Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — a referral from your GP or another specialist is required to see our cardiologists and to claim a Medicare rebate on your consultation.

• A GP referral is valid for 12 months
• A specialist-to-specialist referral is valid for 3 months

If you don’t have a referral, please see your GP first. They can assess whether cardiac review is appropriate and refer you directly to One Heart Centre.

You can book an appointment by:

• Calling our reception on (02) 9114 5151
• Emailing admin@oneheartcentre.com.au
• Booking online via our website at www.oneheartcentre.com.au

Please have your referral letter ready when you contact us. If your GP sends your referral directly to us, our team will contact you to arrange an appointment.

We offer same-day and next-day appointments for urgent referrals. Routine appointments are typically available within one to two weeks.

If your GP feels your situation is urgent — for example, chest pain, new rhythm problems, or unexplained breathlessness — please ask them to mark your referral as urgent when contacting us.

Please bring the following to your first appointment:

• Your referral letter (if not already sent to us)
• Medicare card (and concession or DVA card if applicable)
• Private health insurance card (if applicable)
• A list of your current medications
• Any relevant previous test results, ECGs, or imaging
• A list of questions you would like to ask

An initial consultation typically takes 30 to 45 minutes. If cardiac investigations are performed on the same day (such as an ECG or echocardiogram), allow up to 90 minutes in total. Subsequent follow-up appointments are generally shorter — around 20 to 30 minutes.

Absolutely — you are welcome and encouraged to bring a support person, partner, or family member to your appointment. Having someone with you can help you remember information discussed during the consultation and provide emotional support.

Our fees and estimated out-of-pocket costs are:

• Initial consultation: $325 — Medicare rebate ~$155 — patient gap ~$170
• Subsequent consultation: $180 — Medicare rebate ~$78 — patient gap ~$102
• Rapid Chest Pain Clinic Assessment: $400 — Medicare rebate ~$155 — patient gap ~$245

Concession rates are available for Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, and DVA card holders. Please let us know at the time of booking.

The following investigations are bulk billed (no out-of-pocket cost) if medicare eligible:

• Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound)
• Stress echocardiogram
• Pacemaker and defibrillator device checks

If you are unsure about your out-of-pocket costs, please contact our reception before your appointment.

Private health insurance can help cover costs for in-hospital procedures (such as coronary angiograms, TAVI, or pacemaker implantation). For outpatient consultations and tests performed in our rooms, Medicare is the primary funder. We recommend contacting your insurer directly to understand your entitlements before any planned procedure.

Yes — we welcome DVA (Department of Veterans’ Affairs) patients. Please bring your DVA card to your appointment. DVA Gold Card holders are bulk billed for consultations and most investigations. Please let our reception know at the time of booking.

Payment is collected at the time of your appointment. We accept EFTPOS, credit card, and cash. Your Medicare rebate is processed on the day via our EFTPOS terminal — most patients receive their rebate within 1–2 business days directly to their nominated bank account.

We offer a comprehensive range of cardiac investigations on-site, including:

• 12-lead ECG (electrocardiogram)
• Echocardiogram (transthoracic heart ultrasound) — bulk billed
• Stress echocardiogram — bulk billed
• 24-hour Holter monitor (heart rhythm recording)
• 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM)
• HeartBug extended cardiac monitoring (up to 14 days)

Most investigations can be performed at the same visit as your consultation — no second trip required.

An echocardiogram is an ultrasound of your heart. It uses sound waves — not radiation — to produce moving images of your heart’s structure and function. It is completely painless and non-invasive. You will lie on a bed while a sonographer places a small probe on your chest. The procedure takes approximately 30–45 minutes. Echocardiograms are bulk billed at One Heart Centre — there is no out-of-pocket cost.

A Holter monitor is a small, wearable device that records your heart’s electrical activity continuously over 24 hours (or longer). Electrodes are attached to your chest and connected to a small recording device. You go about your normal daily activities while wearing it. A fitting fee of $60 applies. Your cardiologist will analyse the full recording and discuss the results at your follow-up appointment.

A stress echocardiogram combines a heart ultrasound with an exercise test (on a treadmill or exercise bike). It assesses how your heart responds to physical stress and is used to detect coronary artery disease, assess heart valve function, and evaluate unexplained breathlessness. The test takes approximately 60–90 minutes. It is bulk billed at One Heart Centre. Wear comfortable shoes and loose clothing, and avoid eating a heavy meal for 3 hours beforehand.

