Frequently asked questions
Appointments and referrals
Do I need a referral? Yes. A referral from your GP or another specialist is required to claim a Medicare rebate, and it ensures your ongoing care is coordinated with the doctors who already know you.
How long is a referral valid? A GP referral to a specialist is valid for 12 months from the date of your first appointment. A referral from another specialist is valid for three months.
What should I bring? Your referral, all imaging including X-rays, CT and MRI, relevant blood tests, a list of your medications, and your Medicare and health fund cards.
How long will I wait for an appointment?
Dr Spelman will endeavour to see all new referrals within 1-2 weeks of receiving the booking request and GP referral. For urgent cases please notifying his rooms and every effort will be made to see you as soon as possible.
Can I be seen urgently?
Yes. Dr Spelman keeps regular appointment slots available for urgent referrals. If your condition is urgent then please notify his office upon booking and Dr Spelman will triage the referral.
How long does the first appointment take? Typically 30 minutes depending on the complexity of your condition. Dr Spelman will take a history, examine you, review your imaging, explain the diagnosis and answer your questions.
Costs
What will it cost? See the [fees page] for a full explanation. You will receive a written estimate before agreeing to any surgery.
Does private health insurance cover my appointment? No. Health funds cover hospital care, not outpatient consultations. Medicare provides a rebate if you have a valid referral.
Will I have out-of-pocket costs for surgery? Almost certainly, and the amount varies considerably depending on your fund and level of cover. See the [fees page].
Surgery and recovery
Do I definitely need surgery? Often not. Many hip and knee conditions are managed successfully without an operation, and for some — degenerative meniscal tears being a clear example — the evidence supports non-surgical treatment first. Dr Spelman will explain all the options available including non-surgical and surgical management.
How long will I be in hospital?
This varies widely depending on the procedure being performed as well as patient factors. The typical stay for a joint replacement surgery is 3-5 days depending on your age, home environment, need for rehab, pre-op mobility and home support.
When can I drive? When you can perform an emergency stop, are off strong pain medication, and are out of any restrictive brace. Check your insurance policy as well.
When can I fly?
This depends on the surgery and the risk of blood clots or issues with restrictive plasters after the surgery. As a general rule you cannot fly with a full cast on your arm or leg. Following joint replacement surgery it is advised to wait until the high risk period for blood clots (DVT/PE) is over. This is approximately 35 days for hip replacements and 15 days for knee replacements, however this varies significantly between patients.
When can I return to work? Depends on the procedure and your job. Desk work is usually much sooner than manual work and can be as early as 1-2 weeks after a joint replacement.
How long does a joint replacement last? Modern hip and knee replacements have good long-term survivorship, and Australia’s national joint registry tracks this closely. Age at surgery and activity level both influence how long an implant lasts. Dr Spelman will discuss the figures relevant to your specific situation.
Will I set off airport security scanners? Sometimes. Implant cards are no longer required. Just inform the security personnel that you have a joint replacement and they will follow the usual procedures.
About Dr Spelman
Where does Dr Spelman operate?
Dr Spelman operates privately at The Epworth Hospital Richmond. He holds public appointments at Monash Health and The Royal Children’s Hospital.
Does he treat children? Yes. Dr Spelman completed paediatric fellowships at The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne and Sydney Children’s Hospital, with a particular interest in paediatric hip and knee conditions.
Does he see TAC or WorkCover patients? Yes — see the [TAC and WorkCover page].