Making a Referral
- Dr Joanna Morgan is a surgical specialist, and as such, Medicare will contribute to the cost of consultation provided there is an up to date referral from another doctor.
- Doctor referral letters are accepted in person, by post, fax or electronically (encrypted using Argus). Doctors may also ring Dr Joanna Morgan for advice and patient referral. Please indicate if the condition is urgent.
- Patients are invited to make appointments in person, by phone or electronically by using ‘Request an appointment form’. We will endeavour to schedule a consultation as soon as possible or at a time mutually suits.
- If you are a new patient to the practice of Dr Joanna Morgan, you may wish to electronically complete the ‘New patient registration form’. This will save some time prior to presenting to the practice for your first consultation.
- During COVID 19 pandemic, new referrals are being accepted and triaged. Patients will be consulted in person or by telehealth. We request new patients use this website to complete the ‘New patient registration form’ and ‘Privacy Policy’.
What to Bring
An up to date doctor’s referral letter.
Any medical letters or reports.
Examples are imaging reports, operative notes, histology results, blood tests and a medication list. These can provide valuable information into the current problem, but also an insight into other health issues and may be of unexpected relevance. Repeating tests can be a waste of money and time.
Actual medical imaging pictures or a CD.
Examples are ultrasounds, mammograms, CT scans, MRIs, x-rays, PET scans and nuclear medicine scans. Some companies like MIA have images stored securely on the internet which may be accessible by Dr Joanna Morgan. However, having the hard copies of current and old images is often easier to review and compare.
Medicare Card, credit card or cash.
If applicable, please also bring your Pensioner Concession Card (PCC), Health Care Card (HCC), Veteran’s Affairs card and Work cover details. These concessions will reduce the cost of a consultation.
Private Health Fund (PHF) membership details.
PHF generally do not pay for costs incurred seeing a surgical specialist out of hospital. However PHF may cover much of the expenses incurred as a patient in hospital, for example having surgery. Policies vary enormously. You should check with your PHF what is covered.
A support person.
It is well recognised that when under stress, much of what is communicated during a consultation may be forgotten or misunderstood. Having a close relative or friend accompany you, usually helps the situation. They may remind you of questions you may wish to ask, or recall information after the consultation.
During the pandemic a support person may be requested to listen in on the consultation on their mobile phone rather than be face to face with Dr Morgan. This change in practice has been implemented to minimise the risk of transfer of any air borne infection.
What to Expect
Creation of electronic medical record.
Please advise Dr Joanna Morgan’s secretary of your arrival to the practice. A confidential electronic medical record will be created and information entered.
Clinical assessment
Dr Joanna Morgan will take a thorough history of the problem, review test results and examine you. This may include an ultrasound in the consulting rooms. Sometimes a fine needle biopsy is recommended, but will be performed only with your permission. Joanna will summarise the situation and give her expert opinion and management plan. On occasion, an operation will be recommended.
Tests
Further tests may be requested. Pathology services are within the same premises and incredibly convenient for blood tests to be done promptly. Joanna’s secretary will facilitate further care by booking appointments for extra tests (for example image guided core biopsies) or to see other specialists as required.
Test results
The practice advises that you call up for test results a couple of working days later, or you may have a follow up appointment arranged. A copy of the results will also be sent to your local doctor.
Correspondence
A letter outlining the consultation will typically be sent to your doctor within 72 hours. Other specialists may also be notified of your attendance. Please provide other specialists’ names if applicable.
Operative procedures
If surgery is planned, Dr Joanna Morgan will discuss and explain the procedure in detail and the potential risks and perceived benefits. You may be provided with further literature to read. You have the option of seeking a second opinion if you feel uneasy about the situation. Dr Joanna Morgan’s secretary will organise the operation booking and liaise with the hospital, anesthetist and surgical assistant. She will provide you with a summary of the booking, pre-operative instructions, including fasting guidelines and a post-operative follow up appointment. An estimate of fees will be disclosed.
Follow up appointments
After a consultation, when required, follow up appointments will be scheduled with Dr Joanna Morgan. Alternatively your name can be added to a recall list and a reminder to make an appointment will be sent to you in due course. A few days before your next appointment, an SMS reminder can be sent to you.
Change of details
Please advise Dr Joanna Morgan’s secretary if your name, address or usual doctor has changed.
Arrangement of Fees
- Payment is expected on the day of consultation using EFTPOS, Visa, Mastercard or cash.
- Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) and Health Care Card (HCC) holders will be charged a reduced fee (in excess of Medicare Benefit Schedule (MBS) fee).
- Patients covered by Veteran’s Affairs and Workcover will not incur any fees, but any costs generated as a result of collecting fees will be passed onto the patient.
- Standard fees are applicable to patients without these concessions.
- Medicare will contribute to the fees provided there is a valid referral.
- Informed financial consent will be provided to patients who require surgery in hospital.
- We reserve the right to charge a consulting fee if you cancel an appointment within 24 hours of scheduled time.
- Due to the recent COVID 19 pandemic, new patient consultations may be conducted over the phone or video conferencing (telehealth). A discounted prepayment will be required.
Disclaimer
Please remember that medical information provided by the website of Dr Joanna Morgan, in the absence of a consultation with Dr Joanna Morgan, must be considered as an educational service only. The information sent through e-mail should not be relied upon as a medical consultation. This mechanism is not designed to replace Dr Joanna Morgan’s independent judgement about the appropriateness or risks of a procedure for a given patient. The practice of Dr Joanna Morgan will do their best to provide you with information that will help you make your own health care decisions.
Convenient links to information sources are provided for further interest only. Whilst credible, Dr Joanna Morgan does not control the content of these external sites (which are periodically updated) and cannot guarantee their accuracy or relevance in one’s personal circumstances.