Once Dr. van der Plank has confirmed a patient needs a procedure and the practice has allocated a date and time, it is the responsibility of the patient to book their hospital stay and get approval from their medical aid.

Each patient will be given two forms: 1. Notice of hospital admission and 2. Netcare Pre-admission form.

Notice of hospital admission form

This form is essential for the patient to get pre-authorisation codes from the medical aid.

It is the patient’s responsibility to get these codes, not the responsibility of the practice, or the hospital. The information needed for pre-authorisation is listed on the form:

  • Date of procedure
  • Diagnosis / ICD 10 codes
  • Procedure codes
  • Prosthesis required (if any)
  • Dr van der Planks Practice number – 2805227
  • Netcare Olivedale’s Practice number – 5808510

If you are struggling to get pre-authorisation, the Olivedale reception desk staff can help.

Check that the authorization you are given by the medical aid is for both NHRPL (the doctor) and CPT (the hospital).  Also check all details are correct i.e. date, Dr, procedure, hospital and all codes.

The pre-authorisation number will allow us to book your procedure and means the medical aid has authorised the procedure. Please request that the medical aid send a copy of the authorization to admin@drvdplank.co.za

Please ensure that your signed form and the pre-authorisation number is faxed or emailed to the practice as soon as possible. Fax: 011 462 8711 or email: admin@drvdplank.co.za

Netcare pre-admission procedure

There are two ways to go about booking your place with the hospital. Either by form or online.

  1. Fill in the Netcare pre-admission form. Once completed this form can be dropped off at their front desk or scanned and emailed to OlivedalePreAdmissions@netcare.co.za
  2. Online pre-admission: Register on Netcare’s patient portal in 3 easy steps.

Accounts

This practice does not charge medical aid rates.  This practice charges Discovery Health rates as per Dr van der Plank’s Discovery Classic Direct contract.

This practice is a Designated Service Provider (DSP) for

The practice is also registered with the Road Accident Fund.

Surgical accounts are submitted to the medical aid provided a pre-authorisation number has been obtained by the member and given to the practice.

It is not the responsibility of the practice to follow up accounts or liaise with medical aids.  Please read medical aid statements.  The patient remains responsible for the payment of the account should there be a shortfall or codes that are not authorised.  Please ensure that the person responsible for the account is aware of the progress of payments from their medical aid and is able to settle the difference in a timely manner.

New global protocols for joint replacements

Some major medical aids and private hospitals belong to ICPS (Improved Clinical Pathways Services). Discovery also has a global fee arrangement which applies to primary joint replacement. Both of these are programmes that regulate every aspect of joint replacement procedures, from the anaesthesia to the number of days spent in the hospital.

The anaesthetic of choice for a joint replacement is an epidural with conscious sedation. While this might sound scary, it improves the speed of recovery after the operation. Any patient with concerns about this should discuss it with the anaesthetist.

If the patient’s medical aid is part of ICPS, or if the patient does not have post-operative help at home, it is recommended that a place at a subacute (step down) facility is booked for an additional 4-5 days post hospital discharge. Subacute facilities help in the form of wound treatment, physiotherapy and day to day care, until the patient is able to cope on their own.

It is vital that the place at the subacute is booked at the same time as the hospital stay as the recommended facilities are usually quite full.