Welcome to Greenslopes ENT - Patient Information
Where are we
Main Practice Location:
Dr Wallwork’s main rooms are located at Greenslopes Private Hospital in the new Ramsay Specialist Centre located on the hospital grounds. All bookings are made through these rooms. Greenslopes Private Hospital is ideally situated only minutes from the Brisbane CBD. It is easily accessed via the South East Freeway or Logan Road.
Practice Address:
Greenslopes ENT
Suite 204, Ramsay Specialist Centre
Greenslopes Private Hospital
Newdegate Street
Greenslopes QLD 4120
Ph: 07-3847 9988
Fax: 07-3394 2263
Email: info@greenslopesent.com.au
Website: www.greenslopesent.com.au
Click here for location map and directions
Visiting Practice Locations:
Dr Wallwork has admitting rights to the Greenslopes Private Hospital and also to the Mater Children’s Hospital for paediatric services.
Visiting Surgery Locations:
Greenslopes Private Hospital
Newdegate Street
Greenslopes QLD 4120
Click here for location map and directions and website link
Mater Children’s Hospital
Raymond Terrace
South Brisbane QLD 4101
Click here for location map and directions and website link
Fees and Charges:
Consultation Costs
What are the costs?
Consultation fees depend on the type of consultation. These are listed and detailed below:
Initial Consultation
A higher fee is charged when you see the doctor for the first time. This is because extra time is allocated for this visit. Currently the Medicare rebate for an ‘Initial Consultation’ is approximately $65.00, which covers half or more of the cost of the visit.
Subsequent (review) Consultation
A lower fee is charged when you see the doctor again. This is because less time is usually needed once the doctor has become familiar with your condition. Currently the Medicare rebate for a ‘subsequent (review) consultation’ is about $33.00, which is half or more of the cost of the visit.
Post-Operative Consultation
During the postoperative period, the cost of visiting the doctor is included in the operation fee. The period this applies to varies according to the surgery.
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Picture: Fiberscope |
Extra costs
If a procedure is performed at the time of the consultation, you may be charged extra for this. Procedures include ear toilet, biopsies and endoscopic examination of the larynx and pharynx using a fiberscope. Your Medicare rebate will cover between 80% and 100% of the cost for these services
How will I be charged and how should I pay?
At the end of your consultation you will be issued with an invoice, which is to be paid at the time of your consultation. You may pay with cash, cheque, EFTPOS or credit card (MasterCard and Visa only). You will be required to pay the whole cost of the consultation and then take the invoice to Medicare for a rebate.
Medicare Easyclaim
Medicare Easyclaim allows us lodge your Medicare claims using our EFTPOS terminal and have the rebate paid into you bank account almost immediately.
How does Medicare Easyclaim work?
- You can make the payment for your account as usual (eg. cash, cheque, credit card or EFTPOS).
- Your Medicare card is then swiped through our EFTPOS terminal.
- We enter basic details into the EFTPOS terminal and the claim is sent to Medicare Australia for verification and an approval is sent back to the terminal within seconds.
- We then swipe your EFTPOS card through the EFTPOS terminal and you enter your PIN to accept the deposit.
The Medicare rebate is paid directly into your cheque or savings account almost immediately.
For us to process your claim you must bring your Medicare card and Eftpos card with you to your appointment. (Please note that the EFTPOS card must be linked to a Savings or Cheque account).
Operation costs
What are the costs?
There are a number of fees and charges that are involved in the operation costs. These include:
- Surgeon
- Anaesthetist
- Hospital
- Other – Medications, X-Ray, Pathology etc
Can I get an estimate of fees?
Dr Wallwork will provide you with an estimate of fees relating to the proposed operation. In most cases it will be an accurate estimate but depending on operative findings, fewer or additional services may be required and these will result in altered charges. The estimate provided will outline the total fee, the rebate from Medicare and your Health Fund (if you have private insurance) and the ‘out-of-pocket’ expense for your procedure.
The anaesthetist can also give you an estimate of their fees if you contact them and give them the item numbers that will be listed on the estimate from Dr Wallwork.
