Patients coming to alternate healthcare are most likely coming from somewhere else. They have a problem with a medical condition that has not resolved, are experiencing side effects from treatment, or have symptoms that have not been acknowledged. So they are very motivated and sometimes vulnerable to being sold by health care providers who have alternate intentions.
At PractiSmart we have compiled a set of simple criteria that when met indicate that a health clinic is operating to a minimum standard. Whether you are a health practitioner, referrer or clinic manager these criteria provide a useful framework to assess a clinic and aid your decision making.
Verify the registration pathway, not just the certificate
There are two main ways in which health practices are regulated in Australia. Firstly there are the health practices which are licensed under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) such as Chinese medicine, osteopathy and chiropractic. These practices have strict regulations regarding training and practice as well as processes for dealing with complaints against practitioners. The other main category is practices that are not licensed in this way but are instead self-regulated by professional associations. The main practices that fall into this category are naturopathy, nutrition and remedial massage, all of which have their own criteria for entry to practice as well as processes for dealing with complaints against practitioners.
It’s also important to check which Register a practitioner is listed on, framed qualifications may indicate a practitioner has completed a course but the Register is the best way to confirm whether someone is practising in good standing, holds current Professional Indemnity Insurance and is meeting their Continuing Professional Development requirements.
Scope of practice as a quality signal
Another indicator is what they don’t treat. If a practitioner or clinic can tell you clearly what they refer to for and have written protocols for dealing with red flag symptoms then they are likely to be alright to refer to. Also it is useful to know who their referring GP/specialist is and whether they have a good working relationship with them.
Read the fee disclosure before the first appointment
Is the initial consultation fee clearly listed on the clinic’s website? If not available online, is the fee similar to the “list price” of subsequent sessions and is the majority of the total fee for treatment spent on supplements, tests or a written treatment plan that is sold to patients after their initial consultation?
Some questions for assessment of a potential clinic for referral
- What does the initial consultation cost, and how long does it run?
- Are functional or pathology tests billed separately, and at what approximate range?
- Does the practitioner take a margin on dispensed products, and is that disclosed?
- What is the cancellation policy, and is it applied consistently?
- Which private health funds recognise the modality, and at what rebate level?
Prepaid packages deserve particular scrutiny
Selling large blocks of sessions in advance can shift clinical risk to patients (e.g. If their treatment isn’t working by the 4th session they are locked into paying for many more treatments in advance). It is better for a practice’s reputation for it to invoice session by session and review patients at regular intervals.
Assess screening, consent and record keeping
Quality of intake processes, This is how you differentiate your health service from a shop offering alternative health products. Check whether the first session of treatment is thoroughly structured and whether the practitioner writing up the Intake Information seeks all the necessary information to ensure the best possible treatment, such as current medication, potential interactions between prescribed drugs and alternative health products, and any previous treatment. If you want a benchmark for what a well-run alternative health clinic in Australia should document at intake, it is worth reviewing how established telehealth practices structure their first consultations.
| Element | Minimum acceptable | Strong practice |
| Intake | Written health history form | Structured interview plus medication interaction check |
| Consent | Verbal agreement to treat | Written consent naming risks and alternatives |
| Records | Session notes retained | Dated notes, outcome measures, review points |
| Privacy | Locked filing or password access | Documented policy, breach procedure, staff training |
| Referral | Will refer if asked | Written red flag protocol and named referral contacts |
Privacy obligations apply regardless of modality
Health information is sensitive information under the Privacy Act and even the smallest health practice must comply with these obligations in full. Find out how records are stored, who has access to information in the clinic, how long information will be kept and what the clinic will do in the event of a data breach. Find out where your cloud practice management software stores your information.
Judge the claims being made
Advertising of therapeutic goods is also heavily regulated, particularly in relation to guarantees of cure. Be wary of any practice that outlines results they can guarantee or promises that one particular program or treatment will work for a wide variety of disorders and conditions.
Be cautious of clinics that use testimonials to market their services (breaching the advertising codes for regulated health practitioners) and of those who attempt to get you to stop taking your prescribed medications (which is outside the scope of non-medical modalities in Australia).
Test what happens after the appointment
Follow-up care, does the clinic deliver personalised, ongoing care or will you be ‘tolerated’ until you run out of money? Does the clinic have a clear treatment plan with specified goals to be achieved by certain times? Does the clinic record your treatment plan and all your progress in a file that you can take to your GP? Does the clinic have a point at which time they will reassess whether the current approach is working or not?
Questions that reveal the answer quickly
- How will we know in six weeks whether this is working?
- What would make you stop this treatment?
- Who do you communicate with about this care, and with what consent?
So a clinic which can answer these three questions clearly is practising clinically. The rest are just selling whatever. And it’s the most vulnerable patients of all who won’t be able to see the difference.