You will need a referral to Dr Smith for a consultation. This can be obtained from your general practitioner or other medical specialist. If you already have a referral please contact Dr Smith’s rooms to make an appointment.
BEFORE YOUR APPOINTMENT
Dr Smith may request that further investigations be arranged prior to your appointment. This is undertaken to ensure the optimal management of your condition in a timely manner.
We also recommend downloading and completing your Patient Registration Form at a convenient time before your appointment. You can email the completed form to admin@drgeoffreysmith.com.au
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If you don’t manage to complete this form prior to the visit, our staff in rooms will be happy to help you to complete them when you arrive.
THE DAY OF YOUR APPOINTMENT
What to bring with you:
- The referral from your GP or other medical specialist
- Your x-rays and any other scans (ultrasound, CT and MRI)
- Copies of the results of nerve conduction studies (if appropriate) and any blood tests or pathology undertaken in the previous month of two
- List of current medications, their dosage and frequency
- Medicare card
- Health insurance details or workers compensation details
- Completed registration form and medical history form (or complete at the clinic)
- Means of payment for the consultation (EFTPOS or credit card)
Please feel free to bring a family member or close friend with you to the consultation. They are most welcome and can ease the stress of the appointment. They might also help you to remember some important questions as well as helping you to recall information discussed at the consultation.
The consultation:
The initial consultation with Dr Smith will take about half an hour and will involve a physical examination. He will review your investigations and go through the results with you. Some consultations can take longer if the problem is complex or arrangements for surgery are required. Dr Smith will discuss your condition with you and inform you of the treatment options. Together with you, Dr Smith will decide on the best treatment for you.
If surgery is necessary, a date for surgery can be booked at this consultation or you may contact us later to select a date. Patients are under no pressure whatsoever to go ahead with surgery. If you are unsure at any time please feel free to contact us.
Fees
There is a charge for the initial consultation, part of which you can claim back from Medicare. This fee is payable at the time of consultation.
Dr Smith believes that informed financial consent is an integral part of your care.
If you and Dr Smith have together decided that surgery is the best treatment option for you, you will be provided with an estimate of fees, outlining surgical costs and including an approximation of out of pocket expenses.
There will be separate additional costs involved for the hospital (including implants and equipment) and also your anaesthetist and Dr Smith’s assistant surgeon.
We will provide you with the relevant contact details to allow you to request information on these other costs.
For emergency procedures it may not be possible to provide a written estimate of fees although Dr Smith will provide you with as much information as possible.
Of course, things may change during an operation and therefore the estimate of fees is an approximation only and so the final bill may be different to the estimate.
For all appointments and enquiries, please phone (02) 9587 4720 or email admin@drgeoffreysmith.com.au
St George SportsMed
Level 2, Suite 201
131 Princes Highway
Kogarah NSW 2217
(Entry from South St)
Monday to Friday
8:30am - 5:00pm
Fax: (02) 9587 6927
