Frequently Asked Questions
What procedures and medical services are offered at Express Cardio-Services?
Please see our services page for a complete list of services or you can contact our friendly staff for additional information.
Do I need a referral form?
Yes a referral from your GP is important to get information about current condition and previous history. It is also important for medicare rebate and reimbursing a part of the charge for your consultation.
How long does a referral remain current?
A referral from your GP is usually valid for 1 year and a specialist referral is usually valid for 3 months.
Which services are bulk billed for eligible patients?
- Transthoracic Echocardiogram
- Stress Echocardiogram
- Stress Electrocardiogram
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- 24 Hours Holter Monitoring
Can I claim my ABP (Ambulatory Blood Pressure) monitor through Medicare or private insurance?
Unfortunately you cannot claim this item through Medicare. We do not routinely offer the Medicare claimable item for ABP. The Medicare claimable ABP has a set of complicated criteria and may only be available through our cardiologist consultation if it is deemed necessary by the cardiologist.
For this reason the ABP monitoring we offer incurs a completely out of pocket fee and it is not accociated with an item number.
For private insurance claim please consult your insurance company as this is subject to your level of cover. Again please be informed that there is no accociated item number to this service.
What is blood pressure?
Blood pressure is the pressure of blood in your blood vessels (arteries). Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury (mm Hg). Your blood pressure is recorded as two figures. For example, 150/95 mm Hg. This is said as 150 over 95.
The top (first) number is the systolic pressure. This is the pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts.
The bottom (second) number is the diastolic pressure. This is the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between each heartbeat
What is high blood pressure?
High blood pressure is a blood pressure that is 140/90 mm Hg or above each time it is taken at the GP surgery (or home or ambulatory readings always more than 135/85 mm Hg). That is, it is sustained at this level. High blood pressure (hypertension) is a risk factor that can increase your chance of developing heart disease, a stroke, and other serious conditions. As a rule, the higher the blood pressure, the greater the risk. Treatment includes a change in lifestyle risk factors where these can be improved. For example, losing weight if you are overweight, regular physical activity, a healthy diet, cutting back if you drink a lot of alcohol, stopping smoking, and a low salt and caffeine intake. If needed, medication can lower blood pressure.
What is high cholesterol
Cholesterol is a fatty substance produced naturally by your body and found in your blood. You can also get cholesterol from some foods. It is used for many different things in the body, but causes health problems when there is too much of it in the blood.
A Heart Foundation Survey completed in 2010 found one in three Australians aged 30-65 years had been told by a doctor that they have high cholesterol. This equates to 3.5 million Australians.
Too much cholesterol in the blood causes fatty deposits to gradually build up in blood vessels. This makes it harder for blood to flow through, which can cause a heart attack or stroke.
What is a heart attack and what should I take?
A heart attack (myocardial infarction) is usually caused by a blood clot, which stops the blood flowing to a part of your heart muscle. You should call for an ambulance immediately if you develop severe chest pain. Emergency procedure to restore the blood flow through the blocked blood vessel are usually done as soon as possible. This is to prevent or minimise any damage to your heart muscle. Other treatments help to ease the pain and to prevent complications. Reducing various risk factors can help to prevent a myocardial infarction.
What is heart failure?
Heart failure does not mean that your heart is going to stop at any minute. It means that your heart is not functioning as well as it should. Heart failure can be caused by many different conditions. Symptoms include fluid retention, breathlessness and tiredness. Medication can usually ease symptoms and can often improve the outlook.
What is angina?
Angina is a pain that comes from the heart. It is usually caused by narrowing of the coronary (heart) arteries. Usual treatment includes a statin medicine to lower your cholesterol level, low-dose aspirin to help prevent a heart attack, and a beta-blocker medicine to help protect the heart and to prevent angina pains. An angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor medicine is advised in some cases. Sometimes angioplasty or surgery are options to widen, or to bypass, narrowed arteries.
What is heart murmur?
Heart murmurs are abnormal heart sounds produced when blood flows across one of the heart valves that is loud enough to be heard with a stethoscope.
What does my test involve and what preparations are required?
Depending on the test you book you might be required to make preparations before your appointment. Click here for more information.
Email Policy
Please refer to our email correspondence policy here.
No-show / Cancellation Policy
Wherever possible please notify our reception staff at least 24 hours before your appointment if you need it rescheduled or cancelled. Not attending a scheduled appointment without cancelling or rescheduling is considered as a ‘no-show’.
A no-show means that another patient loses an opportunity to be seen.
We understand that sometimes unforeseen circumstances happen so when it is the first occasion of a patient failing to attend their scheduled appointment, the practice staff will remind them of the no-show policy. If there’s a second time the patient fails to attend an appointment, a non-attendance fee of $50 may be charged at the time of booking for a further appointment. This fee is not refundable or rebatable through Medicare.
