We aim to provide a comprehensive service. This means that we may run late. Occasionally babies and other emergencies take our time. Thankyou for being patient.

Practice Profile

Emerald Medical Group

 

Doctors:  Dr Ewen McPhee MB BS (Hons 2), DRANZCOG ( advanced), FRACGP, FACRRM

Dr Tony Sikivou MB ChB

Dr Kay Porche MB BS

Practice Manager:  Wendy McPhee

 

Staff:  Carmel Hartfiel, Receptionist

           Mandy Cameron RN

           Meredith Staal RN

           Carmel Johnson RN

           Dianne Roberts EN

           Josie Bridgeman RN

           Virginia Arndt EN

            Kelly Chappell RN

           Jenny McLean RN

           Libby Farmilo EN

           Gemma Johnston RN

          

Location: 53 Ruby St (cnr Yamala St) Emerald

Postal Address:  Reply Paid 1307, McPhee Medical, EMERALD  QLD 4720

Phone:  (07) 4982 4544 All Hours If practice is closed either an answering machine will direct you to the doctor on call or it will switch through to the doctors house.

If no answer after several tries please contact Emerald Hospital on 4987 9400 and they will contact Dr McPhee or the doctor on call

 

This practice aims to provide  comprehensive family oriented medical care to families and individuals in this community.  All patient consultations and medical records are kept strictly confidential.

 

Dr McPhee is a qualified General Practitioner with postgraduate qualifications in General Practice, Obstetrics, Emergency Medicine, Family Planning and Rural Medicine. He has 15 years of experience in country practice.  This practice being based in a rural area offers more than most city general practices. Dr McPhee delivers babies, performs anaesthesia and some surgery; including vasectomy. The

local hospital allows admission of private patients.

Dr Tony Sikivou has been at this practice since July 2003.  Tony has extensive experience in medicine having worked in England and Fiji before coming to Australia.  Tony has a special interest in Anaesthetics.

Dr Kay Porche will join the practice in January 2004.  Kay is a GP Registrar studying for her FRACGP.  She has been working at the RAAF base at Amberly and also in an occupational medicine practice prior to coming to Emerald.

 

  Billing

This practice does not Bulk Bill.

Payment is expected at the time of visit and a significant discount is given on consultations paid in full at the time of the visit. It is possible to pay the gap at the time of visit and forward the medicare cheque for the balance on receipt.

Fees charged are based on those suggested by the Australian Medical Association. This fee is above the scheduled fee set by Medicare.

Current Fee Schedule as at 14/03/2003

 

 A Discount of about 10% is given for full payment on the day of consultation and a lesser discount is given for payment of the gap on the day of consultation

Visit Type Private  On day  Gap HCC/Disc  On Day  Gap Aged & Disability Pens   Gap        Medicare Rebate

Short      $20     $18     $7   $16      $14    $4       $13.45              2.05            $11.75

Standard  $48.50   $44    $22   $40      $35   $13        $29.45              $4.50      $25.70

 Long     $75       $69    $24   $65           $59   $15       $55.95                 $8.60      $48.75

 Extended $98       $90    $24   $90      $82   $17       $82.40                $12.65      $71.80

 

Antenatal visits will be charged as for standard consultations.

Fees for Minor operations such as removal of skin lesions are charged above the schedule fee unless you hold a pension or health care card.  Medicare rebates 85% of the scheduled fee.  The maximum out of pocket gap for Minor ops done at the surgery is $50 per visit.

 

Charges for other procedures are generally about 40 % above the government scheduled rate for patients with no concession cards or at the schedule fee for holders of HCC, Pensions or Seniors cards. Please ask the receptionist if you require any further information regarding fees.

 

In cases of Financial Hardship or Emergency special arrangements can be made. Please discuss this with the practice manager or doctor.

 

All concessions are offered at the discretion of the doctor. We are not empowered by the Government to offer any concessions at all, nor do they reimburse us for offering these concessions.

 

Appointments

** The surgery is attended from 8 am each weekday morning.

** Routine appointments are taken for the times below

               Mon -Fri 8am to 6pm

               Immunization Clinic Tuesday 11 - 3 (Consultations are bulk billed if seen for

Text Box: immunization only at this clinic) We may extend past these hours if required. Saturday morning appointments are available the weekends we are the practice on call EMERGENCIES ANY TIME PHONE 4982 4544 ** If you need to cancel your appointment it would be appreciated if you could give as much notice as possible.This will allow the appointment slot to be refilled with someone in need. ** Some semi-urgent appointments slots are reserved for the day. The phone is attended from 8am if you require a booking for that day; please phone as soon after 8am as possible. Routine appointment slots with Dr McPhee are usually booked out 3-4 days in advance. Dr McPhee is no longer accepting new patients except for obstetrics. New patients are accepted by the other doctors in the practice. After Hours Arrangements ** On weekdays the phone will either switch directly to Dr McPhee’s residence or an answering machine will detail the doctor on call. All call Monday to Thurs nights is done from within the practice. If you have a problem please ring as early in the evening as possible. ** Weekends and Public Holidays are shared on a roster with the other private doctors in town. An answering machine message will direct you to the on call Doctor for that day. Obstetric cases can contact Dr McPhee if he is on call or the hospital if he is not and they will contact him. ** House calls will be arranged where practical if requested. Dr McPhee does have a lot of diagnostic equipment at the surgery that cannot be bought to your home hence it may be more appropriate to come to the surgery. X Rays and Ultrasounds Patients are usually referred to CQMI in Egerton St Professional Centre for most procedures. Phone 4987 4500 for Appointments. A referral is needed. Pathology (Blood Tests) Pathology testing is usually sent to Queensland Medical Laboratories. Specimens are collected at the surgery or at the QML laboratory in Egerton Street. The cost of testing is usually billed direct to Medicare by the pathologists. Results are usually available at the next consultation. Specialist Referrals Referral to specialists are organised following consultation with the doctor and at his/her discretion. An $18 fee will be levied at the discretion of the doctor for the completion of referrals or forms without a visit. This fee is not able to be claimed from medicare. The doctors will complete any paperwork at their convenience, if it is urgent then you are better to make an appointment and the paperwork can be completed during the consultation. Patient Transit Scheme forms should be requested at a consultation with the doctor if re