YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT

PATIENT INFORMATION

What should I bring with me when I come for a scheduled office appointment?

Apart from your Medicare and insurance information, you will need to bring:

  • A referral from your General Practitioner or a family doctor.
  • All pertinent x-ray reports and test results from your primary care or referring physician
  • A list of all medications that you are currently taking
  • A list of any known drug allergies and the symptoms you may experience from taking these medicines
  • If you have had surgery elsewhere, please bring a copy of your operation report

Are my medical records kept private and confidential?

Your medical file is handled with the utmost respect for your privacy. Our staff are bound by strict confidentiality requirements as a condition of employment regarding your medical records. Ordinarily, we will not release the contents of your medical file without your consent.

Do I need a referral to make an appointment?

Most medical specialists will accept only referred patients. This is partly to ensure that the specialist you are seeing is appropriate for you and your condition, and also because Medicare pays higher rebates for specialist services if you have been referred.

How can my family doctor help me to obtain specialist medical care?

Before seeing any medical specialist, it is always preferable to talk to your own family doctor, who can discuss your condition and advise you on whether any specialist care is required. If it is, he/she can help you choose the specialist best-suited for your needs. Your family doctor can aid the specialist in providing relevant information about your health. In turn, communicating with the specialist will also enable your family doctor to care for you better during and after your specialist treatment.

What should I expect during my first visit?

During your initial visit, the doctor will explain the specific tests or procedure you will require, help you visualise the results and go over the risks. He/she may conduct a physical examination and ask you a bunch of questions about your medical history. Once you complete the tests, your doctor will diagnosis your condition and suggest appropriate treatment.