Hello and welcome to the Brickworks Medical Clinic.
Thank you for your booking at the McGill Natural Hormone Clinic. As a new hormone patient, the steps below will very simply guide you through everything you need to know, leading up to your first appointment.
Step 1: First Appointment
- Clinical Assistant: You will see one of our Nurse Clinical Assistants first.*
- Visit Length? It is a 20 – 30 minute consultation. We usually run on time.
- Health History: Our Clinical Assistant will take a comprehensive medical history, including your family medical history.
- Treatment Explained: How natural treatment will work, for your condition, will be discussed with you in detail.
- Pathology Form: You will be given a pathology form so you can have your hormone test done – on site.
- Hormone Test: Have your bulk billed blood test done on the same day, if possible (see “Pathology Test” below).
- Booking Your Doctor’s Appointment: At the end, we will book you in to see one of our doctors.
*(You may opt to see a doctor at your first appointment if you wish. But this first step is relatively simple. Seeing the doctors’ Clinical Assistant first, will save you the full cost of seeing one of our expert Natural Hormone Practitioners at this stage).
Step 2: Pathology Test
- Simple: It’s a simple blood test, which we do on site (QML at Brickworks Medical Clinic).
- Quick: Takes only a couple of minutes.
- No Need to Book: No appointment needed – Just show up.
- Availability: Our Pathologist is available 9.30 am – 1.30 pm (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday).
- Bulk Billed: Hormone tests are bulk billed on your Medicare Card.
(Please note: Other pathology tests may incur a fee.)
Very Important: When to Test Your Hormones
For patients who are:
… not having periods anymore: Any day is fine.
… still getting periods:
- Day 21 of your cycle.
- (Day 1 is the day your period starts. Get your hormone blood test done 21 days after that.)
- If you cannot make it to QML on day 21; day 20 or day 22 will do.
… experiencing intermittent or erratic periods:
- Two tests are needed, two weeks apart.
- Don’t worry, this will be explained at your first appointment.
NOTE – QML Pathology Only
You need to go to QML Pathology. Preferably here at Brickworks Medical Clinic, or at another QML branch. (Other pathologist reports produce very different results to the ones needed for your treatment.)
OTHER
- Fees:
- The Clinical Assistant consult is $107, and the hormone test is covered by Medicare.
- The follow up for the doctor’s visit is $187/$147, depending on which doctor you book in to see.
- These are 15 minute/30 minute appointments.
- Please note that fees are payable on the day.
- What to Bring – Important:
- Your Medicare Card.
- Health Insurance Card (if you have one).
- Pathology Form – for your hormone/blood test, if you have one. (Not applicable if this is your first appointment.)
- Where are we?
Brickworks Medical Clinic
The Brickworks Centre @Ferry Road Markets
107 Ferry Rd
Southport QLD
(Two doors down from Chemist Warehouse)
Google Maps – Click Here: https://tinyurl.com/zqj524d
That’s it for now. You can keep scrolling if you want to know what happens after this, but we will explain when we see you at the clinic.
Please always remember to bring your Medicare Card, Health Insurance Provider Card and pathology form (if you have one).
We look forward to seeing you for your first appointment. We pride ourselves on providing exceptional service and are most excited about helping you feel good again.
PS – If you want to know what happens after your first appointment and pathology test, we will explain in person.
But please, read on if you prefer:
Step 3: Second Appointment – with Natural Hormone Practitioner
- Hormone Expert Consultation: In short, this is where you see the real experts. They will assess your results and begin your treatment.
- Assessing Your Results:
- Your pathology results are returned to the doctor automatically, for your next appointment.
- At this visit, your blood test results will be discussed in detail.
- The test assesses where your hormone levels are at.
- Six hormones are checked in total.
- Any additional tests which may be necessary, will be carried out.
- For hormone levels which are high, you will be given a treatment program/natural medication to reduce them.
- For those which are low, you will be given a treatment program to increase them.
- Personal Prescription: The doctor will prescribe a hormone medication. Our receptionists will email this off to a compounding pharmacy of your choice, for your convenience. The pharmacy will then ring you to arrange payment and delivery.
- How Long Does the Prescription/Medication Last? It usually lasts for 3 months of daily use.
- Follow-up Assessment Test: A follow-up pathology form will be given to you, so you can return in 3 months time to check your levels.
(PLEASE DO NOT LOSE THIS – only doctors can provide these. If you misplace it, you will need to pay us another visit and consultation fee – albeit a lesser fee; for a replacement pathology form.)
- Revised Prescription: A revised prescription is typically necessary after three months. This is because your hormone condition can alter quite significantly over a short period of time, as your hormones go through a state of change.
- Will I Need to Take Natural Hormones for Life? No. Most hormone conditions, when under control and the worst has passed, tend to settle down. Particularly when the cause has been addressed – the doctor will explain this. However, many patients prefer to keep taking certain natural hormones (like progesterone), as it gives them a sense of wellbeing well after their home crisis has passed. This is entirely up to you.
