Dr Niel du Plooy

FAQ

What is a Specialist Physician?

A specialist physician is a doctor who specialises in internal medicine. Physicians work on maintaining, promoting, and restoring your health by studying, diagnosing and treating injuries or diseases.

What will your first consultation entail?

During the first consultation, Dr Du Plooy will conduct a comprehensive physical examination that includes an electrocardiogram, blood glucose measurement, and a peak expiratory flow. A diagnosis will be made, and a management plan will be established as part of your treatment.

What payments do we accept?

The first consultation is usually a bit more because a very detailed history and physical examination are made. The cost will depend on the duration. If you have a heart condition or have "heart" risk factors, the doctor might suggest doing an ECG, stress ECG or an echo. The costs of these tests vary.

If you have asthma, emphysema or other lung conditions, the doctor might recommend doing a lung function test.

All follow-up consultations are much less expensive.

How do you book an appointment?

To make a booking, contact our reception at +27 (0)21 180 2529 or email us at info@drduplooyphysician.co.za. You can also fill out our online contact form, and we will get back to you to confirm a date and time.

What does a specialist physician do?

Patients are usually referred to a specialist physician when they have complaints that are difficult to diagnose or if their complaints are very complex and difficult to manage. This means he will take a comprehensive history and carry out a thorough physical examination.

If, for instance, you have a heart condition, he might order an ECG to assess the heart’s electrical activity or a cardiac echo or ultrasound to look at the heart’s structure and function. If you have asthma or lung diseases, he might conduct a lung function test or “blowing test”. After the history taking and examination, he might suggest doing further imaging tests (X-rays or scans) or further pathology tests (Blood tests and urine analysis).

Your doctor usually has a discussion over the phone when these results become available so that you do not have to come in again. After this, you will decide on a treatment plan, if that is necessary, and the appropriate follow-up plan (most people will only come after around 6 to 12 months, but it can be earlier or later, depending on the condition).

How does your payment system work?

We prefer you pay after the consultation, and you have to submit the claim to your medical aid. This is to cut out 3rd party intermediaries as much as possible. If you would like, Dr Du Plooy could assist you with the procedure codes if you would like to ask your medical aid what portion they would pay. If any motivation for chronic follow-ups, screening, medication or procedure codes is needed, Dr Du Plooy will gladly assist with that as well.

Should I be concerned about my weight?

As a specialist physician, Dr Du Plooy has a special interest in obesity. Patients are usually referred to specialist physicians when they have complaints that are difficult to diagnose or if their complaints are very complex and difficult to manage - for instance, struggling to lose weight. No two patients are alike, so your doctor does not have a specific “weight loss program” that he uses for every patient.

He will discuss your whole lifestyle – from your personal history, family dynamics, exercise exposure and preference, and diet. He will then conduct a thorough physical examination to look for any medical issues that need to be addressed but will eventually discuss an individualised plan keeping your weight loss goals in mind. This plan might include counselling, referral to a dietician and/or biokineticist, or medication.

Your doctor usually arranges a 1-month telephonic follow-up to check in on how you are doing and to see if there are any new issues (so that you don’t have to come especially for that). Most people will have to follow up in 6-12 months.

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"Cure sometimes, treat often, and comfort always."

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