What is a consultation?
A consultation is a face-to-face appointment with your sleep and respiratory physician at a GenesisCare centre. This is an important part of your health care: it provides the opportunity to meet your specialist and ask any questions you may have.
A valid letter or referral from a doctor (such as your GP) is needed before you book a consultation. If your GP has referred you to us, they have requested specialist care or advice regarding your sleep health.
New patient consultations may take up to 45 minutes. Review consultations are approximately 30 minutes.
During the consultation, your sleep and respiratory physician will conduct a thorough assessment by asking questions about your health history, family history and your lifestyle. They may also perform simple respiratory testing or refer you to a testing facility for this.
Some patients will be asked to have tests prior to their consultation. If you are one of those patients, we will discuss your results with you at your initial consultation. Your sleep and respiratory physician will also advise if more tests or treatments such as CPAP therapy are recommended, and will talk about these options with you.
After your consultation, our sleep and respiratory physician will prepare a full report, which we will send to your referring doctor. This includes your test results and findings, along with any treatment recommendations and a follow-up schedule.
It is natural to be nervous before your consultation. However, our staff and sleep and respiratory physicians are very friendly and are here to help you. Our specialists are experts in their field, and are committed to achieving the best possible outcome for all our patients.
What should I expect at a consultation?
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Arrive at the GenesisCare centre and check in with reception staff
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You may need to have a routine assessment, or we may ask you to complete further paperwork
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You will then meet your specialist in a private consultation room and begin your consultation
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Once your consultation is complete, you will go back to reception to finalise your appointment
Patients can enquire about the cost of their consultation when making an appointment. Fees are often partially covered by Medicare. Please visit our payments page for more information.
How can I get the most out of my consultation?
- Try to arrive 15 minutes before your appointment
- Before you arrive, make a list of questions that you may have for your specialist, and bring them with you to your consultation
- You may wish to bring a family member or friend with you for support
- If you are currently on CPAP therapy, you may be asked to bring your CPAP equipment with you
- Switch off your mobile phone during your consultation
- If you have any questions during your consultation, please feel free to ask. Our staff are here to help you
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