What to Expect at Your
First Appointment

Before your appointment — what to bring

Having the right information available makes the initial assessment as useful as possible. Please bring:

• Your referral letter from your GP or specialist (if it has not already been sent to the rooms)
• A current medication list — including all prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and supplements
• Any relevant past specialist letters, investigations, or discharge summaries
• Your Medicare card and private health insurance details (if an inpatient stay or day program becomes part of the plan)
• Consent and privacy forms if these were sent with your appointment confirmation — if not, staff will assist you on arrival
• A support person if you would like one — family members or carers are welcome to attend with your consent

If you are unable to obtain records before your appointment, please come anyway — the assessment can still proceed and records can be gathered afterwards.

Getting here

Dr Kenchaiah's private consulting rooms are located at:

Delmont Consulting Suites
314 Warrigal Road, Glen Iris VIC 3146

Please arrive a few minutes before your scheduled time. If you are running late, call the rooms on 03 9834 3600 as soon as possible.

Parking is available on site. There is a bus stop directly across from the suites, and tram services are approximately a 10-minute walk away — please allow extra time if travelling by public transport.

What happens at the first appointment

The initial assessment typically takes 45–60 minutes. For complex presentations — such as patients on multiple medications or with lengthy psychiatric histories — the assessment may extend across two or three appointments to allow for a thorough and unhurried review.

Dr Kenchaiah will ask about your current concerns, your medical and psychiatric history, your medication history, and your goals for treatment. There are no right or wrong answers — the aim is to understand your situation as fully as possible. Please feel free to decline discussing any sensitive topics unless you are comfortable and a rapport has been built.

Part of the consultation time will be used to review records and write correspondence to your GP or other treating clinicians. You are welcome to ask questions throughout.

After your appointment

Following your assessment, Dr Kenchaiah will write a letter to your referring GP or specialist summarising the assessment findings and recommendations. This is usually sent within a few days of your appointment.

A follow-up appointment will be scheduled if ongoing review is needed. The frequency of follow-up depends on your clinical situation and treatment plan.

If you have questions after your appointment, please contact the rooms by phone on 03 9834 3600. Please note that clinical discussions — including questions about medications, results, or management — cannot be conducted by email or over the phone without a scheduled review.

Fees and billing

This is a private specialist practice. All consultations attract a gap fee above the Medicare rebate. Please contact the rooms on 03 9834 3600 for current fee information before your appointment.

Payment is required at the time of the consultation. Medicare rebates can be processed on the day.

Telehealth and after-hours

Telehealth is not offered at this time. Initial and ongoing assessments are conducted in person at the consulting rooms. On occasions, a telephone consultation can be accommodated between in-person appointments where clinically appropriate.

Dr Kenchaiah does not offer after-hours or emergency consultations. If you are in crisis or require urgent support outside of business hours, please contact:

• 000 — for emergencies
• Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24 hours)
• DirectLine: 1800 888 236 — alcohol and drug support (24 hours, Victoria)
• Your CAT team or nearest Emergency Department