| Q: | How long will my appointment take? |
| A: | The time your appointment will take can vary - no two patient appointments are exactly the same. This can depend on the nature of your condition, and whether further tests or hospital admissions are necessary. |
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| Q: | What is covered and not covered by Medicare? |
| A: | Click here to see more about Medicare rebates and cover. |
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| Q: | When is a hip replacement necessary? |
| A: | A hip replacement may be necessary to prevent pain and increase mobility due to a damaged hip joint. Osteoarthritis is one of the most common cause of hip replacements. The procedure may also be used for those with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, or a fractured femur (thigh bone). |
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| Q: | Which Private Hospitals does Mr. Lowe operate at? |
| A: | The Valley Private Hospital, Mulgrave for joint replacements. Also Waverley Private Hospital, Mount Waverley, for small operations and day procedures. |
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| Q: | If I am uninsured, can I have my operation in a public hospital? |
| A: | Yes, Mr. Lade operates at Dandenong District hospital, and Western General Hospital, and Mr. Li operates at Alfred, Western General, and Williamstown Public hospitals. |
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| Q: | How much is a consultation with the specialist? |
| A: | Refer to Billing system, and Medicare Rebates. The consultation fee does vary with different specialists. |
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| Q: | Why do I need a referral and how long does it last? |
| A: | A referral can take the form of a letter from another doctor, requesting specialist treatment, and is required to confirm with Medicare that such a request was made. You are then entitled to the specialist rebate amount from Medicare for your treatment fees. A referral from a General practitioner is valid for 12 months, unless your doctor makes it an "indefinite" referral, to enable continued follow up and treatment of one condition. A referral from another specialist is only valid for 3 months. A new referral is required for each different condition you consult about. |
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| Q: | How long will I be hospitalised after a hip or knee replacement operation? |
| A: | Approximately one week. If there a problems with returning directly home, e.g.you are elderly and/or live alone, you can be transferred to a Rehabilitation unit for 1 to 2 weeks. |
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| Q: | Where do I go for Rehabilitation? |
| A: | Most of our patients are referred to th Victorian Rehabilitation Unit, in Springvale Road, Glen Waverley. We also refer to Donvale Rehabilitation, Peter James Rehabilitation, in East Burwood, and Cedar Court Rehabilitation in Glen Iris. |
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| Q: | How long do I have to wait for an operation? |
| A: | You may have to pass a fitness assessment first, involving review by our specialist physician, and this may delay your operation until we are sure there are no potential medical problems. Once this has been clarified, mostly your operation can be done within a month, and every effort is made to accommodate your personal preferences. |
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| Q: | Will I need crutches? |
| A: | Yes. Forearm type crutches are preferred, and these are hired from our physiotherapy department, unless you have your own. Our physiotherapists will show you how to use your crutches correctly. You will require other equipment after surgery, and our pre-admissions nurse organises all this, so you should not have to concern yourself. |
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| Q: | What about accounts from the assistant surgeon, and the anaesthetist? |
| A: | Yes, there will be fees from these doctors. Our assistant surgeon usually directly bills your health fund if it offers this facility. If not you will receive an account, if uninsured you will have to pay this before your operation, to your surgeon, who will pass the fee on for receipting to help you reclaim your rebate. Anaesthetists vary in their billing procedures, and we will provide contact details for you to obtain details about your anaesthetist's account. |
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