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Tailored Natural Health Care
Compassionate Medical Treatment
Laptop Format
New therapies offer real advantages in treating debilitating conditions, but for many, especially those more serious conditions, the process doesn't always offer the medical support and certainty they need.
This is the answer
Using DNA and compatibility testing, we match your prescribing to the choice of treatment that is right for you and guide you through the experience . Its a safer and more reliable way to help access the benefits treatment offers. This is a genuinely new way to approach medical perscribing
Tailored Prescribing
Welcome
Icarus is a highly personalized telehealth based medical practice that uses a unique 'Pay it Forward ' billing model with community contributions to help individuals dealing with complex health issues.
The aim is helping patients find better ways of managing illness and giving patients new tools to manage their symptoms
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For individuals who need a higher quality of treatment
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Telehealth, alongside individualized 'pay it forward' pricing, provide flexibility
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Appointment times are longer than is standard
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Patient led tests and investigations
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continuity of care, communication and patient education are key
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Individual autonomy matters.
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Patient education and involvement creates better outcomes
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Individuals who are simply seeking prescriptions, or using medical treatment as a legal way to supply substances, will likely find this isn't the service for them. As a medical treatment service, while sympathetic and respectful of your views, - please understand the limited time and the resources we have are focused on the treatment of patients and loved ones undergoing illnesses or suffering who need the extra medical or psychological help and advice.
Plant based therapy offers new possibilities in symptom control and improved well-being across a number of conditions, but it's often poorly understood and not always treated with the respect it deserves. Unfortunately, both past stigma and more recent prescribing and dispensing practices, have had the effect of somewhat 'marginalizing' it, as a legitimate therapy. This does a genuine disservice to those patients who could benefit from the alternative it provides, and to patients struggling to get results with conventional pharmacological agents alone.
While there's a very reasonable discussion worth having on the legal debate associated with these substances, please understand Icarus is a medical treatment service and is aimed entirely at helping patients with genuine illness access medical treatment.
Please note...!
Overview...
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New and emerging therapies offer fresh possibilities in symptom control across a number of conditions, but treatment is not always approached with the level of support it needs, Icarus endevours to change that.
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Icarus provides personalised medical care and education to help incorporate emerging therapies into treatment and to help patients mannage complex illness
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We use an inovative community based payment model where individuals who can, are encouraged to help cover the cost of treating individuals undergoing finnancial difficulty.
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We also provide patients access to tests and investigatory services and support with diagnostic and mannagement challenges. including a pharmaco genomic service as a compliment to alternative medication perscribing
Anxiety and Stress
Chronic Pain
Gastro Intestinal Disorders
Inflammatory Conditions
Rest, Sleep and Recovery
A tool for for those either already on other medications seeking safe treatment with alternative therapies, or those looking for a higher level of care. This uses genetic analysis to analyze your suitability and sensitivity to medication, and cross reference for possible interactions with other therapies essentially 'fingerprinting' your specific prescribing tolerances, better Informing your treatment.
Tailored prescribing
How it All Works....
1
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if its your first first visit -book initial consultation
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if its the first follow up visit book a long appointment
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if its the third visit or later book a standard or a long visit
As a general guide for future bookings a standard consultation provides the time to deal with a single topic or request, complex or multiple issues often require more time particularly if prescribing is required
On the first visit you'll be asked to SMS a photo of:
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Your drivers license or photo ID and Medicare card (or IHI number)
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A medical summary from your GP (optional)
if you don't have a Medicare number google
how do I find my IHI
3
2
Appointment Booking
If it's found during your initial consultation that due to your treatment or medical conditions (or whatever reason) precludes treatment and we can't proceed with ordering testing or evaluating you further, costs are capped to a $50 booking fee, (this is about helping people find treatment, not profit)
. We discuss your medical background, your medications and what your particular treatment goals are. Assess your suitability and safety for treatment and prescribing options.
1stVisit Wk 1
1
Initial Consultation
Initial Consultation
1stVisit Wk 1
. We discuss your experience and slowly modify or adjust your treatment further based on your personal experience, safely integrating alternative treatments into your care.
2ndVisit ~Wk 4-3
2
Long Consultation
Response and Reveiw
2ndVisit ~Wk 4-3
Standard Consultation
. Ongoing follow up is mainly maintenance, management and support to help you make your own choices with treatment. That means education and discussion of options, pros and cons.
