Dr Ania Hargrove MBBS FRACP (Paediatrcs)

Information for Patients

1. Child Attendance Requirement

   • As per Medicare regulations, the child must be present during the consultation.

2. Referral and Medicare Rebates

   • A valid doctor’s referral is required to claim a Medicare rebate.

   • Referrals are valid for 12 months, after which a new referral must be obtained from your local doctor.

3. Appointment Details

   • Appointments are triaged based on urgency.

   • Initial Appointment: Lasts approximately 45–60 minutes.

   • Review Appointments: Typically last 30–45 minutes, depending on complexity.

   • Babies under 12 months of age will be prioritised and are often placed on a cancellation list in addition to being booked for the next available appointment.

   • Patients on the cancellation list may be offered appointments at short notice (1–2 days).

4. Cancellation Policy

   • If you no longer need an appointment, please notify us so that the slot can be offered to another family.

   • A non-refundable $100 booking fee is required for new appointments. This will be deducted from the cost of your first consultation.

5. Medical Reports

   • A copy of your child’s medical report will typically be emailed to the address you provided.

   • If you do not wish to receive an emailed copy, please let us know.

6. AI Transcription Software

   • Dr. Ania uses Lyrebird Health Artificial Intelligence (AI) software during consultations to assist in real-time transcription and recording of discussions.

   • If you prefer not to have this software used, please inform us in advance.

7. Preparation for Your Appointment

   • To ensure a smooth consultation, please complete the attached registration form before your appointment.

We are committed to providing the highest level of care for your child and appreciate your cooperation.

Please understand that Dr Ania is not able to provide any medical advice over email (unless specifically pre arranged on case by case basis).

About Skin Prick Tests

Skin prick tests are a helpful tool for diagnosing and monitoring immediate food allergies. However, not all food reactions require this type of testing.

What to Expect

• Skin prick tests are quick, taking approximately 5 minutes to perform, with results available within 15 minutes.

• They feel similar to mosquito bites and itch just as much.

• To prevent scratching, the test is usually performed on a child’s back.

Common Allergens Tested

Most food allergies are caused by a limited range of foods for which commercial extracts are available. These include:

• Milk

• Soy

• Peanuts

• Tree nuts

• Sesame

Testing for Less Common Allergens

If there are concerns about less common allergens, such as fruits, meats, fish, or shellfish, please bring a small portion of the suspected food to your child’s appointment for testing.

Preparation for the Test

1. Avoid Moisturisers:

   • Do not apply moisturisers to your child’s back on the day of the appointment, as this is where the test will be performed. You may use creams on other parts of the body if needed.

2. Avoid Antihistamines:

   • Do not give your child antihistamines for at least 4 days prior to the appointment, as they interfere with test results. This includes:

     • Zyrtec

     • Claratyne

     • Aerius

     • Phenergan

     • Polaramine

     • Vallergan

     • Demazin

     • Dimetapp

3. Continue Other Medications:

   • All other medications, such as asthma medications and nasal sprays, can be continued as usual.

When Skin Prick Tests Cannot Be Performed

Skin prick testing will not be performed if your child:

• Has taken oral antihistamines within the last 4 days.

• Has a febrile illness.

• Has acute asthma requiring Ventolin within 48 hours of the appointment.

• Had an anaphylactic reaction within the past 6–8 weeks.

Rescheduling

If your child is:

• Unwell with a febrile illness.

• Experiencing acute asthma.

• Has taken oral antihistamines within 4 days of the appointment.

Please contact us to reschedule.

By following these guidelines, we can ensure the most accurate and reliable results for your child’s testing.

Fees and Payment

• Individual paediatrician fees will be provided via email when booking an appointment.

• Payment is required on the day of the consultation.

• Future appointments and medical reports will not be issued until the account is paid in full.

Payment Options:

• Credit card and EFTPOS facilities are available.

• There are no transaction fees for EFTPOS, cheque, or savings transactions.

• Credit card surcharge fees apply:

  • 1.1% for Visa and Mastercard

  • 1.65% for American Express

Medicare and Referrals

• A referral from a general practitioner (GP) is required to claim a Medicare rebate for specialist consultations.

• GP referrals are typically valid for 12 months.

• Patients without a valid GP referral may not be eligible to claim the Medicare rebate.

