Kon-Tiki Medical Centre - Maroochydore, Queensland

Em

Falsely claim they offer Medicare rebates and “it’s been taken off the total bill” when they in fact don’t process or provide Medicare rebates at all. The doctor charges $100+ for a general consultant. Highly recommend steering clear. They also find any excuse to try and make you come back for a second visit I.e claiming you need tests when you don’t. I’ve only visited twice for urgent issues and absolutely will not again after being lied to about their “rebates” twice. I have also never been provided with a receipt when I was told the receipt will be sent to me. The second time I visited I was told the Medicare rebate will be automatically refunded back. Dodgy.

Jenny N.

Save yourself time and money and go to a real GPs registered with Medicare. Extremely disappointing experience. The GP Charged $100 for a consultation lasting less than 15 minutes, when the price explained first, was around 45 AUD without the rebate. Not worth the cost or effort. They seem more focused on making money than providing a basic health care.

A M.

Dr. Dhara was not empathetic nor understanding and made me feel like a massive inconvenience for just needing some help in an already difficult & stressful time. I walked in with high hopes and they were tossed in the bin, then got charged $199 for it. Awful.

(happy to pay any price for a decent service)

melcaval

ALERT. IN THIS PRACTICE THEY SCAM PEOPLE.
I was informed that the fee for a 15-minute consultation without Medicare rebates would be approximately $45. However, I was charged $99 for a session that lasted under 15 minutes. As I understand, billing should be based on the duration of the consultation. I requested to discuss fees with the GP but she refused, telling the receptionist that the fee charged is because "I asked too many questions". During our session, I asked only two specific questions: one regarding a thyroid function test and the other about the red dots on my skin.
Dhara you decided to provide extensive explanations about red blood cells and iron functions, that while informative, it did not directly address my concerns or assist me and you were unnecessarily prolonging the time, though the consultation still remained under 15 minutes despite your attempts to stretch it. The additional fee charged was not clearly explained or justified at the time of payment, which added to my concerns about transparency.
Request for Blood Tests
I requested thyroid function and full blood count tests to address thyroid issues and small red dots on my skin. Dhara You declined, stating that you needed my complete medical history and instructed me to obtain records from all previous healthcare providers. This was an unexpected response, as I have never before been required to provide records from previous practices for routine blood tests.
I understand that Medicare provides rebates for thyroid function tests when certain criteria are met, such as abnormal TSH levels or the monitoring of diagnosed thyroid disease, which I have and require regular monitoring.
If I Had been informed that my situation might not meet Medicare’s criteria for a rebate, (which we know it does) I would have preferred using the additional $50 charged by you Dhara during the consultation, and pay for the tests out of pocket,. This would have allowed me to take responsibility for the cost of the tests and proactively address my health concerns.
Patient Rights and Communication:
Patients have the right to participate in decisions about their care, including tests and treatments. During this consultation, I felt my concerns were not adequately addressed. Furthermore, the refusal to discuss the increased fee or provide further explanation left me feeling dismissed and undervalued as a patient.
Clarifications Requested
1. Billing Practices: Could you provide a detailed explanation of how the consultation fee was determined, specifically addressing the discrepancy between the quoted fee and the amount charged, given that the session lasted less than 15 minutes?
2. Clinical Rationale: Could you elaborate on the clinical reasoning behind your decision to deny the requested blood tests, particularly considering my chronic thyroid and need for annual test I presented and my specific request?
3. Policy on Patient Inquiries: Is there a clinic policy regarding the number of questions a patient can ask during a consultation, and how does this impact billing?

Dimity W.

The most awful experience I have ever had as a mother with her two young children ages 3 and 1.5. I was asked to wait outside in the busy car park as the receptionist couldn't hear on the phone from the 'screaming' no screaming was happening. Disgusting behavior from another female towards a mother who was clearly trying to entertain her children to keep them happy while we waited for the first appt of the morning. Both female receptionists were not supportive, and the other ignored me while I said I would leave and cancel my appointment. They should be ashamed of themselves DO NOT GO if you are a mother with young kids they are not accommodating

J R.

Dr Prathmesh has provided me with exemplary care and he's been incredibly thorough and caring. He's a great communicator and takes the time to explain everything to you. The reception team are also friendly and warm. Thank you.

Douglas W.

konTiki Medical have some quality docs. they dont just treat you, they form a bond by being thorough and gaining your trust. it is reassuring knowing someone does have your back when your sick. Dr. Prathmesh is a quality doctor.

Nikka B.

The care and service we received so far is outstanding. The Drs and staff especially Stephanie in reception is very friendly and always greets us with her lovely smile. She knows what she is doing and whenever I ask a question, she knows the answer. Very easy to deal with. Dr Maria looks after our family and motivates us a lot to make sure we keep ourselves well. It's great to have a GP that is very caring and compassionate. Dr Prathmesh also looks after us and he listens to our concerns. We always feel we are being looked after and they are very concerned with our wellbeing.