Info for Patients

Making an appointment

To make an appointment with Dr Won, please call 07 5598 0757. You will be asked a number of questions to help assist us in allocating the most suitable appointment time for you.

Dr Won's usual consultation times are:

    • Monday - Tugun
    • Tuesday morning - Benowa
    • Thursday - Tugun

      Please refer to "Locations" section for address details of these rooms.

      Please note that there may be a considerable waiting time to see Dr Won, and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. We do offer a "cancellation list" if you are available at short notice. If you feel that your matter is urgent and you need an earlier appointment, please ask your GP to fax us a referral letter detailing clinical reasons for the urgency, and we will seek approval to expedite your appointment on a case by case basis.

      Patients with heel pain may benefit from seeing a podiatrist or a physiotherapist prior to seeing Dr Won. In many cases, the combination of rest, time, and using shoe orthotics allows the pain to completely resolve and a specialist review may not be necessary.

      If you wish to cancel your appointment, please call us as soon as possible so that we can offer your appointment time to another patient.

      back to top

      What do I need to bring to the consultation?

      Please bring the following with you to your appointment:

      • Referral letter (please ensure that it is valid – check with our staff if you are unsure)
      • Any previous x-rays and scans of the area of interest (please note we will need the films, not just the reports)
      • Medicare card / Private Health Insurance membership card / Centrelink Pension (blue) card / DVA Gold card, as appropriate
      • If this is a WorkCover claim, we will need your claim number and employer details (employer name, address, telephone number, contact person etc.)
      • Reading glasses if required, as you may need to fill out paperwork for the hospital
      • A list of any current medications and their doses that you are taking
      • A list of any known allergies and symptoms

      back to top

      What to expect on the consultation day

      Please allow ample time for parking, as parking spaces at all hospital sites are limited.  If you are a new patient, please arrive 10-15 minutes early to enable us to obtain your personal information.  If you are late, we may need to re-book your appointment so as not to inconvenience other patients.

      At your initial consultation, Dr Won will ask you questions regarding the history of your complaint, conduct a physical examination, and review your x-rays and scans.  From this, he will then be able to determine the next step in your management.

      You may be required to obtain further diagnostic investigations, such as additional scans or x-rays, MRI, blood tests, etc.  If this is the case, Dr Won will see you for a subsequent consultation to explain the results and implement further plans.

      Management may involve surgery, or other non-operative measures such as physiotherapy, medications, casts, splints, injections etc.  Dr Won will discuss the most suitable management options with you.

      As Dr Won consults on a wide range of issues, consultation times vary, depending on the complexity of each presentation.  We always endeavour to run on time, however as with any medical practice, delays are sometimes unavoidable and we very much appreciate your understanding in this matter.

      back to top

      Consultation costs

      Our staff will inform you of the consultation fee when you book your appointment. Full payment is required at the time of consultation.

      If you see Dr Won at the Benowa clinic, an invoice will be sent to you in the mail. Payment is required within 7 days.

      We accept payment by EFTPOS, Visa card, Mastercard, AMEX card, cash, or electronic funds transfer (internet banking). If you have a Medicare card and a valid referral letter, you will be able to take your receipt to a Medicare office and claim your Medicare rebate. We can also complete your Medicare claim online, if you have already registered your bank details with Medicare Australia.

      back to top

      I have to have an operation – what do I do now?

      Dr Won will explain to you the reasons for surgery, the procedure(s) involved, expected benefits and risks of surgery, and recovery time. Please discuss with Dr Won any concerns you may have about the proposed operation. Please also inform him of any medical conditions or medications you are taking, as these may need to be ceased prior to surgery. Once you are happy to proceed with the plan, he will ask you to sign a consent form.

      Dr Won operates at John Flynn Private Hospital, Pindara Private Hospital, and The Tweed Hospital. You will need to fill in a booking form for the hospital where you will have your surgery. Our reception staff will go through the hospital paperwork with you and supply you with an estimate of Dr Won's fees. You will need to sign this form to confirm your acknowledgement of the costs involved.

      If your operation is at a private hospital, we can then book in your date of surgery and we will ask you to either submit your paperwork at the hospital reception or give them a phone call. We will also inform you if you need to attend the Pre-Admission Clinic prior to your surgery.

      If your operation is at The Tweed Hospital, we submit your forms directly to the hospital and you are then placed on their waiting list. Unfortunately we have no control over the hospital waiting list, and you will be contacted by the hospital once your operation date is determined. We also cannot guarantee that Dr Won will be the person performing your surgery, as is the nature of most public hospital operating lists.

      back to top

      How much is my operation?

