New Patient Information

The following are important information that you need to be aware of before seeing Dr Schuyler Tan.

• Please note that this practice is now online-only. All consults must include both video and audio feeds.

  Please click on the following link to book your appointment.

  https://squareup.com/appointments/book/65g7l37r7b9zk1/LJZQ2N6B41ZG3/services

  Please start your booking by signing in. Enter your mobile number and you will be sent an SMS with a code to login. You will need to complete the registration process and register a credit card. You can then proceed to booking your appointment. This allows for seamless payment to be made after the consult and forwarding to Medicare for processing of the rebate. Please ensure that you have adequate funds on your card at the time of consultation.

  Here is the link to the online consulting room.

  https://zoom.us/j/9967342009?pwd=LytmUm1tMGtuTEIyL0dEdysrZlNUdz09

  Meeting ID: 996 734 2009

  Password: 914042

• Medicare rebates have not kept up with the cost of maintaining practice hence there remains an out of pocket cost. Medicare, however, offers a safety net depending on your individual or family circumstances. Please ensure that you or your family are registered for the safety net which allows you to claim a higher rebate from Medicare when the safety net threshold is reached. Admin staff can process your Medicare claim at the time of payment, and you should receive your rebate in a few days’ time from Medicare.
• Specialist referrals from your General Practitioner (GP) last for 12 months unless otherwise stated. Some GPs are happy to provide referrals for an indefinite period if ongoing care beyond 12 months is required. It is important that you are aware of the referral dates as it is illegal for medical practitioners to backdate referrals. If your referral is expired at the time of consultation, you will be liable for the full cost of the consultation without the benefit of the Medicare rebate.
• Private health funds do not provide rebates for outpatient specialist appointments. Patients who are not residents of Australia can usually obtain rebates depending on their insurance cover.
• Dr Tan is happy to refer to another psychiatrist for a 2nd or 3rd opinion if there is any disagreement regarding diagnosis or proposed treatment.
• Information provided during the consultation is confidential. However, you need to be aware that courts may request clinical notes and the limits of confidentiality can be overridden if there is a risk of harm to yourself or others.
• Private psychiatric services have limited capacity to attend to psychiatric emergencies. If there is an emergency and/or it is after hours, you/your carer must contact the relevant public mental health service. ( http://www.health.vic.gov.au/mentalhealthservices/adult/index.htm ). Dr Tan is happy to be contacted by professionals and will provide relevant information as requested with your consent.
• If you are flexible with your time and would like to go on a cancellation list, please book your appointment online and inform Dr Tan. Your appointment will then be moved to an earlier date if a cancellation occurs. If you decline an appointment whilst on the cancellation list, you will need to go online and book a new appointment as your original appointment will most likely have been taken.
• Please note that you will be liable for the full cost of the session without any Medicare rebate if you cancel less than 48 hours before the appointment. No shows will attract the same cost.
• SMS and email reminders are automatically sent out 48 hours prior to your appointments. An email is sent 24 hours prior and an SMS is sent an hour before your appointment. Please note that these are courtesy reminders. It is your responsibility to keep track of your appointments. It is also your responsibility to update Dr Tan of your current address and mobile phone number.
• Dr Tan is unable to provide scripts outside of a consultation. Please remember to inform Dr Tan of your script or paperwork requirements at the start of the consultation. If you are on a Schedule 8 medication that requires an authority such as methylphenidate (Ritalin, Ritalin LA, Concerta) or dexamfetamine/lisdexamfetamine, you must schedule your appointment within a week of you running out of your medications. Otherwise, it will not be possible to obtain an approval number from PBS.
• Scripts are now provided electronically direct to patients. In order for you to receive an electronic script, you will need to have an Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI) number. (https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individual-healthcare-identifiers). You will receive a QR code via email whic you then present to your pharmacy. This QR code can only be used once, and you must ensure that your pharmacy sends you a new QR code for any repeat prescriptions.
• Please note that private medical records made during consulation remain the property of Dr Tan.

• Private health funds have individual contracts with each private hospital regarding the specifics of cover. The range of cover can vary over time, and it would be wise to ask your health fund and confirm this with the hospital intake officer before coming to the hospital.
• The hospital will have rules such as appropriate clothing, length of electric cables, etc. that are allowed. Please ask the intake officer for an orientation.
• Dr Tan will discuss with you and come to an agreement with you regarding the goal/s of admission and duration of hospital stay. The admission is usually between 2 to 3 weeks.
• Private psychiatric hospitals are only able to cater for patients who can consent to assessment and treatment. If you become impaired and/or become a risk to yourself or others, you may need to be transferred to a public mental health facility for ongoing care
• If you have further questions, please feel free to contact Dr Schuyler Tan.
• Please click the following for further details.
• MedicareSafetyNetExplainedv2.pdf