Reception and Nurse Assessment
Upon arriving to the Hospital, you will meet our Reception staff, who will ask you to complete your paperwork and confirm your personal details for your admission.
Once completed, you will be asked to take a seat and wait for a nurse to take you through to the pre-procedure area for admission.
A review of your medical history will be conducted by the nurse.
Pre-anaesthetic Consult with Anaesthetist and Doctor
Your anaesthetist will speak with you prior to your procedure to discuss any relevant medical history and discuss your sedation. You will be able to ask any questions at this time.
Your endoscopist will discuss your upcoming procedure, treatment and answer any questions before obtaining your consent to proceed at this time.
Your Procedure
You will be escorted into the Procedure Room where the nurse will ask you, your name, date of birth and the procedure you are having performed.
The Anaesthetist will give you sedation that will make you sleepy. Your procedure may take between 10-30 minutes. During your procedure, the Anaesthetist will monitor your vital signs (blood pressure, pulse and oxygen saturation) and manage your sedation.
Recovery
After your procedure, you will remain in a recliner in recovery for approximately 30 minutes. You may not remember much about this part of your care. The recovery nurse will monitor your blood pressure, pulse and oxygen levels and make sure you are comfortable. You will be given a hot or cold beverage, as well as some biscuits. (At time of booking, you will be asked if you have any dietary requirements). The recovery nurse will ensure you are feeling well enough to go home, before removing the cannula in your arm/hand.
Discharge
Our receptionist will take you through to the Discharge Room, where you will be given a Doctor’s Report for your GP, Discharge & Medication Information, and any literature. At this time, you will be asked you finalise your Hospital Account, and sign any Private Claim Forms. Your armband will be removed, and the site of your cannula checked before you leave.
Once your carer has arrived to take you home, the receptionist will escort you to the waiting room and discharge you into their care. Unless instructed otherwise, you should be able to restart your normal diet following discharge.
Gastroscopy and Colonoscopy
- After collecting your Preparation Kit, your paperwork will be kept at the Centre to prepare for your day of admission.
- If you require an interpreter please inform Centre staff as soon as possible so this can be arranged.
- As you are having a Day Surgery procedure with twilight anaesthetic (i.e. sedation), it is advisable that you keep the entire day free to recover at home.
- Please ensure your carer’s phone number is written on your admission form, and/or brought at time of your admission so they can be contacted at time of your discharge. Your expected time at the hospital is 1½- 2 hours
(Prompt discharge will aid your recovery)
What to bring:
- Any paperwork we have asked you to complete for your admission.
- Medicare Card
- Health Fund Card
- A cardigan or light jumper for when you are in recovery as the temperature is cool.
- Payment to cover your day surgery fees.
- Any relevant X-rays or scans.
- Reading material for while you wait.
- Reading glasses if needed, when signing your consent form with our doctor.
What NOT to bring:
- Bulky items – i.e.. large bags that may not fit in your bed basket.
- Jewellery or any valuables
You will be requested to arrive at the Centre at a certain time which is determined by the Doctor’s procedure list. It is important that you are aware your arrival time is not your procedure time.
Due to the variable nature of each individual procedure, your procedure time can vary. On average, procedures are commonly performed 45 minutes to 1 hour following your arrival time.
We appreciate your understanding and patience when these delays may occur. Our staff will endeavour to keep you well informed of any delays when you arrive at the Centre.
Important Information
Due to the nature of our business, there may be unexpected delays caused by lengthy procedures. We appreciate your patience and will keep you informed of any delays.
Privately Insured Patients
The following criteria must be met to be admitted as a Privately Insured patient:
- Do you hold current Private Hospital Cover?
- Have you held this cover for longer than 12 months?
- Have you confirmed you are covered for your specified procedure? (please call us to obtain item numbers – your health fund will ask for this information to determine your eligibility)
If you answered yes, then you will be covered through your private health insurance and will be financially responsible for any Excess or Co-payment that may apply to your particular policy for this Day Surgery admission.
We are a private practise, and do not charge above the schedule fee. This means there will be no additional out of pocket fees for your hospital account. We recommend that you contact your Fund after making your appointment, to determine your cover and any Excess applicable.
