— Referring doctors —
Send your patients closer to home.
Melbourne Echo Clinic accepts echocardiography referrals from all GPs and specialists. Reports are delivered directly to the referring practice within 24–48 hours of the scan.
At a glance
-
24–48 hour reporting
Standard studies reported within 24–48 hours of the scan
-
Cardiologist reviewed
Every study reviewed and reported by a consultant cardiologist
-
ASAR-accredited sonographers
Every scan performed by an ASAR-accredited cardiac sonographer
-
NATA-accredited service
-
Bulk-billed
No out-of-pocket cost for eligible Medicare patients
A simple referral process.
-
Write a standard echocardiography referral
Address it to Melbourne Echo Clinic. Include the clinical indication, relevant cardiac history, current medications, and copies of any prior imaging.
-
Your patient books directly
Patients book their appointment at the location most convenient to them via our online booking system or by phone.
-
We report to you within 24–48 hours
The full echocardiogram report is delivered directly to your referring practice.
How to send referrals.
-
Email
admin@melbourneechoclinic.com.au (attach as PDF)
-
Paper referral via patient
Patients can bring a paper referral with them to their appointment
Download our referral template.
To make referring simpler and to ensure we receive the clinical detail we need to produce a thorough report, we’ve prepared referral templates you can use. Both templates include our contact details and the standard clinical fields we ask for.
-
Editable RTF template
For use in practice management software (Best Practice, Medical Director, Zedmed and others) or opened directly in Word. Fields populate from your PMS.
-
Fillable PDF form
For practices not using a template. Complete it on screen or print it and fill it in by hand.
Not sure which is right for your practice? The RTF template installs into most practice management systems and auto-fills with patient and referrer details. The PDF can be completed on screen or by hand.
Serial and repeat imaging.
Medicare’s rules on repeat echocardiography vary by clinical indication and referrer type. Melbourne Echo Clinic bulk-bills all echocardiograms that qualify under the MBS. If you’re unsure whether a repeat scan is eligible, please contact us. We’re happy to advise.
| Item | Description | Referrer | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55126 | Initial transthoracic echocardiogram | GP or specialist | Once every 24 months |
| 55127 | Serial echo for valvular dysfunction | Specialist | No time restriction |
| 55128 | Serial echo for known valvular disease | GP (in MMM 3–7 areas, includes Moe) | No time restriction |
| 55129 | Serial echo for heart failure or structural heart disease | Specialist | No time restriction |
| 55133 | Frequent repetition: pericardial effusion or specific PBS medications | GP or specialist | Per clinical indication |
| 55134 | Rare/special cases | Specialist | Per clinical indication |
This summary is for guidance only. Refer to the current Medicare Benefits Schedule for full item descriptors and requirements.
Seven locations, growing.
Melbourne Echo Clinic operates across seven locations spanning Melbourne’s inner west, south-east, the Mornington Peninsula, and the Gippsland region. Patients simply nominate the location most convenient for them when booking.
Reports delivered directly to you.
Every echocardiogram is reviewed and reported by our consultant cardiologist, Dr Nigel Sutherland. Reports are delivered to your practice within 24–48 hours of the scan.
For patients requiring urgent attention identified during the scan, our sonographer will contact you directly as a priority so you can arrange appropriate follow-up.
Accredited by
