Managing your appointments
Making appointments
Feel confident to manage your hospital appointments.
The Mater Young Adult Outpatients Clinic telephone number is (07) 3163 3000.
- Phone the clinic if you can’t make your appointment and be sure to reschedule
- Phone also if you’re going to be late so you don’t miss out on your appointment
- Add the clinic telephone number to your phone
- Ask about telehealth appointments if you find it difficult to come into hospital
Keeping organised
Keeping track of appointments, tests, monitoring your health and taking medications is important for you to stay healthy.
- Use your phone calendar or a phone app to keep track of your appointments
- When booking your next appointment, let the staff know if you have important things coming up like exam blocks or holidays so you can avoid these for appointment times
- Use your phone alarms for medication reminders
Questions
Questions about your health will mostly be directed to you.
You will be encouraged to learn about your condition and current health status.
- Don’t be afraid to ask if you’re unsure about anything
- Be confident and honest with your answers
- It may be helpful to make a list of your questions before your appointment and keep it somewhere handy e.g. in your phone
Decision making
Your role in decision making and giving consent is changing. You will now be more involved in making decisions about your healthcare.
- Be an advocate for yourself and be involved
- Remember to ask questions if you’re unsure
- It is ok to bring a support person if it helps you to feel more comfortable
Privacy
As a young adult you are able to see your specialist on your own for all or part of your appointment.
- Provides you with more opportunity for independence and privacy
- You can take a support person to your appointment if you wish
Medicare card
You can get your own Medicare card or a copy of your family card when you are 15. Please discuss this with your parents/care givers.
Visit https://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/subjects/young-people-becoming-independent or your local Medicare office.
Mater acknowledges consumer consultation in the development of this patient information.
Mater Doc Num: PI-CLN-420098
Last modified 05/7/2017.
Consumers were consulted in the development of this patient information.
Last consumer engagement date: 22/6/2017
For further translated health information, you can visit healthtranslations.vic.gov.au/ supported by the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services that offers a range of patient information in multiple languages.