      The surgeon's and surgical assistant's fees for your operation will vary according to the procedures you need done.  An estimate of this will be supplied to you at the time of surgery booking. 

      Dr Won charges rates in accordance with the Australian Medical Association schedule of fees, which reflect the complexity of surgery and involvement in post-operative aftercare.  Most operations performed by Dr Won will attract a “Gap” charge, which is your out-of-pocket expense not covered by Medicare or your health fund.  In general, patients must pay the full fee within 14 days after their operation, then take the receipt to Medicare and/or their health fund to claim their rebate.  As an incentive, we offer a 10% discount on the out-of-pocket portion of your invoice if you pay in full within 14 days after the operation – please see “Frequently Asked Questions” section for further details. 

      In some cases, according to our practice policies, your operation may attract a “Known Gap” or “No Gap”.  If a Known Gap is charged, this is required to be paid prior to your operation.  If your operation attracts no gap, then there will be no out of pocket expense for your surgeon's fee.  Please speak with our reception staff if you have any queries about Dr Won's fees. 

      We do not charge a gap for hip replacement, knee replacement or knee arthroscopy.

      Once you receive our Estimate of Fees, it is imperative that you check with your health fund provider to ascertain the amount of rebate that they will give back to you, as this is ultimately determined by your health fund and your level of cover.

      There may also be other costs involved in your operation, including, but not limited to, anaesthetist's fees, hospital excess payment, pathology services, radiology services and pharmacy medications.  We advise that you check with relevant organisations if you have any queries about their fees.

      If you would like to have your operation done at a private hospital but do not have private health insurance, you can choose to be a self-funded private patient.  In this instance, it is very important that you check your costs with the hospital, as there will be extra charges for the hospital room, operating theatre fee, and any equipment required during your surgery, amongst others.

      back to top

      Preparation for surgery

      Our reception staff will inform you of the particular details of your admission, but generally:

      1) You will need to fast 6 hours prior to your operation. This includes all food and drinks.
      2) We require you to be at the hospital at least 2 hours prior to your procedure time.

      Please remember to bring along all x-rays and scans relating to the operation site if you have them.

      Ensure you cease any medications prior to surgery if you were requested to do so.

      If you have a sudden change in your general health or develop a skin infection, please discuss this with your GP or contact our rooms. It may be necessary to delay your operation to reduce the risk of adverse outcomes and to aid in your recovery.

      It is a good idea to prepare your home prior to your operation.

      • Try and arrange for someone to assist you when you get home from surgery. You may need assistance with shopping, cooking and general housekeeping.
      • You may need to rearrange furniture to allow easy access in and around your home.
      • To prevent the risk of falls, you can remove loose carpets and secure exposed electrical cords.
      • If possible, arrange to have a bed downstairs for the first few weeks of your recovery if you will have difficulty managing the stairs in your home.

      You may not be able to drive for up to 6 weeks following surgery on your lower limb if you have a manual vehicle.  If you have an automatic vehicle, you may not be able to drive for 6 weeks if your surgery was on the right lower limb.  However if the surgery was on your left lower limb, you may be able to drive, subject to clinical approval.

      back to top

      After your surgery

      Dr Won will explain to you how your operation went after your surgery and discuss with you the follow-up plan prior to discharge from hospital.

      As a general rule, if you have had your operation at a private hospital, Dr Won will see you at 2 weeks and then again at 6 weeks after your operation.  Dr Won will discuss with you the proposed rehabilitation plans at your first post-op review.  Most post-op visits will be at our Tugun rooms, where you may also see our Practice Nurse, Renaye.  You may also need to attend physiotherapy, occupational therapy, or other health providers to assist with your recovery.

      Recovery time varies from person to person, depending on your health status, the injuries and/or operation(s) that you had, and the nature of your work or activities.  As a ballpark figure, recovery to basic functions take approximately 2-4 weeks for minor operations, 6-10 weeks for fractures, and 3-6 months for a major operation.  This may take longer in some cases, especially for certain foot & ankle operations.  Your individual recovery, however, will be guided by Dr Won according to your progress following your surgery.

      Follow-up visits within the first 6 weeks after your operation at a private hospital are included in your surgery cost and are therefore free of charge.  If you require further follow-up after 6 weeks post-op, these may attract a consultation charge.  In some cases, you may require more or less number of visits, as determined by Dr Won.

      If you have had your operation at a public hospital, you may elect to follow up with Dr Won in his rooms, however these visits will usually attract a consultation charge as the operation was performed out of the private setting.

      Please find below some general post-op information which you can download.  These are intended as general guides only, and are specific only to Dr Won's practice.

      back to top