Are Your Patient Communications Actually Compliant
Think your clinic has patient communication under control? You might be missing critical gaps that could lead to AHPRA, TGA, or AMA breaches.
In the world of health marketing and patient communications, it’s easy to assume that once your website is compliant, the job is done. But in reality, every patient-facing message—whether verbal, printed, digital, or visual—is regulated. That includes social media posts, consent forms, pricing brochures, email reminders, and even third-party supplier content displayed in your clinic.
In a heavily scrutinised industry like cosmetic medicine and allied health, regulatory bodies such as AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) and the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) demand not just accurate advertising, but ethical and truthful patient interaction at every touchpoint.
What Counts as Medical or Cosmetic Clinic Advertising Under AHPRA?
According to AHPRA guidelines, advertising includes anything that promotes a health service to the public—this could be as formal as a website or as informal as a receptionist’s explanation of a treatment.
If you’re handing a patient a flyer, showing a video in the waiting room, or sending an SMS post-treatment, that content needs to be compliant.
The Most Commonly Overlooked Compliance Risks
We’ve audited dozens of health and cosmetic clinics, and the most common “surprise” risk areas include:
- Consent forms that use promotional or glamorised language
- Instagram or Facebook posts from years ago that show before-and-after photos without disclaimers
- Reception team scripts that imply guaranteed results
- Supplier brochures for injectables or devices, displayed in-clinic, that make unapproved claims
- Patient welcome packs that contain outdated pricing or glossed-over risks
Introducing the Patient Communications Compliance Framework
To help clinics get ahead of potential breaches, we’ve developed a free, downloadable framework that outlines every major patient communication category—and what to watch for.
This is more than a website checklist. It covers:
- Websites and digital content
- Social media (historic and current)
- Consent documents and pre/post treatment forms
- Printed brochures and supplier materials
- Internal communication (reception scripts, welcome letters)
- Finance and pricing disclosures
Why It Matters
Regulatory compliance isn’t just about avoiding penalties—it’s about building trust and ensuring ethical practice. Patients rely on your communications to make informed decisions. If those messages mislead, glamorise, or omit crucial information, you’re not only breaching AHPRA guidelines, but risking patient harm.
Whether you’re a practice owner, clinic manager, or marketing team member, this framework will help you spot blind spots before they become formal complaints.
👉 Download the Patient Communications Compliance Framework now and start your self-audit