For Colonoscopy patients, the fee for your Preparation Kit is payable at time of your appointment (N/A for Veterans Affairs Gold Card patients). This fee is not refundable if you cancel or no longer require your procedure. If you have any queries, please contact us on 03 9458 2200.
If you have recently joined your Health Fund or made changes to your policy within the last 12 months, this could affect your Day Surgery fees and Health Fund benefits for this admission. It is important you understand your policy and what you are covered for when you make your appointment with us.
If PEA (Pre-Existing Ailment) is applicable: You will be responsible for paying the Hospital & Doctor’s accounts on the day of your admission. Assessment by your Health Fund can take up to 5 weeks, determining the outcome of your claim and benefits.
Concession Card Patients – Pensioner or Health Care Cards
For patients that hold a Centrelink recognised Concession Card: Pension, Health Care Card or Disability Pension / Single Parent Pension, you will be charged a Hospital Facility Fee for your procedure. Please be aware, this is an out-of-pocket expense, and cannot be claimed from Medicare.
*Staff must sight and approve the concession card for the correct fees to apply*
For Colonoscopy patients, the fee for your Preparation Kit is payable at time of your appointment (N/A for Veterans Affairs Gold Card patients). This fee is not refundable if you cancel or no longer require your procedure. If you have any queries, please contact our Booking Staff us on 03 9458 2200.
Self-Insured Patients
If you are a self-insured (uninsured) patient, you will be charged a Hospital Facility Fee for your procedure. Please be aware, this is an out-of-pocket expense, and cannot be claimed from Medicare.
For Colonoscopy patients, the fee for your Preparation Kit is payable at time of your appointment (N/A for Veterans Affairs Gold Card patients). This fee is not refundable if you cancel or no longer require your procedure. If you have any queries, please contact us on 03 9458 2200.
Your Rights as a Patient
Everyone who is seeking or receiving care in the Australian health system has certain rights regarding the nature of that care. These are described in the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights.
These rights apply to all people in all places where health care is provided in Australia. The Charter describes what you, or someone you care for, can expect when receiving health care. Heidelberg Endoscopy & Day Surgery Centre understand the partnership between patients, consumers and healthcare providers is important so that everyone achieves the best possible outcomes.
We also have an open disclosure policy:
- The open disclosure process should occur whenever a patient has suffered an adverse event.
- Open disclosure includes an apology and explanation of an incident, without apportioning blame.
- Patients are to be provided with information about what happened in a timely, open and honest manner.
Your Responsibilities as a Patient
The doctors and staff also rely on your help to obtain the best results from your health care. We ask that you:
- Arrange a companion to drive you home and remain with you for 12 hours after your procedure.
- Provide to the best of your knowledge, accurate and complete information about your current medical problems, previous illnesses, visits to hospital or any other matters relating to your state of health in order to help our staff care for you.
- Report any changes in your health.
- Let us know what prescription, over-the-counter medicines or natural supplements you are taking and if you use tobacco, alcohol or other drugs.
- Advise us of any allergies to medication, food or other causes.
- Cooperate with staff providing treatment in order to aid your speedy recovery.
- Respect the Centre’s regulations and policies.
- Respect the dignity of other patients, visitors and surgery staff, and their right to a safe environment.
- Respect the property belonging to other persons at the surgery.
- Report any unsafe conditions to your nurse or the nurse in charge.
- If you are uninsured, you are responsible for the payment of the day centre fee and other fees which are not claimable through Medicare for a same day centre stay.
- If you are privately insured, you are responsible for your excess payment at admission and any other fees not included in your health fund policy.
Please direct any complaints to a staff member so that appropriate steps can be taken to remediate the problem.
Heidelberg Endoscopy & Day Surgery Centre is committed to a Zero Tolerance Policy. You should expect our staff to treat you with courtesy at all times. Similarly our staff expect courtesy in return and the right to work in a safe environment. No form of violence, threatening behaviour or abuse (physical and verbal) is acceptable whether it be towards the staff or any other person on practice premises. Any of this behaviour will result in the person being removed from the premises and if necessary, police will be called.