Heart Health Check In Surfers Paradise
A Medicare Heart Health Check With Your Surfers Paradise GP
A heart health check is a dedicated GP appointment of at least 20 minutes that works out your chance of having a heart attack or stroke over the next five years. At My Doctors Clinic Surfers Paradise, your GP brings together your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, kidney function, smoking status, weight and family history, then enters them into the Australian cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk calculator.
Medicare funds the heart health check under item 699, and eligible checks are bulk billed for Medicare and DVA card holders. If something needs a closer look, the next steps start in the same building, with an ECG, 24 hour Holter monitoring and on-site pathology available here.
We see patients from Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Main Beach, Bundall and across the Gold Coast, 7 days a week.
Which Heart Appointment Do You Need?
Not every heart concern needs the same visit. Choosing the right one means the right tests and the right Medicare item from the start.
Who Should Book A Heart Health Check
Medicare covers a heart health check for adults aged 30 and over, once every 12 months. Under the 2023 Australian guideline, regular cardiovascular risk assessment is recommended for:
- Adults aged 45 to 79 with no known heart disease
- People with diabetes from age 35
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from age 30
Your GP may also suggest one earlier if you have a family history of heart disease or stroke at a young age, chronic kidney disease, or South Asian, Māori or Pacific Islander heritage, as these can push your real risk higher than the calculator shows.
One Health Assessment Every 12 Months
Medicare will not pay for a heart health check if you have had another Medicare health assessment in the previous 12 months, such as a 45 to 49 year health check or a 75+ annual health assessment. The exception is the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health check, which can be claimed in the same year.
Not sure which one you are due for? Our reception team can check your Medicare history when you book, so you get the assessment that covers the most for you.
Heart Tests In Surfers Paradise, Under One Roof
Most people never need more than the check itself. When your GP does want a closer look at your heart, these tests are arranged from the clinic so you are not left waiting for a first step.
What Your Five Year Risk Number Means
The Australian CVD risk calculator, updated in 2023, gives your chance of a heart attack or stroke over the next five years and places it in one of three groups.
Your score is not a diagnosis and it is not fixed. Stopping smoking, lowering blood pressure and improving cholesterol all bring it down, and repeating the check shows you how far it has moved. Our weight loss program and chronic disease management plans give you practical support between checks, and our guide on why a heart health check matters explains the numbers in more detail.
Heart Risk Is Not The Same For Everyone
Getting Ready For Your Heart Check
A little preparation gives your GP a more accurate picture and can save a second visit.
- A list of your medicines and supplements, including doses
- Any home blood pressure readings or smartwatch heart rhythm alerts
- Recent blood test results from another clinic, if you have them
- Ages at which a parent, brother or sister had heart disease or a stroke
- Your Medicare card, so the check can be bulk billed
Many cholesterol tests no longer require fasting. If yours does, we will let you know when you book. Try to avoid coffee, cigarettes and hard exercise in the half hour before your blood pressure is measured.
Heart Health Check FAQs
The questions Gold Coast patients ask before booking a heart check with our Surfers Paradise GPs.
How much does a heart health check cost at My Doctors Clinic?
Eligible heart health checks are bulk billed for Medicare and DVA card holders, so there is no gap fee for the appointment. A one-off $45 new patient administration fee applies at your first visit. Any specialist tests or imaging outside the clinic may have their own fees, which your GP will explain.
Can I have a heart health check if I am under 45?
Yes. Medicare covers the check from age 30. The guideline recommends routine checks from 45, or earlier if you have diabetes, a strong family history of early heart disease, or are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
Can I have a heart health check in the same year as my 45 to 49 health check?
Not under Medicare. Only one Medicare health assessment can be claimed in a 12 month period, apart from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health check. The 45 to 49 health check already looks at your heart risk, so your GP will cover it there.
Do you do ECGs at the clinic?
Yes. A resting ECG can be done at My Doctors Clinic Surfers Paradise when your GP decides it is needed, for example if you have palpitations or an irregular pulse.
What is a Holter monitor and how long do I wear it?
A Holter monitor is a small recorder attached to your chest with sticky pads. You usually wear it for 24 hours while you go about your normal day, then bring it back so the recording can be analysed and reviewed by your GP.
Do I need a referral to see a cardiologist?
Yes, to claim a Medicare rebate you need a referral. If your heart health check or tests show something that needs specialist care, your GP will write the referral and send your results with it.
Is a heart health check the same as a stress test?
No. A heart health check estimates your future risk from your measurements and history. A stress test looks at how your heart copes with exercise and is usually arranged through a cardiologist when symptoms suggest a problem.
What is a coronary artery calcium score?
It is a CT scan that measures calcium in the arteries of the heart. It can help when your risk sits in the intermediate group and the decision about treatment is unclear. It is usually not covered by Medicare, so your GP will talk through whether it is worth it for you.
Can I walk in for a heart health check?
Walk-ins are welcome, but because the check takes at least 20 minutes, booking ahead is the best way to make sure a GP has the time set aside. You can book online or call 07 5592 2299.
Book Your Heart Health Check In Surfers Paradise
My Doctors Clinic Surfers Paradise, 16G/3221 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217.
Monday to Friday 7am to 5pm, Saturday 8am to 9pm, Sunday and public holidays 8am to 5pm.
Keep Your Heart Healthy With Our Other Services
Heart health links into most areas of general practice. These pages and guides are a good next step.
