Frequently Asked Questions - FAQ's

General

What are your practice locations?

Are my medical records kept private and confidential?

Your medical file is handled with the utmost respect for your privacy. Our staff are
bound by strict confidentiality requirements as a condition of employment regarding your medical records. We will not release the contents of your medical file without your consent.

Do I need a referral to make an appointment?

Yes, from November 1 2010, all patients consulting Dr. Tom Cross will require a medical (usually from their general practitioner) referral to be able to claim a Medicare rebate for their consultation, just like any other specialist.

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What is Sports Medicine?

Sports medicine problems are most commonly injuries to the musculoskeletal system but also may involve medical illnesses that trouble active individuals such as asthma, fatigue, infectious diseases, concussion etc.

Sports medicine patients cover the spectrum of life from very young children to the frail elderly. The patients vary from being sedentary adults who get injured at work or home to full-time elite/professional athletes. There is a misconception that you have to be an athlete/sportsperson to attend a sports medicine clinic. Many patients that present have musculoskeletal problems not associated with sport and exercise (e.g. osteoarthritis,injuries sustained at home or in the work place) and these patients are welcome.

The Sports Physician aims to return the patient to their former level of function as soon as practically possible. The Physician should share the patients' love of sport and exercise and try to enable them to make a safe return to their desired level of activity.

Sports Physicians are first doctors and then complete a further 5 years of post-graduate specialist training. Before starting the training program of the Australasian College of Sports Physicians (ACSP) the doctor must have practiced medicine for at least 3 years. There is a rigorous training program involved a barrier entry examination,yearly assessment,a research/publication requirement and a fellowship exit examination after 5 years training.

The ACSP is a combined college comprising approximately 100 Australian Sports Physicians and 40 New Zealand Sports Physicians. The college was founded in 1986. The college grew in strength leading up to the Sydney Olympics in 2000 where Sports Physicians were recognized to play a leading role in athlete care.

On November 1st,2010, Sports Physicians were recognized as Specialists by the Australian Health Insurance Commission/Medicare. Sports Physicians from November 1st,2010 will also be referred to as "Sport and Exercise Physicians" and the specialty of sports medicine will also be known as "Sport and Exercise Medicine" (SEM). From November 1st,2010 patients of Sports Physicians will require a referral from their GP in order to have access to medicare to claim on their consultation with the Sports Physician.