Getting a Specialist Medicare Referral Online
A General Practitioner (GP) is a doctor who has a general knowledge of medical matters but doesn’t specialise in a particular branch of medicine outside of family medicine. Therefore, if you have an illness or injury that’s in any way out of the ordinary, you will need to see someone who specialises in that condition to get appropriate help.
Getting an appointment to see a specialist isn’t something you can do yourself. Apart from not being aware of the correct procedure to do this and who you need to see, self-diagnosis really isn’t the best way to go.
Why a Specialist Referral is needed and how to obtain one
As a Medicare card holder, you may receive money from the government to cover medical costs when you go to see your GP, depending on your eligibility and what Medicare will cover. Similarly, a visit to a specialist will also generate a Medicare rebate but only if you have a referral letter from your GP.
A consultation with a GP may result in a referral if the doctor believes you need:
- specific treatment that is only available from a specialist
- further tests or investigation, such as X-rays, blood tests, scans or pathology services
- expertise in a field that only a specialist has.
Specialist referrals are typically required for patients who are thought to be suffering from cancer, respiratory problems or other conditions as well as complications in more common ailments. In these cases, the GP will supply a referral letter that provides details about you, your medical condition and your medical history including medication and allergies.
The purpose of the letter is so that an appointment with a suitable specialist can be made. The letter will provide enough information so that the specialist knows the reason for the referral and what is required, has details of you and your condition, and will not need to ask too many questions.
The normal way to get a referral letter is to visit your GP for a consultation. However, an appointment can be difficult to obtain, wastes time in travelling and sitting in the waiting room, and puts you at risk by being among other sick patients.
Why an Online Referral is Better
Rather than visiting your GP for a consultation, an online appointment is a much better prospect since it is much easier and quicker to arrange, can be cheaper and, being in the comfort of your home, is much less time-consuming. It also means precious appointment time at your GP is kept free for other patients.
Our online consultations are conducted by qualified doctors using a video call and are very thorough. We will fully investigate your condition and provide a referral letter for the appropriate specialist in most cases. If we believe a physical examination is necessary first, we’ll refer you back to your GP instead because we won’t take risks with your health.
We can nominate your regular GP on the referral letter and provide full details of the referral so your medical history is kept as complete as possible. We always work in your best interests and have your well-being as our top priority.
by Instant Consult
Source: https://www.instantconsult.com.au/getting-a-specialist-medicare-referral-online