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How to refers patients to Dr Joe Chen

Contact our Melbourne mental health clinic to book a psychiatry or ADHD consultation. Check clinic hours, call us, or send an enquiry today.

Welcome to Our Referral Portal

Thank you for considering Dr Joe Chen for your patient’s psychiatric assessment and care. We deeply value our collaborative partnerships with General Practitioners and health professionals across Victoria. Our commitment is to provide thorough clinical formulations, timely communication, and actionable management plans that support you in delivering continuous, quality care.

Contact Us

Manual

Email: narrm@queensroad.com.au

Secure Networks

Healthlink:

Call: +61 485 921 060 

Referral Process

​​​For new patients:

  • Step 1: Take the first step: see your GP to arrange a referral addressed to ‘Dear Doctor' specifying duration of referral (eg 12 month, 24 months, indefinite). Make sure you keep a copy yourself.

  • Step 2: Email your referral to: narrm@queensroad.com.au​

    • Attach your GP referral (mandatory) 

    • Your referral will be reviewed at the earliest possible

  • Step 3:

    • We will inform you the next available appointment time and the consultation fee

    • We will send you a link to a secure online intake form

    • Complete the online Intake Form – this allows us to gain a better understanding of your health 

    • You will be requested to fill out medicare, payment and bank account (for medicare rebate) details

    • A 25% deposit is taken for appointment bookings

    • Review and acknowledge privacy, financial consent and cancellation policy 

  • Step 4: When above steps are completed, you will receive a confirmation email regarding your appointment.

  • Refer to FAQ for further information regarding your appointment.

  • Please note we are not accepting new third party referrals such as DVA, TAC or Workcover. 

 

For returning patients:

Simply email us to request a consultation. If you saw our psychiatrists at a different clinic, please let us know where and when you last had your consultation.

Acknowledged within X hours, patient contacted within Y days, first appointment within Z weeks, report back within N business days.

 

The wait time fluctuates however we typically expect a 6-8 weeks wait.

You can let us know by email that you would like a sooner appointment. If there is any cancellation we can reach out to you.

Who We Accept

Age Band

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Conditions

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States

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Comorbidities

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What to include in the referral letter

  • Referring GP details

  • Patient's full name, date of birth, and contact details

  • Medicare number & MBS Item Number

  • Reason for referral, relevant clinical history any previous psychiatric treatment

  • A specific request for an ADHD assessment where that is intended

  • Addressed to Dr Chen or the practice

Note: GP to psychiatrist referral valid 12 months from first service unless specified, indefinite where clinically appropriate, specialist to specialist 3 months, and a referral addressed to another practitioner cannot be honoured for Medicare.

MBS Requirements & Referral Mechanics

To facilitate co-managed care and enable Medicare rebate eligibility for your patient, referrals for psychiatric evaluation should explicitly request an MBS Item 291 assessment and management plan.

  • Referral Wording: The referral letter must state an explicit request for an "Item 291 Adult ADHD Assessment and Management Plan" addressed to Dr. Joe Chen or the practice.

  • Referral Validity: Standard GP referrals remain valid for 12 months from the date of the first specialist appointment. Indefinite referrals are welcomed where ongoing annual reviews are anticipated. Specialist-to-specialist referrals remain valid for 3 months.

  • Secure E-Referral Channels: Referrals can be transmitted via HealthLink (ID: drjchen), Argus, Medical Objects, or direct secure email.

MBS Psychiatric Item Overview

MBS Item
Service Description
Clinical Purpose in Shared Care
Item 296
Ongoing Specialist Consultation
General psychiatric consultation for complex care management or non-shared care pathways.
Item 293
Annual Specialist Review
Required annual review of an existing Item 291 plan to support ongoing GP prescribing.
Item 291
Comprehensive Diagnostic Assessment
Single specialist assessment and formulation of a 12-month GP management plan.

Shared Care & Prescribing

Our practice operates a structured shared care model aligned with Victorian Schedule 8 (S8) permit regulations.

  • Diagnostic Assessment & Titration: Dr. Chen completes the clinical assessment, determines appropriate treatment options (including non-medication strategies), and manages initial medication titration.

  • GP Continuation Prescribing: Once the patient is on a stable dose, Dr. Chen issues a detailed management plan and handover letter enabling the referring GP to apply for a Victorian Schedule 8 (S8) permit to take over continuation prescribing.

  • Ongoing Monitoring: Co-managing GPs oversee routine physical monitoring (blood pressure, heart rate, weight) and coordinate the mandatory annual specialist review (Item 293).

  • Transferring Care & Complex Cases: Patients seeking to transfer care from interstate, or those presenting with complex comorbidities (such as co-occurring bipolar or substance use history), undergo a formal re-assessment prior to permit handover.

Service Timelines & Triage Commitment

  • Acknowledgment: Electronic referrals via HealthLink, Argus, or Medical Objects are acknowledged within 24–48 hours.

  • Triage & Patient Contact: Clinical triage occurs within 3 business days. Accepted patients are contacted directly to schedule their initial assessment.

  • Appointment Availability: Initial assessment appointments are offered within 4–6 weeks of referral acceptance.

  • GP Report Turnaround: A comprehensive diagnostic report and 291 management plan are transmitted to the referring GP within 10 business days post-consultation.

Rejected Referrals (copied)

Causes
Detailed Description
Patient Age
Our psychiatrists will only see pateints over the age of 16 years, and under the age of 60 years. Our psychologists offer support for patients from the age of 12.
Incomplete Information
Incorrectly addressed or incomplete referrals will be rejected and patients will not be offered the option to book an appointment until these matters are addressed.
Online GP Service
Referrals from online GP services will most likely be rejected. Unfortunately, we cannot ensure that online GP services will provide suitable, safe and appropriate ongoing care; particularly for patients diagnosed with ADHD who may require physical monitoring.
High Risk
We cannot take over care of patients with recent ED admissions or suicidal ideation. 'Private' services are not appropriate for acute mental health conditions as wait times apply.
Unsupported Service
Requests for services that we do not currently support (e.g. Autism assessments, Eating disorder concerns, full neuropsych reports, ongoing 'treatment' by a psychiatrist).
Resident of WA or NSW
Requests for ADHD Assessments from residents of WA or NSW. Due to local state regulations in relation to the subsequent treatment / prescription of medication, we cannot provide adequate follow-up care for patients in WA or NSW diagnosed with ADHD. Please raise any concerns with your local Office of the Chief Psychiatrist or state health department.

FAQ For Health Practitioners

Last reviewed: August 2026 by Dr. Joe Chen, FRANZCP

We are not a crisis service. Reach out for immediate support by calling:

  • SuicideLine Victoria 1300 651 251

  • Lifeline Australia 13 11 14

  • Beyond Blue for Mental Health Support 1300 22 4636

 

For life-threatening situations, dial 000 or visit the nearest Emergency Department.

Enquiries

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Please send through your enquiry and we will endeavour to get back to you as soon as possible.

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We encourage you to take your time and refer to the Patient Information and FAQ pages on our website.

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Further discussion can take place during your consultation with our psychiatrists.

+61 485 921 060

Level 5, 111 Cecil St, South Melbourne VIC 3205

narrm@queensroad.com.au

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