To bring to appointments.
Who to bring to the appointment:
Your Child
Your child should always come to their appointment unless your paediatric specialist has agreed otherwise prior to the appointment. Your child’s attendance is required to allow Medicare Rebate claims.
Your child’s doctor needs to see, interact with and examine your child. They will seek to understand your child’s experience or feelings and get to know you and your child. Children should have the opportunity to develop a relationship based on trust with their doctor.
Older children and adolescents can give vital input and benefit from participation in discussions about results, medications and their healthcare generally.
Video appointments:
Your child’s participation is required so that the doctor can observe and interact with your child.
Video appointments work best with a laptop or computer with a monitor set up in a contained room, with some activities to help your child stay engaged or near the camera and microphone. More information on preparing for a Video Appointment is here.
What if parents wish to have an appointment without the child?
Very occasionally, a parent may attend an appointment alone but only when agreed, in advance, by your doctor; this may be agreed upon in situations where the child is well known to your doctor and because of the child’s condition. Parents may obtain a separate referral for themselves to see the specialist to avoid larger out-of-pocket costs.
Opportunities to speak with the doctor without my child being present?
Advise practice staff or your doctor if you feel it is important to limit your child’s exposure to some of the discussions with your doctor. Some parents send a brief email to outline some of their concerns.
However, parents should keep in mind that children and adolescents will normally be aware of their parents talking about them. They may feel uncomfortable or upset by their parents' and doctors' perceived negativity and being talked about. Our paediatricians have a lot of experience and training in working sensitively with children and will be understanding and tactful with their young patients.
.Set the Video Appointment up so your child can do an activity further away from the computer to distract them when you need to have a more discreet discussion with the doctor.
An additional carer to supervise and accompany your child while you talk with the doctor.
We will aim to ensure your child feels welcome. However, children often appreciate the company of a carer and may need supervision and assistance with their behaviour.
You and any additional carer are asked to
help your child use the rooms, fixtures, furnishings, toys, books, and other equipment safely and only for their intended use..
ensure that electrical equipment is not operated and that staff areas are not entered unless invited to and supervised by staff or your provider.
support social distancing and hand, cough and sneeze hygiene..
respect others and avoid excessive noise and disruption to the work of staff and providers and the enjoyment of other families.
avoid the need for cleaning, repair or replacement, which may be invoiced where soiling, damage or destruction of items or fixtures is significant and caused by failure to take reasonable care.
Both parents, if possible.
Parents' involvement in their child's healthcare is usually recommended, whether separated or together. Parental cooperation and communication are required to ensure that your child's other parent is kept informed and enabled to participate in their healthcare and contribute to the doctor's understanding of their child's history and concerns, including in appointments.
What to bring to the Appointment:
Documents:
MEDICAL REFERRAL- a hard copy in case it is needed
BLUE BOOK -the health record (for children up to 7 years of age)
any Forms you need the Doctor to complete
Questionnaires, reports etc
pAYMENT
Please ensure you have organised to pay the Fee immediately following the appointment. Medicare rebates will be claimed wherever possible. Rebates are normally paid within about 4 business hours of a claim.
What not to bring to appointments:
food or flavoured drinks or beverages-please do not bring these into the rooms.
Plan to eat a snack or meal at home or in a nearby park or cafe before or after the appointment.
We ask that visitors not bring any food, snacks or drinks other than water into the rooms.
The exception is formula or breastmilk for your baby.
Food and beverage spillage and soiling create:
very significant extra cleaning costs;
infection risk for a range of bacteria and viruses such as Gastroenteritis, RSV Bronchiolitis, Covid 19;
allergen risks.
Snacking inhibits play & development.
We love to see children absorbed in and focused 100% on play, a book or in conversation.
Grazing and snacking distractedly inhibits healthy engagement with the world through play and conversation.
Grazing and snacking are not conducive to your child’s long-term metabolic health or a healthy emotional relationship with food. Sitting down together to share in a healthy meal or snack and a few minutes of relaxed social interaction is the ideal.
Screens & tablets, etc
We understand that some children need these devices due to their disability.
However, all children need a lot less screen time and can benefit from the social and play opportunities available in a visit to their doctor.
Social Media use is discouraged for all visiting children and adolescents; loud videos or electronic games should not be played.
infectious viruses.
If you or your child are ill on the day of the appointment or have suffered gastro symptoms within the prior 48 hours, please advise us before attending the rooms.
YOUR DOCTOR WILL REQUIRE YOU TO ATTEND VIA VIDEO, RESCHEDULE THE APPOINTMENT OR MAKE SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS TO MINIMISEthe RISK OF VIRAL TRANSMISSION TO OTHERS.
Illnesses such as Influenza, Gastroenteritis, Bronchiolitis, RSV and COVID-19 can pose very serious risks, especially to infants, small children and other immuno-compromised people who may be exposed in the practice. If doctors become ill, care for babies and children can be disrupted.
To enter the Video Appointment Reception, click here.
Things left behind.
Sometimes families leave things behind, such as a toy, or item of clothing. Space for storage is tight; unfortunately, we cannot hold onto items left behind indefinitely. We will try to contact you, but if you have left something behind, please arrange to collect it within a few days. If not collected after a week or so, we must regretfully dispose of the item or give it to charity. In our experience, very few left-behind items are ever inquired about or collected.
