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A unique solution to expedite the treatment of patients who have an acute injury

The Hills Orthopaedic Trauma Service (HOTS) which originally began in the 1980’s and has been dormant for quite a while has been re-activated for a three month trial.

HOTS has been designed for the specific purpose of expediting treatment of patients who have an acute injury (basically ambulatory trauma/fractures) at minimal cost.

HOTS will be managed and coordinated by Dr John Fox who will be supported by Lakeview Private Hospital Orthopaedics which comprises 16 orthopaedic surgeons covering multiple specialties.

Bookings for HOTS need to be made by a GP or their office.

HOTS has been designed to keep costs to a minimum and will focus on four key areas to achieve this:

1. BULK BILLING – ALL PATIENTS … all patients will be bulk billed for the initial consultation and, fracture management and subsequent follow up.
2. X-RAYS & CAT – Patients will also be bulk-billed for plain X-rays and CAT (if needed) done at Lakeview Private Hospital
3. NO GAP ARRANGEMENTS – If the patient has private health insurance and they need surgery ..
   – their fund will be billed under the ‘No Gap’ arrangements so there are no ‘out of pocket’ expenses for the surgery.
   – HOTS will endeavour to ensure the anaesthetist will do the same
   – During the three month trial, Lakeview Private Hospital will waive the ‘facility fee’ should surgery be necessary.
4. UNINSURED CASES – If the patient is uninsured (whether or not they need surgery), Lakeview Private Hospital will expedite their management at Westmead Public Hospital by direct phone call into the Westmead Orthopaedic Registrars. The aim of this being to bypass the usual long ED waiting times.
   HOTS will make the best endeavours to see patients as soon as possible and for acute trauma referred via HOTS will not charge the patient for the consult or any surgery.

Note: The only costs for a private patient may be if they have chosen a particular health insurance policy that has an “excess or co-payment” which is beyond Lakeview Private Hospital’s control.

HOTS is not appropriate for chronic issues. The secretarial referral team will clarify this when the initial phone call is received.

If a patient’s injuries require a super sub-specialist, this will be expedited on referral. A request will be submitted requesting that the sub-specialist sees them and treats them as needed on a no gap basis. This decision will be at the discretion of the surgeon.

Physiotherapy & other advantages:

The team at Sports Physio at Lakeview Private Hospital is happy to assist by supplying splints/casts at cost. If a patient has a fund with physiotherapy optional extras that however will further assist the patient. Other advantages include:

• Seeing the orthopaedic consultant rapidly rather than an ED doctor
• Avoiding any cost for X-Rays

For public patients, by referral first to the rooms, the patient can be worked up and if they need referral to Westmead, HOTS can arrange for the emergency department to be bypassed and the patient referred straight to the Registrars for surgery. This to be arranged at Westmead Public Hospital and Westmead Fracture Clinic for follow up as needed. It is anticipated that this should result in substantial time savings.

Patients can be referred back to GP for ongoing return to work certificates. (GPs should be aware that there is a specific fee that WC and TP pay GPs for completing these forms)

John Fox
October 2018