Frequently Asked Questions

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Main Street Medical runs an appointment system for your convenience, but we do keep times aside to fit in issues requiring urgent attention. You can make an appointment by telephoning reception on 03 9739 3837 or logging onto HealthEngine. Please inform our receptionists of any unusual time constraints or if you require a longer appointment.

We try to minimise waiting times, but delays are sometimes unavoidable – this is because some consultations take longer than expected and emergencies do arise. If you wish, you can phone the clinic prior to your consultation to check on waiting times. Appointments are made at 10 minute intervals and standard consultations run for 10 to 20 minutes. If you think you will require a longer consultation, please arrange this at the time you make your appointment.

In the event you need medical advice when the clinic is closed, call Nurse on Call 1300 60 60 24 for the cost of a local call from anywhere in Victoria for health advice 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

REMEMBER – in an EMERGENCY always call ‘000’ to get an Ambulance OR go to the nearest Emergency Department at a Hospital.

We urge you to always cancel your appointment if you are unable to attend via the following options:

  • Call reception on 03 9739 3837
  • Appointments booked online via HotDoc can be cancelled via HotDoc
  • Cancel your appointment via your HotDoc confirmation message
  • Visit the practice in person

Unfortunately, each month we have many hours of wasted clinical time due to non-attendance. We understand that appointments can be overlooked at times, however missed appointments could have been offered to other patients who needed them.

Our Fail To Arrive (FTA) Policy states that after multiple FTA during a period of 12 months, we may charge additional fees before a patient is seen. We have been monitoring non-attendances over the past few months and unfortunately have noticed a gradual increase, hence we will be implementing our FTA Policy more stringently. Please see below our Non-Attendance and Cancellation Policy for further details.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Our practice policy is that all patients will be charged a fee at each appointment unless qualifying for bulk-billing. Medicare cardholders will have their rebate returned from Medicare.

The following groups will remain bulk-billed: under 16 years, health care cardholders, pension cardholders, DVA Gold cardholders, ATSI.

Please see below our fees for general consultations. We have EFTPOS and cash facilities available.

GENERAL CONSULTATIONS

FEE STRUCTURE

CONSULT FEE + MEDICARE REBATE = TOTAL FEE PAYABLE ON DAY

CONSULTATION LENGTH CONSULT FEE

+

MEDICARE REBATE = TOTAL FEE PAYABLE ON DAY
Standard (item 23) $37 .00 $41.20 $78.20
Long (item 36) $52.00 $79.70 $131.70
Extended (item 44) $67.00 $117.40 $184.40

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NEW PATIENTS

FEE STRUCTURE

All new patients will be charged privately for their first appointment regardless of bulk-billing eligibility as per practice policy.

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PHONE CONSULTATIONS

FEE STRUCTURE

A private fee for all telephone consultations is effective from Tuesday 1st November 2022 onwards.

We have kept the fee as low as possible and patients will be required to pay for their consultation, in full, on the day of their appointment.  Your Medicare rebate will be processed during payment and will be back in your account within 24 hours.

How does this work?

All phone consultations must be booked via HotDoc from Tuesday 1st November 2022 onwards.

Upon booking your appointment, HotDoc will request your card details and store via secure payment method Pin Payments (see https://pinpayments.com/privacy for Pin Payments privacy policy) so that this can be used for payment of your consultation fee after your appointment. There will be no charges made to your card until after your appointment is completed.

After your appointment, reception will charge your card using the stored card details and process your Medicare rebate (if eligible) immediately. Medicare will then rebate all eligible Medicare cardholders within 24 hours.

FEES

$69.70 payable on the day of consultation

($28.50 private fee + $41.20 Medicare rebate)

Our Fail To Arrive (FTA) Policy states that after multiple FTA during a period of 12 months, we may charge additional fees before a patient is seen. We have been monitoring non-attendances over the past few months and unfortunately have noticed a gradual increase, hence we will be implementing our FTA Policy more stringently.

General consultations

Please understand that appointment times are limited. If you must cancel your appointment, we respectfully request 2 hours notice. Missed appointments, or appointments cancelled without 2 hours notice, will incur a fee of $35.

Psychology appointments

All psychology appointments with Dr Wendy Schaffer will incur a fee of $45 for late cancellation (less than 24 hours prior to appointment time) or non-attendance.

Long appointments require a $50 deposit paid upon booking. You will be contacted by reception prior to your appointment. This deposit will be deducted from the total fee payable on the day.

Your medical record is a confidential document and we value your privacy. It is the policy of this practice to maintain the security of personal health information at all times to ensure information is only available to authorised staff members. The practice complies with the Health Records Act (Victoria 2001), the Privacy Act (Commonwealth 1988) and the Health Services (Conciliation and Review) Act 1995.

This medical clinic has visiting medical students and or new doctors to the clinic on occasion. They will sit in on consultations for educational and training purposes. Patients will be advised when this occurs and be given the choice as to whether the student will be allowed to observe and/or have access to their health records.

In the interest of continual improvement, Main Street Medical would appreciate any feedback in relation to the clinic, our team and the services we offer.

Complaints

We take complaints very seriously at Main Street Medical. By contacting the clinic via phone or email, be assured that your complaint will be handled thoroughly by the practice manager and the directors will also be notified. In return, we will notify you of the outcome of your complaint and options of resolution.

Compliments

At Main Street Medical, we appreciate all forms of feedback and compliments are always appreciated. Please contact us via phone or email with any feedback you may have.

Health Complaints Commissioner

If you require a copy of your medical records to be transferred to another clinic, the process is as follows:

  1. Patient (or guardian) to complete request for transfer of medical records form at new clinic
  2. Completed form faxed or posted to Main Street Medical reception
  3. Request passed to patient’s regular doctor for approval of release
  4. Once release of records is approved, patient will be notified via post of any costs applicable (please see below)
  5. Once payment is received, records will be posted to new clinic

Please allow 5-10 business days for approval process.

If you require a copy of your medical records for personal use, the process is as follows:

  1. Patient (or guardian) to complete request for health information form
  2. Completed form handed to Main Street Medical reception
  3. Request passed to patient’s regular doctor for approval of release
  4. Once release of records is approved, patient will be notified via post of any costs applicable (please see below)
  5. Once payment is received, records will be released to patient

Please allow 5-10 business days for approval process.

Fees

Main Street Medical is able to send requested medical records via post with tracking number on a disc or as a hardcopy. There is a fee of $15.00 applicable for medical records transfer.