Preparation depends on the test:

• ECG: No preparation needed. Wear clothing that allows easy access to your chest.
• Echocardiogram: No preparation needed.
• Stress echocardiogram: Avoid eating for 3 hours beforehand. Wear comfortable shoes. Continue all regular medications unless specifically told otherwise.
• Holter monitor / ABPM: No preparation needed. You may shower before fitting but  not during the monitoring period.

Our cardiologists perform a wide range of cardiac procedures through affiliated hospitals, including:

• Coronary angiogram (cardiac catheterisation)
• Coronary angioplasty and stenting (PCI — percutaneous coronary intervention)
• Complex and high-risk PCI, including chronic total occlusion (CTO)
• TAVI (transcatheter aortic valve implantation)
• Transcatheter mitral and tricuspid repair (TEER)
• Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO / Watchman)
• PFO closure
• Cardiac electrophysiology studies and ablation
• Pacemaker and defibrillator (ICD) implantation

A coronary angiogram (also called cardiac catheterisation) uses X-ray imaging and contrast dye to visualise the arteries supplying blood to the heart. A thin tube (catheter) is inserted through the wrist or groin and guided to the heart. It is used to diagnose blockages or narrowings in the coronary arteries. The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia with sedation and takes approximately 30–60 minutes. Most patients are discharged the same day.

TAVI (transcatheter aortic valve implantation) is a minimally invasive procedure to replace a diseased aortic valve without open-heart surgery. A replacement valve is delivered through a catheter inserted via the femoral artery in the groin and deployed inside the existing diseased valve. TAVI is suitable for patients with severe aortic stenosis. Dr Rehan has performed over 100 TAVI procedures and operates as an independent TAVI operator.

For tests performed on the same day as your consultation (ECG, echocardiogram), your cardiologist will typically discuss results with you before you leave. For Holter monitors and blood pressure monitors, results are usually available within 3–5 business days and discussed at a follow-up appointment. If your results require urgent attention, our team will contact you promptly.

Yes — following your consultation, a detailed letter summarising our findings, investigations, and management plan will be sent to your referring GP. We aim to send all letters within 24–48 hours of your appointment. You are also welcome to request a copy of your letter and reports for your own records.

The frequency of follow-up depends on your individual condition and management plan. Some patients are seen annually for routine monitoring; others may require more frequent review while medications are being established or after a procedure. Your cardiologist will advise you on the recommended follow-up interval at the end of your appointment.

One Heart Centre has three consulting locations:

• North Sydney — Lower North Shore
• Bella Vista — Hills District, Norwest
• Matraville — Eastern Suburbs / South East Sydney

You are welcome to attend whichever location is most convenient for you. When booking, our reception team will confirm which cardiologists consult at each site. Please note that not all cardiologists consult at all three locations — our reception team will help match you to the right site.

Yes — we offer video telehealth consultations for follow-up appointments and selected clinical reviews. Please note that initial (first-ever) consultations must be conducted in person — there is no Medicare rebate for a new patient telephone consultation with a specialist. Fees for telehealth consultations are the same as in-person, and Medicare rebates apply.

You will need a smartphone, tablet, or computer with a camera and microphone, and a stable internet connection. Our reception team will send you a link prior to your appointment. You do not need to download any special software — the video call runs in your browser.

Call 000 immediately. Do not drive yourself to hospital. If available, take aspirin 300mg while waiting for the ambulance, unless you have a known allergy.

Symptoms that require an immediate 000 call include: chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to the arm, jaw or back, sudden severe shortness of breath, loss of consciousness, or collapse.

One Heart Centre is an outpatient specialist practice and is not equipped to manage cardiac emergencies. Please always call 000 in an emergency.

If you have new or worsening chest pain, severe breathlessness, palpitations with dizziness or collapse, or any other symptoms that feel serious or sudden — please call 000 or go directly to your nearest emergency department.

For new but non-emergency symptoms (such as mild palpitations, new breathlessness on exertion, or ankle swelling), please contact your GP first. They can arrange an urgent referral to us if needed, and we can often see you within 24 hours.