Cornerstone care
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cornerstone Care?
Cornerstone Care is a primary healthcare service that provides home visits and telehealth consultations for individuals who are homebound. Our goal is to deliver continuous, high-quality medical care directly to patients who are unable to attend a traditional GP clinic.
What Cornerstone Care is NOT?
While Cornerstone Care provides comprehensive primary healthcare for homebound individuals, there are certain services that fall outside the scope of our practice.
- Not an Emergency Service
Cornerstone Care is not an emergency or urgent care service. If a patient is experiencing a medical emergency such as chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, stroke symptoms, or collapse, please call 000 immediately or seek care at the nearest emergency department. - Not a Hospital-at-Home Service
Cornerstone Care provides primary care, not hospital-level care. We do not provide services that require hospital equipment, continuous monitoring, or specialist inpatient treatment. - Not a Substitute for Emergency Department Care
While our goal is to reduce avoidable hospital visits through proactive care, certain conditions still require hospital-based assessment and treatment. When this occurs, we will advise patients or carers to seek hospital care. - Not a One-Off Home Visit Service
Cornerstone Care is designed to provide ongoing primary care and continuity of care for homebound individuals. We aim to establish a long-term GP–patient relationship rather than provide single, isolated home visits. - Not a General Home Visit Service for Convenience
Our service is intended specifically for individuals who are genuinely homebound due to medical, mobility, or psychological reasons. It is not designed for individuals who are able to attend a GP clinic but prefer the convenience of a home visit. - Not a Replacement for Specialist Care
While our GPs can coordinate and manage primary healthcare needs, certain medical conditions require specialist care. When appropriate, we will refer patients to specialists, hospitals, or allied health services. - Not a 24/7 On-Call Medical Service
Cornerstone Care operates within scheduled service hours and is not a round-the-clock on-call medical service. For urgent medical concerns outside service hours, patients should contact appropriate after-hours services or emergency care if required.
Who is considered homebound?
Who can access Cornerstone Care services?
How can I arrange a home visit?
What happens after a referral is submitted?
- Review the referral to assess suitability, urgency, and service availability.
- Contact the patient or carer if additional information is required.
- Arrange a home visit at an agreed time if the referral is accepted.
What types of medical conditions do you manage?
Cornerstone Care supports a wide range of conditions, including:
- Chronic medical conditions (such as COPD and heart failure)
- Palliative and end-of-life care
- Geriatric and age-related conditions (such as dementia and high falls risk)
- Neurological conditions (such as stroke or motor neuron disease)
- Disability-related conditions affecting mobility
- Mental health or neurodivergent conditions that make leaving home distressing
- Post-surgery care when mobility is temporarily limited
Do you provide telehealth consultations?
Yes. Telehealth consultations are available for patients who have previously received a home visit from a Cornerstone Care GP. Telehealth can be used for follow-up appointments, medication reviews, and ongoing management when appropriate.
Do you visit aged care facilities?
Yes. Our GPs provide regular and as-needed medical care for residents living in residential aged care facilities.
Will I see the same doctor each time?
Can Cornerstone Care coordinate my overall healthcare?
Yes. In addition to providing medical consultations, we can help coordinate referrals to specialists, allied health providers, and other healthcare services to ensure comprehensive and integrated care.
Can family members or carers be involved in appointments?
What are the benefits of home-based healthcare?
- Remove transportation barriers
- Improve comfort and accessibility
- Strengthen the relationship between patients and their doctor
- Reduce unnecessary emergency department visits and hospitalisations
- Provide more personalised and coordinated care
Do you bulk bill?
Our mobile GP service operates under a mixed billing model, enabling us to provide personalised, high-quality medical care in the comfort and privacy of your own home. Most home visits incur a private fee, with a Medicare rebate available to help ease the overall cost. Telehealth consultations are bulk billed for patients who have received a home visit within the past 12 months.
Given the nature of mobile healthcare, a gap fee applies to reflect the additional time, travel, and resources required to deliver care beyond a traditional clinic setting. This approach allows us to maintain a responsive, dependable service while continuing to support patients who may find it difficult to attend a practice in person – ensuring care remains accessible, attentive, and centred around your needs.
Which areas do you service?
How quickly can I receive a home visit?
Do I need a referral to access the service?
What happens during a home visit?
- Review your medical history and current concerns
- Perform a medical assessment
- Discuss diagnosis and treatment options
- Prescribe medications if needed
- Arrange investigations, referrals, or follow-up care
What should I prepare before the GP arrives?
- A list of current medications
- Any recent medical reports or hospital discharge summaries
- Your Medicare card and identification
- A family member or carer present if additional support is needed
Can carers or family members request a visit on behalf of someone else?
Can you help prevent hospital visits?
What happens after the first home visit?
- Regular home visits
- Telehealth follow-up consultations
- Medication reviews
- Coordination with specialists and allied health providers