Hopefully, you will never require the services of an Orthopaedic Surgeon. However, life has a habit of throwing up challenges so here's an overview of the process:
1. You have an injury. 2. You see a GP, General Practitioner, either in a medical centre or in the case of severe injury or emergency, you may see an Emergency Doctor in a hospital. GPs have numerous treatments at their disposal, including: Splints Casts Medication (including pain killers or anti-inflammatories) Steroid injections X-rays or ultrasound3. If none of this helps, you should return to your GP and check they have nothing more to offer you. 4. Your GP may refer you to an Orthopaedic Surgeon. You are more than welcome to make an appointment with Dr Coll without a referral from a GP however you will not be able to claim any financial benefits from Medicare for that appointment. 5. If you have a current WorkCover claim, you should bring your claim number. 6. The Orthopaedic Surgeon will spend about 20 - 30 minutes with you, depending on your type of injury. They will ask you a number of questions and will examine the relevant part of your body. They may request further imaging. 7. You may require surgery. This will be booked in advance and explained to you. On the day of surgery, you will sign a consent form, showing you agree to have the procedure done.
Preparing for a doctor's visit can be overwhelming for anyone with more complex health issues. However, with the right preparation, you can make the most of your appointment and get the help you need.
Here's your step-by-step guide specifically for neurodiverse needs to get ready for your next appointment.
First, make sure to arrive on time and confident about what's planned for the visit:
Double check your appointment day and time and set up a reminder in your calendar. You might want to call your doctor's office and ask for more details on what is planned for your appointment, i.e. certain examinations, and how much time it will take.
Plan ahead for transportation and make sure you have a reliable way to get to and from your appointment. Add travel time to your calendar and consider leaving extra early in case of unexpected delays.
Confirm that your health insurance covers the costs of the visit and/or treatment. Prepare your insurance card to bring along.
Consider bringing a support person. Having a close friend or family member come along with you can be a great help, both for emotional support and for having a second set of ears to listen and remember important information from the appointment.
Second, make sure to have all information, documents and questions at hand:
Write down your current symptoms and questions. Having a clear list of what you want to discuss with your doctor can help you feel more organized and ensure you don't forget anything important. It can also be helpful to rate the severity of your symptoms on a scale of 1-10 to help communicate their impact on your daily life.
Compile any background information in case you're seeing this doctor for the first time or want to share new information from visits to other health care professionals. You might want to make a list of these other doctors for reference.
Write down which medication you are currently taking, prescribed and/or self-medicated. It will help to find the best treatment option for you and avoid unexpected side effects.
Bring along a notebook or device to take notes during the appointment. Having all of your information in one place can make it easier to reference later.
Remember that you can always take a break during your appointment if you feel overwhelmed. Also, don't hesitate to ask if you don't understand something the doctor is saying or if you need more time to process information. Your doctor is there to help you, so make sure to communicate your needs.
If you would like to have your paperwork filled out prior to your appointment, please download and fill out the below. Alternatively, you can complete your paperwork online using the patient registration link sent to your mobile. If you did not receive a link when booking your initial appointment please contact the rooms on 4052 1247.
What to bring to your appointment
When you arrive for your first appointment with Dr Sarah Coll you will be asked to complete a form that includes your personal details and our privacy policy. We have included these below so you can complete it ahead of time and bring a copy on the day, or email it to reception via [email protected].
If you have had an X-Ray, MRI, CT or any type of scan, Dr Coll will want to look at the imaging with you during your appointment.
If you were seen by any of the below radiologists Dr Coll will be able to access the imaging online.
Queensland X-Ray / Cairns Diagnostic Imaging
Cairns Radiology / I-MED
Rural Medical Imaging
North Queensland X-Ray
Mount Sheridan X-Ray / I-MED
If you were seen by any other radiology service, please contact them and ask that they send you a copy of the images on a disc for you to bring to the appointment.
If you had imaging done at the Cairns Hospital please contact Dr Coll's reception ASAP so they can arrange for it to be transferred to Dr Coll for you. Phone: 07 4052 1247. This process takes a couple of business days.
PRE-HAB
How to recover best from surgery, begins before you enter the hospital. 1. General health check - your GP can check your general health to make sure you are in the best possible shape prior to surgery. 2. Diet - a diet which is high in vegetables and protein (meat, fish, eggs, nuts, pulses) is a good idea. 3. Sugar - avoid sugar prior to surgery, and get your blood sugars checked if you are borderline diabetic. 4. Smoke - don't smoke for 4 weeks prior to surgery to reduce your risk of death under anaesthetic and infection after surgery. 5. Exercise - if you are able to exercise prior to surgery, then your heart and lung function will cope better with the stress of surgery. 6. Vitamin C and B12 can help your body to recover after surgery.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR DAY IN SURGERY WITH DR SARAH COLL
Steps that you will go through on the day your of surgery:
When you arrive at the hospital, the receptionist will take down your personal information.
You will be introduced to your nurse and allocated a bed or waiting area.
After a variable period of waiting, you will be wheeled or walked in to the operating theatre.
The Anaesthetist is the specialist who keeps you asleep while the surgeon operates. He or she will introduce themselves and check your general health. At this stage you can ask the Anaesthetist any questions relating to the anaesthetic, and your post-operative pain relief.
Dr Sarah Coll will come and see you, and draw a large arrow on the arm or leg requiring surgery. She will also ask if you have any last minute questions.
You will then be wheeled into theatre and placed on the operating table.
The Anaesthetist will place a small needle in the back of your hand to administer the medication which will keep you asleep while Dr Coll operates.
The next thing you will be aware of is waking up in the Recovery Room. A nurse will be standing by your bed, ready to assist you.
Once you are more alert, you will be transferred to the ward where you will be cared for by a nurse, who usually looks after another 3-5 patients.
Dr Coll will see you in the ward either that afternoon or the following morning, and will tell you about your surgery. Not all patients remember this, however, so Dr Coll will see you again 7 days later to discuss your surgery, remove sutures and to check your wound.
All patients receive Dr Coll's mobile phone number and she can be contacted directly about any emergencies. Otherwise, during office hours, please ring the office.