3rdVisit + ~Wk 12-16 +
3
Follow-up and Support
3rdVisit ~Wk 12-16 +
Treatment Structure
You can also select from services aside from prescribing, with programs of blood tests and scans that can be ordered to help better understand and manage your condition or help steer the diagnosis
It's valuable to remember that the aim of treatment is to increase function and achieve a stable improvement, it can take a while to get there sometimes, but having clear goals and structured assessments helps greatly in shaping the outcome
But......
there's so much more to helping people get better than test results and prescribing. Medical Treatment is only a means to an end and that end is helping you connect with the life you want to live.
That, more personal experience, can sometimes be forgotten, between appointments and the 'logistics' of treatment. Medical care is all about symptom reduction and feeling your best, the science, and medications are just tools, lets bring the focus back on to you.
Tests and Investigations
To help patients better understand their conditions Icarus offers patients the option of selecting diagnostic pannels- cohesive programs of medical tests, that let patients get help with the health issues that concern them.
Afterwards we can discuss the results together and youll be given a report that you can share with your own GP or specialist.
Please also understand that this is a service that aims to provide specialist support services that work with or alongside your primary provider rather than take over your care, maintining communication and continuity of care with your primary carer is important
Remember that test availability may vary with location particularly in remote settings. Certain tests may also be privately billed depending on your provider (it would be wise to check with your local pathologist or Imaging provider in advance of requesting).
Tests and Investigations
Hormones
Panel of male and female specific hormone testing for general well-being but also menopause and depression evaluation
Weight
Blood tests and metabolic markers and body composition scanning evaluates for suitability for GLP 1 treatments
Mental function
Panel of blood tests along with CT brain scan and functional testing to establish early indications of dementia or other broad categories of brain dysfunction
Nutrition
Blood testing for various minerals and vitamins and products of protein metabolism to establish nutritional intake +/- Dexa
Heart
Risk factor evaluation and stress testing ECG for diagnosis of heart disease
GI problems
Basic imaging along with a number of blood tests and stool tests to try and pin causes of abdominal pain
Back Pain
Cervical thoracic and lumber X-rays and potential CT alongside blood tests for the most frequent markers associated with back pain or bone breakdown
Joint Pain
Skeletal x-ray survey Along with a number of inflammatory blood tests to look for conditions associated with various forms of arthritis
Investigation Packages
Tailored prescribing
Tailored prescribing or you may have heard it called pharmacogenomic testing, uses DNA screening testing to identify exactly how your body processes the medications we prescribe as well as many others, The results are pretty complex, but testing is followed by a report and results discussion around 2-3 weeks latter to explain the significance of the results . It gives a massive amount of information that can guide your treatment and predict or explain poor reactions to medication.
Assessment can be ordered at any point during your treatment path, but it is most useful either:
1. Early in therapy to help individuals concerned about their potential sensitivity to medication or with individuals on other treatments or medications concerned with possible drug interactions. This test helps predict what should work for you and informs your sensitivity to treatment.
2. If treatment has stalled or it isn't having the desired or expected effect, the test helps predict what should work for you and helps show how your body processes the medication and what your specific sensitivities and resistances might be.
It's painless, easy to perform and provides information on a range of therapies (including conventional medication treatments) that should offer benefits across your treatment and medical management.
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Tailored prescribing
How it All Works....2
Use the booking link to pick
- a time
- a date
- an appointment type
a standard consultation is suitable for dealing with the core services of basic prescribing and follow up but if seeking or especially following up on any extra services, the extra time of a long consult is best.
