Patient Information

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What is the Ambulatory Surgery Initiative (ASI)?

The ASI is an innovative program that provides the means to deliver faster treatment for patients in Western Australia. It strives to improve patient access to minor day procedures by allowing doctors to conduct private work in public hospitals. These procedures are typically bulk billed, and incur no out-of-pocket expenses for the patient. Procedures conducted within the scope of the ASI are extra work, on top of regular day procedure activity that occurs in public hospitals.

What is the aim of the ASI?

The ASI strives to:

• Reduce wait lists,
• Reduce patient waiting time, and
• Increase clinical throughput.

How do I get involved in the ASI?

If you are on a public waiting list and you have been identified as being potentially suitable for treatment under the ASI, you may be contacted by clerk and offered the option of participating in the ASI. If you wish to participate, you may be required to return to your GP to obtain a named referral to a participating ASI specialist.

Alternatively, your GP may directly refer you to a participating ASI doctor rather than giving you an open referral to the public waiting list.

The decision to participate in the ASI is entirely yours. If you choose not to participate, you will remain on the public waiting list and will be treated in accordance with normal hospital procedure.

What kind of procedures are available under the ASI?

There are a number of specialties available under the ASI. Procedures currently being undertaken include:

• Colonoscopies and Gastroscopies
• Cataract Extraction
• Cystoscopies
• Minor Gynaecological procedures such as LLETZ procedures
• Minor Paediatric ENT procedures such as Myringotomy
• Minor general surgery such as removal of lesions.

Am I eligible for treatment under the ASI?

The ASI is for low-risk patients who would like to have the opportunity to have their minor procedure done earlier in a non-teaching hospital. Low risk patients are generally under the age of 75, do not have significant co-morbidities and weigh less than 120kg (for suitability of equipment at general hospital sites).

How does it work if you do agree to participate?

• You agree to have the procedure directly billed.
• You provide your Medicare card/number and sign the Medicare form following your appointment to enable us to bulk bill the service/s.

Thank you for helping us to provide better services to you. For more information please contact the ASI Waitlist Clerk on 9346 8142.