The hospital will be able to provide estimates of bed costs and extra costs dependent on your level of private insurance cover.
What is an Out-Of-Pocket expense?
If I have private insurance cover:
There will be often be a gap between the fees that Dr Wallwork charges and the amount that Medicare and your Health Fund will pay. This amount is your ‘out-of-pocket’ expense that is your responsibility to pay.
If I do not have private insurance
There will be a gap between the fees that Dr Wallwork charges and the amount that Medicare will pay. This amount is your ‘out-of-pocket’ expense that is your responsibility to pay.
How will I be charged and how should I pay?
Dr Wallwork’s account will be sent to you in the mail following your discharge from hospital. The way your account will be billed will be dependent on your private insurance cover and the health fund that you are with. This will be explained in more detail on the estimate of fees that you are given.
Intermediate Operation Costs
In the case of an intermediate booking (ie being treated as a private patient in a public hospital) it is a requirement for intermediate operation bookings that a deposit is paid at least 5 working days prior to the operation date. The deposit amount is usually based on your ‘out-of-pocket’ amount that is detailed on your estimate of fees. Once paid this will confirm your procedure booking. You will be provided with a receipt of your deposit and this amount is deducted from your final account that is sent to your after your discharge from hospital.
Anaesthetist Fee
This account will be sent to you after your discharge from hospital. It will be billed similarly to Dr Wallwork’s account. To find our more information regarding this, check with your anaesthetist when you get your estimate of fees.
Hospital Fees
If you have an excess of your private health insurance you will be required to pay this on admission. If you do not have private health insurance, you will be required to pay part or all of the anticipated hospital costs on admission. The remainder will have to be paid when you are discharged.
Other Fees
Other fees including, medications, x-ray, pathology etc will be sent to you in the mail following your discharge
Preparing for Surgery
Pre-Operatively
When preparing for surgery there are a few things that you need to do.
Admission:
Prior to coming to hospital, you will be required to contact the admissions centre. This will confirm your admission and enable the hospital to collect your personal and financial details and to collect your health history. This will take 15 to 20 minutes. More information about this will be in your admission booklet that you are given at the time of booking your surgery.
Medications:
You should continue to take your usual medications in the lead up to your surgery and on the morning of your surgery unless instructed to do otherwise (eg. Diabetic medication may be altered on the day of surgery). The exception to this rule is anti-coagulant medications. A large number of patients are on these medications to ‘thin the blood’. Examples of these medications are:
- Aspirin
- Cartia
- Astrix
- Plavix
- Warfarin
- Clopidrogel
Such medications should generally be stopped 10 days prior to the surgery as they cause excess bleeding. If you are on any of these medications or believe that you may be taking something similar then you should contact Dr Wallwork to determine whether or not you should cease taking it.
In some cases patients will be prescribed medication to take in the week prior to their surgery to treat infection or reduce swelling. This will be discussed with you when your surgery is booked.
Smoking:
Patients who smoke should cease doing so as early as possible before their surgery. Smoking has been proven to result in worse outcomes following some types of surgery and also is associated with increased complications from the anaesthetic.
On the Day of Surgery
Fasting:
You will receive fasting instructions from the hospital prior to your surgery. In general you should have noting to eat or drink in the 6 hours prior to your surgery. More information about this will be in your admission booklet that you are given at the time of booking your surgery.
X-Rays/Scans:
It is very important that you bring any X-Rays, MRI Scans or CT Scans that you may have had performed, with you on the day of your surgery.
Post-Operatively
You will be given specific post-operative instructions relating to your procedure. More information regarding this can be obtained from the information booklet you will be provided with pre-operatively.
Following your procedure you will be given an appointment time to come back and see Dr Wallwork for a ‘post-operative appointment’. If between the time of your discharge from hospital and your port-operative appointment you have any concerns you should contact Dr Wallwork’s rooms. During office hours we will be able to answer you directly or after hours you will be directed to the on-call ENT surgeon. If you require emergency assistance you should attend the nearest hospital emergency department.
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