indigenous patients may improve access to these services.