FAQ
No, you don’t need a GP referral to see Dr Pearce and still have access to Medicare benefits
and the Medicare Safety Net.
For WorkCover patients, a GP referral is preferred so they can be nominated as the “Return to Work” doctor. An approved and confirmed active claim
number must be provided before you can make an appointment.
We offer hand care, wrist care, elbow care, shoulder care, microsurgery, and management of sporting injuries. Please view all of our services here.
PRP or Platelet Rich Plasma is a good alternative to surgery in selected orthopaedic conditions. Problems such as rotator cuff tendinosis or partial thickness rotator cuff tears, tennis elbow or common extensor tendinosis or tears are conditions amenable to PRP injection. Osteoarthritis of all joints is amenable to PRP therapy, and there is good literature to support this. All injections are performed under ultrasound guidance to improve the accuracy of the injection and in a “Clean Air Environment” in our “State of the Art” operating theatre to minimise the risk of infection.
After filling out some initial paperwork, you will be seen by one of our doctors who will personally greet you and take you through for your consultation. After your consultation, you may be offered non-operative treatment, such as an ultrasound-guided intervention (such as a cortisone injection or hydrodissection procedure) or surgery later. Some other non-operative interventions, such as PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) Therapy, will likely be rescheduled for another time.
SOS (Sports and OrthopaedicS) is an outpatient-based facility that enables patients to access the Medicare rebate system for outpatient procedures. Private health insurance is not required to access the outpatient Medicare rebate system.
The costs involved include an initial consultation, which costs $408 and has a rebate of approximately $61. When you are initially seen at SOS Gold Coast, Dr Pearce will assess you and decide whether you require non-operative or operative treatment.
Non-operative treatment may be offered on the day. If operative treatment is required, it will be scheduled for a suitable time, usually within 2 weeks. If you have been financially consented to at least 1 week prior to your initial consultation, we may be able to get you in for surgery within a matter of days. Pre-payment of the total surgery cost is required at least 1 week prior to surgery.
If you require a follow-up consultation, these appointments are billed at between $75 and $204, depending on the time of the consultation, with a rebate of between approximately $11 and $38. However, if you have reached the Medicare Safety Net prior to your consultation/s, you should receive a rebate of up to 80% back from Medicare for these consultation fees.