It's a short, secure meeting where your doctor talks with other health professionals about your care — sometimes to coordinate with people already involved, sometimes just to get expert advice from a specialist or allied health professional.
You don't need to attend — your doctor will talk it through with you afterwards.
It brings your doctor together with other health professionals — specialists, physiotherapists, psychologists and others — at the same time, in one conversation. Some may already look after you; others your doctor brings in for their expert advice.
Instead of letters going back and forth between clinics, everyone talks it through together, in real time — so nothing is missed, nothing is doubled up, and everyone leaves working from the same plan.
Physiotherapist
Psychologist
Specialist
Your doctorWhy it's happening
Your doctor might arrange one to coordinate with the other professionals involved in your care so everyone's working from the same plan — or simply to get advice from a specialist or allied health professional about the best way forward. Either way, it means more expertise focused on your care, without you needing a separate referral or appointment.
You don't need to attend or prepare anything. Your doctor knows your history and leads the conversation, then talks the outcome through with you at your next appointment.
The doctor who looks after you set this up because it will help coordinate — and add to — your care.
You don't need to attend, prepare, or fill anything in. Your doctor handles it all.
Your doctor will talk you through the agreed plan at your next visit — and it goes into your medical record.
Studies consistently show that when care teams meet like this, patients' problems are picked up earlier, care plans work better, and hospital visits go down.
of Australian patients in a recent study believe these meetings had a positive effect on their care.
Across many health settings, research consistently shows these multidisciplinary meetings:
Cost & privacy
The meeting is covered by Medicare and bulk billed — there is no out-of-pocket cost to you, and nothing for your family to pay either.
The meeting is private and encrypted, and only the health professionals your doctor has involved in planning your care take part. Notes go into your medical record, just like a normal appointment.
The meeting goes ahead as part of your care, but the choice is yours. You can opt out or withdraw your consent at any time — see your choices below.
Your choices
This meeting only involves your doctor and the health professionals they've asked to help plan your care, and it goes ahead as part of your normal care. But it's your health being discussed, so the decision is always yours.
You're free to decline — for example if you're away, or you'd simply rather your care wasn't discussed this way. Opting out won't affect the care you receive from your doctor in any other way.
If you'd prefer not to take part, or you have any questions, contact the Conference.care team at patients@conference.care. You can withdraw your consent at any time.
Conference.care is a service that organises these meetings for doctors — we take care of the scheduling and the paperwork, so your doctor can focus on your care.
If you have any questions about your meeting, the Conference.care team is here to help — just get in touch.
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