General Appointment
Appointments
A referral is necessary to claim reimbursement from Medicare and/or your health fund (if privately insured). Consultation is by appointment.
New Patient Appointments
We ask that all new patients send their referral to our office prior to the initial appointment being made. This is to ensure that the presenting problem is addressed in an appropriate time frame as well as to help prepare you for your appointment.
If you are a new patient and wish to complete the Patient Information forms prior to you consult please download them here.
 New Patient Pack
WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR INITIAL APPOINTMENT
Appointment guidelines
Generally speaking you should allow 30 minutes for your first consultation with Dr Lam. Subsequent appointments are allocated 15 minutes. Please complete the enclosed paperwork prior to your appointment and return to the Receptionist. There may be times where Dr Lam is running late of schedule. If time is an issue for you please feel free to call our office 30 minutes prior to your appointment for confirmation.
If asked to attend your appointment with a full bladder.
A urinary flow test may be performed at your appointment followed by a bladder scan. The flow test is a non-invasive procedure which requires you to empty your bladder into a pot under a funnel. A machine will analyse your flow rate and produce a report. Dr Lam may also perform an ultrasound of your bladder in his rooms. This is performed to assess your lower urinary tract and voiding function. These tests require you to attend your appointment with a full bladder and you will be given instructions for this when your appointment is made. There will be no out of pocket expense for either of these tests as they are bulk billed to Medicare.
Pain prior to appointment
If you are experiencing significant pain and feel that you are not coping at home (e.g. patients with kidney stones) please either contact our office during business hours (9am-5pm) or alternatively present to the Calvary Wakefield Emergency Department where the Drs will examine you and contact Dr Lam if necessary.
GUIDE TO SURGICAL EXPENSES
For Privately Insured Patients - General
Dr Lam bills his accounts directly to the private health fund. However, some procedures will incur a “Gap” fee which will be payable no less than 48 hours prior to the procedure. You will be given an invoice for this when the surgery is booked. This amount is above what your health fund has agreed to pay for your procedure and is not able to be claimed by either Medicare or your health fund. Please contact our office for further information.
For Privately Insured Patients – daVinci Robot Radical Prostatectomy
As this procedure is only offered at the St Andrew's hospital, all fees will be billed directly to your private health fund. However there will be a non-rebatable gap fee for the assistant and for Dr Lam. In some instances there is also a hospital consumable fee. This consumable fee should be paid throught our office.
Public patients
Dr Lam has a public hospital appointment at the Repatriation General Hospital, Noarlunga Health Service and Royal Adelaide Hospital. If you wish to be treated at a public hospital you will be placed on the waiting list at either of these facilities as appropriate.
Public patients – self funding
If you wish to self fund your procedure/admission to a private hospital a quote can be arranged by our office. However the surgery will remain pending, until full payment is received. Medicare will provide a rebate for a portion of these expenses.
Overseas Students/Visitors with private health insurance
Full payment is required for all consultations (on the day) and procedures (no less than 48 hours prior). A receipt will be given which can then be forwarded to your health fund for reimbursement.
You will need the Adobe Reader to view and print these documents.
|
Appointments
