Referrals

In providing care to you during my consultation, I may recommend you to another health provider to have further tests conducted (for example, blood tests, X-rays) or to see another health provider such as a physiotherapist or a medical specialist.

To facilitate this, I will provide a referral, a written request from one health professional to another health professional or health service, asking them to diagnose or treat you for a particular condition.

It is important to understand that you can choose for us to refer you to a specific provider of your preference, or be guided by us to the options available. Please note that when we make a recommendation, we do not receive any commission or financial incentive from the provider to direct you to their services.

Radiology Services

No matter the branding or letterhead on which the radiology request form is completed, it can be taken to any Australian Radiology Provider that is able to complete the test.

Please find links below to our preferred radiology providers. We recommend these services generally because of previous patient experience, quality of reporting, speed/turnaround time for reporting, and ease for us to contact the reporting radiologist if the need arises to clarify a report finding.

Report completion time can vary widely from provider to provider; if in doubt please check with our reception staff that we have received your report rather than relying on the provider's quoted turnaround time.

Information provided below is for reference only and is subject to change - please see the provider's website for up to date information.

• The Cross Radiology 
  Suite 8, Level 1, 2 Cross St, Hurstville NSW 2220
  Phone: 02 9586 0833
  Equipped to perform CT, X-rays and Ultrasound but not MRI
  Generally the fastest report turnaround time, and most responsive to our request for clarification of report findings
  Bulk bill most scans with the exception of (but not limited to) obstetric imaging and interventional procedures such as image-guided injections

• I-Med Hurstville
  Hurstville Central, Shop CP1, 225H Forest Road, Hurstville NSW 2220
  Phone: 02 9570 1191
  Equipped to perform CT, X-rays, Ultrasound and MRI
  Bulk bill most scans with the exception of (but not limited to) obstetric imaging and interventional procedures such as image-guided injections

• Castlereagh Imaging – Waratah Private Hospital
  Level B1, 31 Dora Street, Hurstville NSW 2220
  Phone: 02 8558 8500
  Equipped to perform CT, X-rays, Ultrasound and MRI

• Sydney Ultrasound for Women Kogarah
  Suite 1A Level 1, 4 Belgrave Street, Kogarah NSW 2217
  Phone: 02 9553 9611
  Specialises in Women's Health Imaging such as gynaecological and obstetric growth scans
  Generally more costly option - check pricing on website

Results are reviewed by myself personally and categorised:

• Urgent - I will call you to notify you of the next steps

• Non-urgent - our practice staff will contact you to make an appointment usually within 1-2 weeks to discuss the results

• No-action - you will not be routinely contacted about the results but are recommended to make a follow up to discuss the results

You can contact our reception staff to determine whether the results have been sent back to you, but reception staff cannot give you the results over the phone, and cannot release them to you directly unless directed to by myself. Once discussed with us, we can organise for results to be released to you. Some radiology providers give a copy of the report to the patient directly upon request.

Non-GP Specialists

We will discuss the options for specialist providers specific to your condition during your consultation. Options include:

• Public Hospital Outpatient Clinics - these may not be available for every medical specialty area, but these services do not attract a "gap" for Medicare Card holders. Most of these clinics have long wait times with stringent referral requirements, and you may be seeing the registrar for that specialty (a training specialist) under the supervision of the fully qualified specialist. You may not be seeing the same doctor during follow up appointments.

• Medical Specialists in their Private Consulting Rooms - different medical specialists vary in subspecialty interest areas, out-of-pocket "gap" cost, accreditation to partake in Worker's Compensation care, public hospital attachment (which may be relevant for patients seeking to have a procedure performed by that specialist under their public hospital emergency lists) and private hospital affiliation (if a procedure is sought in a specific private hospital because of private health insurance arrangements).

• Emergency Department referral - this will apply if the condition suspected is of an acute/life-threatening/serious nature and urgent specialist or multidisciplinary (multiple medical providers) input is necessary.

It is important to understand that a valid referral is required to claim a Medicare rebate to see non-GP Specialists (except for through the Emergency Department). 

• Standard referrals have a 12 month validity. 

• Legally we are unable to provide a "backdated" referral. 

• The referral should state the specific reason why shared care with that medical specialist is sought, and for that reason, a consultation is required to provide a referral.

Allied Health 

This includes providers such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dietician, chiropractor, diabetes educator, podiatrist, audiologist, exercise physiologist, psychologist, speech pathology.

It is important to understand that a GP referral is not mandatory to seek an appointment with these providers, but generally no Medicare rebate applies to the fees charged. A "GP referral" does not automatically qualify you for a Medicare rebate. However, in specific circumstances, "care plans" can be completed for patients to allow special referrals to be made that allow for a Medicare rebate to be claimed against services rendered by these providers. The rebate may not cover the entire cost of the provider service, resulting in a "gap".

• Broadly speaking, there are 2 main types of these plans

  • GP Management Plan with Team Care Arrangements (aka Enhanced Primary Care / EPC) referrals for patients with chronic medical conditions and complex care needs

  • Mental Health Treatment Plan for patients a mental disorder who would benefit from a structured approach to the management of their treatment needs

• Particularly for GP Management Plans, very specific criteria need to met to meet eligibility, including but not limited to:

  • Being organised by your "usual" treating GP

  • Having a chronic medical illness

  • Having specific management goals drawn up in collaboration with your treating GP and the respective allied health providers

It is best to seek clarification regarding eligibility over an appointment with us, and not to assume eligibility for a Medicare rebate.

Your private health insurance may also cover you partially for some allied health services with or without a GP referral (but you cannot co-claim a Medicare and a private health insurance rebate simultaneously for the one service).