Frequently Asked Questions

Medical professionals can contact Dr Collin Chin (M-F 8:30am – 5:00pm) for urgent advice and/or patient referral via the switchboard at SJOG Murdoch Hospital on 08 9438 9000. Urgent referrals will be reviewed as a matter of priority. ​ An on-call service (24/7) is not provided by Dr Chin. After hours care for sudden or unexpected illness related to blood disorders is provided by your local hospital via the Emergency Department. Unrelated or minor issues should be referred to your primary care physician (GP) or local Emergency Department if required.

All new patients require a referral letter from a primary care practitioner (GP, nurse practitioner) or specialist medical practitioner. Referrals need to be received and reviewed prior to an appointment being made. ​ A valid referral is required to allow you to claim Medicare rebates. A primary care practitioner referral (GP) will last 12 months, and referrals from other specialist physicians will last 3 months. Although we will attempt to warn you of referral expiry, it is your responsibility to note when a new referral will be required. ​ Referrals can be sent via – In person Fax – 08 9366 1510 Email – receptiononcologymurdoch@genesiscare.com HealthLink – genecare

Patients need to have discussed their condition with their primary care physician (GP, nurse practitioner) or other referring practitioners who will determine if a referral to Bloodwise is required. ​ A valid referral is required. ​ Appointments can be made through the following methods –​ Via email - receptiononcologymurdoch@genesiscare.com (referral is required as an attachment) Via telephone - 08 9366 1500 Via fax - 08 9366 1510 Appointments will be confirmed within 2 working days of request. Please note that email consultations will not be provided.

Dr Chin sees patients with a wide range of blood disorders including chronic leukemias, lymphoma, myeloma, myelodysplasia, myeloproliferative disorders, bleeding and clotting disorders, anaemia, abnormal blood cell counts and iron disorders. ​ Critically unwell patients with acute leukemia or high grade disorders will be referred to tertiary hospitals for high acuity care. ​ Outpatient clinic appointments are at the GenesisCare rooms in Murdoch, or monthly visiting clinics in Mandurah. ​ Day procedures (blood transfusions, iron infusions, chemotherapy, etc.) and inpatient admissions are at SJOG Murdoch Hospital.

An SMS reminder will be sent a few days prior to your appointment. This service is a courtesy and it remains your responsibility to record and remember appointment details.

Bloodwise is a private specialist clinic and a gap will apply for all consultations. Our consultation fees are highly competitive and are below the recommended Australian Medical Association (AMA) rates. Please note that Bloodwise is not a bulk-billing practice. ​ Our fee schedule is regularly updated and can be obtained from calling the clinic on (08) 9366 1500.

On the day of your appointment please bring the following – ​ Current referral letter Medicare card Private Health Fund Card or details Medication list List of past medical conditions, illnesses and operations Any relevant pathology results, x-rays or scan reports Bank Debit or Credit Card for payment (NB: we accept VISA or Mastercard only) ​ Please note that without a valid referral, the Medicare rebate will be drastically reduced. ​ We do not bulk bill. If eligible, your Medicare rebate will be processed on the day and will be processed within 1 working day.

If you cannot attend an appointment you need to notify us at least one working day before the scheduled time. This enables us to provide appointments to other patients. ​ Please contact the clinic directly via telephone on (08) 9366 1500 for appointment cancellations. ​ [NB: Email notifications are not accepted for cancellations.] ​ If cancellations occur less than one working day prior to the appointment, or if you do not attend the scheduled appointment a cancellation fee of $100 will apply. This fee is not refunded by Medicare.

You will usually be seen within 15 minutes of your appointment time. Please arrive 5 minutes before your scheduled appointment. Occasionally, there may be unforeseen delays due to emergencies or late arrival of prior patients. Appointments will generally be between 15 to 45 minutes long, but it is reasonable to allow approximately 1 hour of your time.

Please ensure that your referral is either 1) handed in person, 2) sent to our secure email address, or 3) sent via fax. The specialist will see you and organise any other tests which may be required. You may need to return for a follow-up visit to discuss the results of these tests and treatment.

Medicare will rebate a portion of your account if you hold a current referral. If your referral is not valid, Medicare will only pay a small proportion of your rebate. Following full payment of your account at the time of your appointment, we will electronically submit your claim for a rebate directly to Medicare.

Dr Chin will inform you of the details in your clinic appointment and arrangements will be made at SJOG Murdoch Hospital.

Blood tests and blood film review are essential in the assessment of blood disorders. At Bloodwise, our preferred pathology provider is Australian Clinical Labs (ACL). This will allow Dr Chin to facilitate expedited and specialised testing on patient samples. Please ensure that you always go to Australian Clinical Labs (ACL) for blood tests. ​ For blood transfusions, a fresh sample within 72 hours of the transfusion is required to accurately and safely cross-match the blood product to ensure compatibility. This sample must be with ACL to allow issue of blood products at SJOG Murdoch Hospital. Bone marrow (BM) biopsy – a BM biopsy is a specialised diagnostic test which may be needed in the work-up of certain blood disorders. A BM biopsy is performed as a day procedure at SJOG Murdoch hospital by Dr Chin. The biopsy will be performed from the back of the hip bone (posterior superior iliac crest) and a blood and bone sample will be taken for analysis. In the majority of cases, local anaesthesia is adequate. In exceptional cases, inhaled or general anaesthesia may be used with the assistance of a specialist anaesthetist. The BM biopsy may take between 1 to 3 weeks for results as further specialized tests may be indicated (cytogenetics, molecular testing, immunohistochemistry stains). Results will be discussed in person at a follow-up appointment.

Bloodwise adheres to the provisions of the Privacy Act. Discussion of your medical care with other parties will only occur if you provide permission. To facilitate communication in the event of hospital admission or critical illness, we highly encourage you to nominate one person as next of kin. All information will be discussed with your next of kin if you are too unwell. Additionally, a next of kin will allow clear delivery of information to family and friends.