Billing Policies

• Bulk billing and fee reductions are not available.

• If cost is a concern, you may ask your GP for a referral to a public hospital or publicly funded clinic as an alternative free service.

Fee Adjustments

• Fees are reviewed annually to account for inflation.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Cancellation Policy

• Appointment Reminders: You will receive a courtesy SMS reminder for your upcoming appointment 7 days in advance.

• Waitlist Management: If you cannot attend your appointment, please notify us as soon as possible so we can offer the slot to another child on the cancellation list.

• Rescheduling Responsibility: It is the family’s responsibility to contact us to reschedule the appointment.

• Cancellation Fee: A $100 fee will apply if an appointment is not cancelled at least 48 hours in advance.

• Non-Response Policy: If we do not receive confirmation or cancellation within 48 hours of your appointment, the appointment will be cancelled and allocated to another patient.

• Non-Refundable Booking Fee: The booking fee for first-time appointments is non-refundable.

Your understanding and cooperation in helping us manage appointments efficiently are greatly appreciated.

• Medical Reports: After your appointment, a copy of the medical report will typically be emailed to the address you provided. If you do not wish to receive the report via email, please inform us.

• Requests Without an Appointment: Dr Ania will determine if scripts, allergy plans, additional forms, letters, or reports can be provided without requiring an in-clinic appointment.

• Fees:

  • A $20 fee applies to all scripts and allergy plans requested outside of appointments.

  • A $50 fee applies to all reports, letters, or forms requested outside of appointments.

Thank you for your understanding regarding these administrative policies.

Dr Ania is committed to providing the best care for your child. Dr Ania believes that collaboration and communication between both parents is crucial for the child’s overall well-being, including their health, education, social life, and an agreed-upon parenting framework. This form outlines responsibilities and commitments to ensure effective management of your child’s care, minimise conflict, and respect the rights of both parents.

Communication & Responsibilities

• We will communicate directly with the parent who books the appointment.

• It is the responsibility of the parent making the appointment to inform the other parent of the appointment details and ensure their availability before booking. This is especially important as our reminder service sends SMS reminders only to the parent who arranges the appointment.

By bringing your child to the appointment, we will assume, in good faith, that both parents consent to the assessment and any agreed-upon treatment for your child’s care.

Financial Responsibility

• Bills must be paid at the time of the appointment. Any financial arrangements or issues related to Medicare or health fund claims should be discussed and negotiated between both parents. The parent who books the appointment is responsible for payment.

Child Protection

• If there is any risk of harm to the child or a disclosure that requires a report to the Department of Family and Community Services, Dr Ania will take the necessary action as required by law.

Required Documents

Before the appointment, we will need:

1. Copies of any court or parenting orders regarding medical decision-making for the child.

2. Questionnaires and forms to be completed by each parent (unless one parent has sole custody for medical decision-making). This ensures we have a full understanding of your child’s behaviour and needs.

We appreciate your cooperation in these matters to ensure the best care for your child.

Purpose for Collecting Information The information we collect is used for the following purposes:

1. Administrative tasks related to the operation of the medical practice.

2. Billing, including compliance with Medicare and Health Insurance Commission requirements.

3. Sharing information with other healthcare providers involved in patient's care, such as treating doctors and specialists. This may include referrals, medical tests, and reports/results returned to us after these referrals.

Patient/Guardian Acknowledgement By signing this form, I acknowledge and agree to the following:

1. I have read and understand why the collection of my information is necessary, and I am aware of this practice’s privacy policy regarding patient information.

2. I understand that I am not obligated to provide the requested information. However, I recognise that failure to do so may limit the practice’s ability to provide the best care and treatment for me or my child.

3. I am aware that I have the right to access the information collected about me, except in cases where access may be legally withheld. If this occurs, I will be given an explanation.

4. I understand that if my information is to be used for purposes beyond those outlined above, I will be asked for my consent.

5. I consent to the handling of my information as outlined above, subject to any restrictions on access or disclosure that I may notify the practice about, either now or in the future.

6. A copy of my medical report will be emailed to the email address I provided. If I do not wish to receive the report via email, I will inform the practice.

7. The practice may use AI transcription services for consultations. If I do not wish for this, I will notify the practice.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.