Dear patients, we recommend that you open a
global medical file (GMF) with one of the two GPs in this office. The GMF – a central record of all your medical information – ensures better reimbursement of your medical costs from your Belgian health insurance. If you open the file with Dr Van Osta, it will also be active with Dr Bouchlis, and vice versa. Opening a GMF with either one, however, will not prevent you from seeing other GPs and/or specialists. Drs Van Osta and Bouchlis will be happy to register you with the GMF scheme. Please note that registration requires a Belgian identity card. With your express agreement and completely independent of the GMF, it is possible for hospitals to share the results of your blood tests, x-rays and other medical exams with your attending GPs and practitioners. (Health insurance physicians, panel doctors, occupational physicians, and medical officers are excluded from the information-sharing system). (For more information, please visit
www.patientconsent.be.) In addition, you can ask Dr Van Osta or Dr Bouchlis for a
summary of your medical file (SUMmarised Electronic Health Record (SUMHER)), which will be accessible to your attending healthcare practitioners, once again provided your express agreement.