Relationship No. The AMDS Guidelines do not restrict AMDS providers from deputising to Are AMDS providers restricted from between AMDS patients of unaccredited general practices. deputising on behalf of general practices that providers and are not accredited according to the general standards? practices No. An AMDS provider may only offer deputised care on behalf of a practice that Can an AMDS provider deputise on behalf of operates on a full-time basis. an after-hours clinic? Yes. Can a general practice enter into agreements with more than one AMDS provider? Advertising AMDS providers are not prevented from attending industry events under Are AMDS providers prohibited from standards arrangements negotiated before the release of the revised Guidelines. However, attending industry events that they arranged providers cannot engage in directly marketing at these events as the requirements before the release of the revised Guidelines? specified in part 8.4 of the revised AMDS Program Guidelines will apply. The AMDS Program Guidelines apply a restriction on direct marketing. While Are AMDS providers restricted from directly clause 8.4 of the Guidelines provides several examples of types of direct marketing of marketing services through mechanisms that AMDSs that is restricted, this list is not exhaustive. The Guidelines prohibit AMDSs are not listed in the Guidelines (e.g. radio from directly marketing deputised services to consumers without limiting marketing)? consideration to the type of medium/technology that is used to assist with the approach to market. For example, while the AMDS Program Guidelines do not make reference to radio marketing, Health would consider an advertisement to consumers through the radio as both a form of direct marketing and a violation of the Guidelines. Not for marketing purposes. Health is aware that several providers use Facebook to Can an AMDS maintain a Facebook page? provide general health advice to the public. The AMDS Program Guidelines do not
Relationship between AMDS providers and general practices Are AMDS providers restricted from deputising on behalf of general practices that are not accredited according to the standards? No. The AMDS Guidelines do not restrict AMDS providers from deputising to patients of unaccredited general practices. Can an AMDS provider deputise on behalf of an after-hours clinic? No. An AMDS provider may only offer deputised care on behalf of a practice that operates on a full-time basis. Can a general practice enter into agreements with more than one AMDS provider? Yes. Advertising standards Are AMDS providers prohibited from attending industry events that they arranged before the release of the revised Guidelines? AMDS providers are not prevented from attending industry events under arrangements negotiated before the release of the revised Guidelines. However, providers cannot engage in directly marketing at these events as the requirements specified in part 8.4 of the revised AMDS Program Guidelines will apply. Are AMDS providers restricted from directly marketing services through mechanisms that are not listed in the Guidelines (e.g. radio marketing)? The AMDS Program Guidelines apply a restriction on direct marketing. While clause 8.4 of the Guidelines provides several examples of types of direct marketing of AMDSs that is restricted, this list is not exhaustive. The Guidelines prohibit AMDSs from directly marketing deputised services to consumers without limiting consideration to the type of medium/technology that is used to assist with the approach to market. For example, while the AMDS Program Guidelines do not make reference to radio marketing, Health would consider an advertisement to consumers through the radio as both a form of direct marketing and a violation of the Guidelines. Can an AMDS maintain a Facebook page? Not for marketing purposes. Health is aware that several providers use Facebook to provide general health advice to the public. The AMDS Program Guidelines do not
Revised%20AMDS%20Program%20Guidelines%20-%20Frequently%20asked%20questions.docx