Monash Obstetrics Kids

Yes, you do. We require your referral prior to making an appointment. Kindly email your referral to us.

Please make sure your referral includes the following information:

• Reason for referral
• Background history i.e. past and current diagnosis/ medications/ allergies
• Available relevant investigations

Email: reception@mobkids.com.au

Please be aware that you are not eligible for Medicare rebate without a valid referral from your GP.

If you are a parent or caregiver seeking a Medicare rebate for the consultation, we kindly ask that you bring your child to the appointment. We understand that some parents might feel a bit uneasy discussing their child's behaviour while the child is present. In such cases, we recommend having another adult accompany you. This way, one parent can talk with the paediatrician about their concerns while the child is supervised in the waiting room.

However, we want you to know that if you prefer, you can still see the paediatrician without bringing your child along. Just keep in mind that in this scenario, you won't be eligible for the Medicare rebate.

It's important to note that the paediatrician won't be able to provide a formal diagnosis until they've met the child and conducted a clinical assessment in person.

We want your child's visit to be as comfortable and productive as possible. To make sure everyone can focus and have a meaningful conversation, we kindly suggest limiting the number of family members in the consultation room.

While we appreciate your support, having too many people present can sometimes create distractions and make it a bit chaotic. This way, we can give your child the best attention and address your concerns effectively.

Thank you for understanding and cooperation.

Diagnosing complex developmental disorders such as autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, and learning difficulties requires a thorough and multi-faceted approach. The paediatrician will need to gather detailed history from parents, teachers or early learning centre educators, and previous medical records to understand your child's symptoms from all perspectives.

During the initial appointment, which lasts about an hour, the paediatrician will begin this comprehensive assessment. Subsequent review appointments, lasting 30-45 minutes each, will involve further history-taking, physical examinations, organising necessary investigations, and interpreting reports from schools or early learning centres, and allied health professionals if available.

After further review sessions, the paediatrician will determine if there is enough supporting evidence to make a diagnosis. If further information is needed, your child may be referred to allied health professionals for additional assessments to ensure a thorough and objective evaluation.

Please note that having had an assessment by a psychologist or any other health professional prior to the paediatrician's review will not affect the speed of diagnosis by the paediatrician. The paediatrician will need to make their own objective assessment as part of the diagnostic process. While prior assessments will serve as valuable supporting evidence, the paediatrician will not be 'signing it off' immediately based on these previous evaluations.

If your child has been referred for investigations, you will usually require an appointment to discuss results. The paediatrician will book another appointment for you.

Sometimes, there may not be an available consultation time following the investigation. In this case, your paediatrician will organise a phone Telehealth consult to discuss the investigations findings (if deemed appropriate).

Please be aware that there are fees for phone Telehealth consults. Rebate may be claimed from Medicare if you are eligible. 

The receptionist will need to ask you some details in regards to the nature of the request for the phone call. This will help them and the paediatricians triage the request.

Please be aware that the paediatricians do not work in the clinic everyday of the week. They have clinical roles at other clinics and hospitals and non-clinical roles with local universities. They will not be able to return your phone call immediately.

There will be a fee for this service. The phone call will be charged as a phone telehealth consult and you may be able to claim a Medicare rebate if you are eligible. 

If it is urgent nature, we recommend you to either present to your local GP service or to your closest emergency department. 

Why is stimulant medication strictly regulated?
Stimulant medications are strictly regulated by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) to ensure they are used safely and appropriately. This regulation requires an authority to prescribe, which means your paediatrician must get special approval to issue these medications.

What should I do with my paper prescription?
If you receive a paper prescription for stimulant medication, it is crucial to look after it carefully. The PBS will not grant a new authority if records show that you should still have enough supply. Losing your prescription can create significant delays in getting your medication, as a new prescription cannot be issued simply.

How do I use e-prescriptions?
E-prescriptions are a convenient and secure alternative to paper prescriptions. They are sent directly to your phone via SMS as a QR code token. This reduces the risk of losing your prescription. The token can be presented at the pharmacy to obtain the medication. This ensures you always have your medication when you need it without the worry of misplacing a paper prescription. But this is only available to patients with valid Medicare or Individual Healthcare Identifiers (IHI).

Real-time Medication Checks: 
To prevent misuse of restricted medications such as stimulants, the government has put in place measures that allow for real-time medication checks. Your paediatrician and pharmacist can verify if your prescription has been filled, ensuring that medication is used safely and appropriately.

Booking Future Appointments:
It is essential to book your future review appointments immediately following the consultation with your paediatrician. Most paediatricians are typically booked out 3-4 months in advance. If you wait until your stimulant supply is running low (within 4-6 weeks), it may be very difficult to secure an appointment in time for a repeat prescription. Planning ahead will help you avoid any gaps in your medication supply. Taking these steps will help you manage your medication supply effectively and avoid unnecessary complications.
 
Fees will apply for scripts done outside of planned review appointments.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in Australia offers early intervention services for children younger than 6 with developmental delay or younger than 9 with disability. Early intervention services aim to provide support and assistance to children at an early stage to help them develop essential skills and abilities.

If a child is eligible for the NDIS and meets the criteria for early intervention, they can receive funding for services that support their developmental needs.

Please click here for more information from the NDIS website.

IHI stands for Individual Healthcare Identifiers. It is a unique 16-digit number used to identify an individual for health care purposes.

It helps ensure health professionals are confident that the right information is associated with the right individual at the point of care.

This will also enable you to receive e-prescriptions even when your child is not enrolled in Medicare.

If you don’t have an IHI, you can get one either online or using a form. You must be in Australia when you apply so they can verify your identity.

Please click here for more information about how to apply for IHI from the Services Australia website.