If you are a patient at one of our General Practice sites, at some point you may have received an automated message advising you to get in touch. Receiving a message from your doctor asking you to make an appointment can be a little daunting. So, we have explained these messages and what they mean in more detail below:

What is a recall message?

A recall is a form of automated communication from our practice. These messages may relate to things like:

• A request to book an appointment to discuss results from a test you may have had recently, for example, a blood test.
• A reminder to book an appointment for a routine health test, for example, a pap smear.
• A reminder to book a vaccination or immunisation, for example, a tetanus booster.

You may also receive one of these messages if you have seen a GP and have been asked to check in again at a later date.

Why have I received a recall message?

We all lead busy, fast-paced lives. We understand and appreciate that it can be hard to remember things like doctors’ appointments, so we use recall messages to remind or notify you that you’re due to attend the practice for one of the reasons outlined above.

At Star Health, we look to not only treat current conditions, but also to use preventative health care measures to remind our patients when they should see a doctor. We see recall messages as an important resource to help us manage this process.

What do I need to do when I receive a recall message?

If you receive one of these messages, we suggest that you make an appointment. You can do this by calling us on 03 9525 1300, or by making an appointment online.

Please keep in mind, we do not send recall messages for urgent health issues. These messages are reminders or notices for non-urgent appointments, which means that even if you do call immediately to make an appointment, we may not be able to fit you in straight away. Typically, we advise that you try to see your GP within two weeks of receiving a recall.

If we need to see you for urgent medical treatment, we will get in touch via the phone. We do not send recall messages to patients who need to seek urgent medical care.

Next time you receive a recall message, you can rest assured that this is a non-urgent reminder to make an appointment within two weeks.

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