On the first visit you'll be asked to SMS a photo of:
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Your drivers license or photo ID and Medicare card (or IHI number)
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A medical summary from your GP (optional) if you don't have a Medicare number google how do I find my IHI
If it's found during your initial consultation that due to your treatment or medical conditions (or whatever reason) precludes treatment and we can't proceed with ordering testing or evaluating you further, costs are capped to a $50 booking fee, (this is about helping people find treatment, not profit)
You may be asked to pay a Booking fee or make payment in advance but generally its prefered patients select the appropriate pricing tier and pay at the conclusion of the appointment
Appointment
Core Services
Joint Pain
Report
Perscribing
Extra Services
Heart
Weight
Tailored perscribing
Mental function
Hormones
GI problems
Back Pain
Nutrition
$
Generally its prefered patients select the appropriate pricing tier and pay immediately at the conclusion of the appointment
Perscriptions and reports are sent following payment confirmation
Pricing and Appointments
Flexible Pricing – Designed for Fairness, Built on Trust
There are 3 different prices, the higher community rate is a voluntary rate and uses a 'pay it forward' model that helps pay the treatment costs for those patients undergoing financial hardship
Appointments have 3 Pricing tiers
2. Standard - The basic fee for most patients
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Concession - A reduced fee for concession card* holders
3. Community - A voluntary increased rate that helps patients in financial hardship afford to access treatment
*a Services Australia Health Care Card
Any contributions beyond the standard cost are entirely voluntary, and very, very appreciated these go towards helping other patients cover their own treatment costs
Initial Consultation
1
Initial Consultation We discuss your medical background, your medications and what your particular treatment goals are. Assess your suitability and safety for treatment and prescribing options.
60min
$220
Community
60min
$200
Standard
60min
$150
Concession
First Visit
Long Consultation
2
Long Consultation Around an hour useful for reviewing test information, discussing complex topics or mental health discussions, patients are welcome to book these as required.
45min
$175
Community
45min
$150
Standard
45min
$125
Concession
SecondVisit
Standard Consultation
3
Standard Consultation Ongoing follow up for established patients, mainly maintenance, management and support to help you make your own choices with treatment. That means education and discussion of options, pros and cons.
30min
$150
Community
30min
$125
Standard
30min
$100
Concession
Third Visit +
All consultations are by either phone or video call - Billing is entirely private and not covered by Medicare
If it's found during your consultation that due to your treatment or medical conditions (or whatever reason) precludes treatment and we can't proceed with ordering testing or evaluating you further, costs are capped to a $50 booking fee, (this is about helping people find treatment, not profit)
Appointment Types
Investigation Packages
$75
Community
$50
Standard
$25
Concession
You can order a package of tests that deal with your specific health issue (or issues).
Afterwards we can discuss the results together (requires booking a long consult) and you'll be given a report that you can share with your own GP or specialist.
Remember that test availability may vary with location particularly in remote settings. Feel free to ask if you're unsure.
Tailored Perscribing
$200
Concession
$225
Standard
$250
Community
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Pharmacogenomic testing that looks at how individuals process particular medications and helps understand both what medications are right for you personally but also potential drug interactions
Afterwards we can discuss the results together (requires booking a long consult) and you'll be given a report that you can share with your own GP or specialist.
life can often be ferociously unfair. A phone call, diagnosis or single word can suddenly change everything.The isolation and confufion that comes with the experience can be almost as damaging as the event , but community and connection can be a genuine, and powerful tool in helping people recover.
Background Reading
There's alot to unpack in trying to understand unapproved medical treatments. These are medical treatments, drugs, or devices not yet evaluated or authorized for safety and efficacy by regulatory bodies like the FDA or TGA. They include experimental, unproven, or "off-label" treatments that lack accepted clinical trial evidence, or certification by those regulatory bodies. There's various reasons why that may occur but it's important to understand that it legally limits what can be written about in regard to treatment.
However, while it's difficult to talk directly I've put together some educational information that I hope will be useful and over time hopefully it will grow into a useful reasource.
First Principles.....
the TGA has restrictions on advertising unapproved therapeutic goods its important to understand how they limit what can be said
Who, When ,Where.
?
Icarus is a highly personalized telehealth based medical practice aimed at helping individuals dealing with complex or difficult to manage health issues with a slightly different approach to medical practice. Frequently, that involves helping introduce alternative therapies or choice into individuals treatment
Icarus started around three years ago almost accidentally, but demand and the needs of efficiency have forced it to evolve and pick up many of the features of a business - but that's not the focus.
