How to Book a Doctor After 6 PM

Make online booking much easier by doing some prep work. Have the details ready, such as:

• Is it an emergency? In case of fire, crash, or severe medical condition, call Triple Zero (000). Do not wait for any service or booking.
• Prepare your basic info: full name, date of birth, mobile number, address or location, and Medicare card details if you have one.
• Figure out what kind of visit you want: a telehealth video or phone, an after-hours medical centre visit, or a home doctor visit. Pick what fits your situation, availability, and comfort.
• Decide on a parent or carer for children, or a support person for older adults or people with mobility issues, if someone is with you. Who should be present?
• Prepare for continuity of care. Keep your usual GP details handy so the doctor can brief your GP after hours. My Health Record is a great tool that helps the team coordinate safely and save time by avoiding duplicate history.

• The first thing every service does is put the most urgent problems in front. Only a few things determine the queue:

  • Clinical urgency. The priority is the people who need care the most and the fastest. Clinical urgency categories are used in emergency settings in Australia to keep the environment safe, and a similar system is used in primary care triage.
  • Peak periods. The busiest times are mainly after the workday, weekends, and public holidays. The higher the demand for the services, the longer the waiting time for doctors after hours.
  • Visit type. When the matter is simple, the line at telehealth could be shorter and thus move faster. In-clinic and home visits require additional steps, such as travelling, rooms, and equipment, so they can take more time.
  • Location and availability. If fewer doctors are on call in regional areas of Australia, you could consider using telehealth services and be aware of the nearest emergency care clinic if you need to go there.

It is always a good idea to keep things simple.

• Bulk billing is when the healthcare provider sends the bill to Medicare and accepts the Medicare payment as full payment. Therefore, you do not have to pay for that service. Not all services are bulk billed, and some parts of the visit cannot be included.
• Some urgent care clinics, which are open late and offer Medicare-eligible services, may be bulk billed and free of charge to the patient. No appointments are needed. Don't forget to check the government map for locations.
• Cards and eligibility. Always carry your Medicare card or a digital copy with you. A few clinics may charge you less if you have a concession card, and various providers' policies might differ.
• Receipts and claims. If a bulk billing option is unavailable at the place you are visiting, ask for an itemised receipt stating the MBS item number to get a Medicare rebate.

• Emergency departments are designed for and should only be used in situations involving danger to one's life. They have strict triage rules that determine the treatment order of the most urgent cases. Call 000 immediately or go to the nearest ED in such a case.
• On the other hand, urgent care clinics are places where one can get timely, in-person, non-life-threatening help after the closing of regular hours. Moreover, many of them are fully funded and have late opening hours.
• When your regular GP is closed, you can get an after-hours GP's help by telehealth, in-clinic, or home visits for non-emergency concerns, focusing on the continuity of your usual practice.

• Telehealth is quick, effortless, and a good option if a physical examination does not alter the plan. Clinicians must follow national telehealth guidelines to ensure a safe assessment and correct documentation.
• On the other hand, the choice should be in person if the aim is an examination, test, imaging, or procedure. If a physical check could change the decision, it is better to choose the in-person option.