Dr Anderson is a 'seasoned' healthcare professional with a distinguished twenty-year career encompassing medicine, academia, workplace health, addiction treatment and law. A graduate of Monash University and the University of Melbourne, Latrobe and Napier Universities with degrees in medicine, medical science, and biological Science with honors in human physiology alongside post graduate qualifications in law and addiction. His expertise in addiction, research, and clinical practice is complemented by a background in complex healthcare management and health planning. His exceptional problem-solving and organizational skills were recognized when he was asked to manage the establishment of experimental acute medical wards at Monash and then again at Dandenong hospital the following year. Ross enjoys dealing in the area of complex care, end of life care and treatment of the elderly, with a particular focus on providing psychological support in complex illness and addiction. His unique blend of skills and knowledge enables him to provide comprehensive care for patients with medically, socially legally or emotionally complex issues.
I've been involved with alternative medicine prescribing for a few years now, and disappointingly I think some aspects of what it has become get in the way of patients experiencing all that these treatments can offer. The symptomatic advantages are so profound that I think it has to be a failure in the presentation or communication of the treatment that's the problem, and from a patient perspective I can understand the doubts that people might have. Genuinely, serious illness requires a very different approach from that offered by practitioners giving 10-minute consultations and clinics with a carousel of continually changing doctors. Perhaps the place where it's most apparent is in the treatment of ‘serious illness’ and advanced age, conditions where symptom control, and quality of life is paramount . These treatments offer some remarkable advantages but despite that, treatment uptake in that patient cohort, is relatively low. This latest evolution of the practice is an attempt to address that. There are challenges adapting non approved medications for use in association with ongoing treatments, especially powerful conventional treatments like chemotherapy or immunotherapies. Likewise, some patient groups themselves present treatment challenges, those with multiple medical co-morbidities like most older patients are a good example, and prescribing in that setting does require an additional element of care and perhaps expertise. However given the potential advantages treatment can offer, that expectation is entirely reasonable and should not be enough to exclude individuals from treatment. This latest development, of my practice, is aimed at offering treatment to the sort of individuals who need that higher level of care. Patients who need more time, more discussion and a much more sophisticated approach than is common around treatment with these therapies. There are few things I'm more invested in than care in the setting of serious or potentially life ending Illness. I’ve spent a great deal of time treating individuals and families with illnesses that aren’t going to improve and its important work. While I’m aiming to provide a service to cater to that especially vulnerable demographic, I hope it’s an approach that will also have advantages for others too.
For any questions or concerns SMS
0404 022 346 or email dr.ross@dricarus.com.au
II wish I didn't have to talk about this, and for the 99.9% of people that already understand I apologize for bringing up something so obvious (as a quick guide if your at all polite enough to worry that this might refer to you, it almost certainly doesn't) but sadly it's something I need to clarify: I enjoy getting to know my patients and I happy and proud to be involved with many truly remarkable but all too often there are other individuals that seem to mistake the relationship as being one of service or a retail experience rather than collaboration around health and wellbeing.
A common point of confusion is around communication, I provide my phone number because occasionally people run into serious issues and need help or support, it is not a 24hr access booking customer service helpdesk, I'm always happy for people to message me but I don't often pick up direct calls and it can take time for me to reply (because I normally have other commitments) however: SMS or messaging normally works well.
It's often more of an issue with new or potential patients and often reflects a misunderstanding around prescribing in this area. Its natural and entirely understandable that you'll likely have questions about your own specific circumstances and options but please understand but thats what consultations are for:
1. Legally what can be discussed about plant therapies outside of consultation is limited.
2. The sophisticated nature of both the testing and prescribing requires that questions often need additional medical information to respond.
3. Often these are things that require the involvement of a health professional to respond.
please understand the time I have available for enquiries is often limited and comes second to spending time with patients and their treatment.
If it's found during your initial consultation that due to your treatment or medical conditions (or whatever reason) precludes treatment and we can't proceed with ordering testing or evaluating you further, costs are capped to a $50 booking fee but - please if you don't have a problem that needs a doctors help I'm most likely not going to be able to help.
Possibly most importantly: this endeavor was never envisioned as being about making money or profit. There's good and bad that comes along with that, but it can be a little confusing for those who have more commercial expectations around treatment. Equally, more opportunistic individuals can often.... attempt to incorrectly use this for personal advantage, which sometimes requires unpleasant discussions. Point is, misunderstandings and miscommunication will occur anywhere there's more than one person, so courtesy, politeness and mutual respect (and a little kindness) can help us all navigate around most obstacles.
Please be polite
Give the respect you would like to recieve
Conflict between good people helps no-one