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This page contains information for general practitioners on how to refer patients aged 16 years and over to the Rheumatology specialist clinic at Mater Hospital Brisbane. These services are offered in our specialist outpatient clinics and for eligible patients aged between 16 and 25 years at Mater Young Adult Health Centre Brisbane.
Catchment criteria applies for referrals for this service. Patient referrals from outside the Mater SEQ Catchment (which includes Metro South and West Moreton Hospital and Health Services) may not be accepted.
The Rheumatology service consists of specialist Rheumatologists, a registrar and a resident. The Rheumotology service at Mater Hospital Brisbane offers inpatient and outpatient services and also offers a Young Adult Clinic (for patients aged 16-25) and a day infusion service for intravenous biologics.
The Rheumatology service consistently reviews their patients within recommended OPD categorisation times.
Essential information (Referral will be declined without this)
Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral)
Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list)
Categorisation
Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.
Category 1 – urgent
Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 30 days
Category 2 - Priority
Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 90 days
Category 3 - Routine
Clinically recommended timeframe for initial appointment is 365 days
No defined category 1 criteria
Essential information (Referral will be declined without this) General Referral Information Relevant history, of onset and time since onset Specify symptoms including joints/muscles, ulcers, raynaud’s, alopecia, skin rashes or ulceration, dysphagia or GORD, sicca symptoms Extra-articular manifestations including kidney, lungs, cardiac, neurological FBC, E/LFT, CRP and ESR Rheumatoid Factor or anti-CCP ANA, ENA, dsDNA, C3, C4, CK Urine analysis for MCS, casts and protein Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral) Skin biopsy histology Imaging results Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list) Patient resources Refer to local Healthpathways or local guidelines Early discussion with Rheumatologist will aid prioritisation, if the patient is unwell and may need to be seen urgently. Support services and information Arthritis Queensland Patient Information Sheet on Scleroderma Patient Information Sheet on Sjogren’s Syndrome Patient Information Sheet on SLE/ Lupus Categorisation Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.
Patient resources
Essential information (Referral will be declined without this) General Referral Information History of onset and time of gout onset, recurrence, joints involved (swelling, pain, morning stiffness, number of joints involved and location) Details of treatments offered (if available) FBC, E/LFT, Urate, CRP and ESR Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral) Synovial fluid microscopy with cell count and crystal analysis Interference with activities of daily living and working ability Imaging of joints (XR/CT/MRI results) Other screening previously performed including rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP (if available) Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list) Patient resources Refer to local Healthpathways or local guidelines Support Services and information Arthritis Queensland Patient Information Sheet on Gout Categorisation Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.
No category 1 criteria
No category 3 criteria
Essential information (Referral will be declined without this) General Referral Information Details of treatments offered (if available) Relevant history (Sleep disturbance, morning stiffness/fatigue, widespread myalgias) Clinical examination including widespread tenderness, absence of swollen joints FBC, E/LFTs, ESR, CRP Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral) Psychosocial evaluation TSH, CK, Iron studies Joint imaging (if available) Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list) Refer to local Healthpathways or local guidelines Please see Persistent Pain CPC Patient resources Support services and information Arthritis Queensland Patient Information Sheet on Fibromyalgia Categorisation Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.
No category 2 criteria
Clarification of diagnosis and/or management strategies for fibromyalgia
Categorisation Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.
Suspected new onset and/or active Giant Cell Arteritis
Stable Giant Cell Arteritis on treatment
Essential information (Referral will be declined without this) General referral information FBC, ELFT, ESR, CRP Description of involved joints and presence/absence of joint swelling Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral) RF, CCP, ANA, HLA B27 when relevant Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list) Is the patient currently under the care of a paediatric rheumatologist? Categorisation Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.
New onset/active or untreated JIA
Stable JIA
Muscle or Skin biopsy histology (if available) Extent of skin, joint, respiratory or other symptoms History of statin use ANA, ENA, dsDNA, C3, and C4 Other previously performed MRI, EMG (if available) Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list) Refer to local Healthpathways or local guidelines Early discussion with Rheumatologist will aid prioritisation, if the patient is unwell and may need to be seen urgently. Patient resources Support services and information Arthritis Queensland Categorisation Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.
New onset and/or active myositis including polymyositis, dermatomyositis, Connected Tissue Disease associated myositis and undifferentiated inflammatory myositis
Essential information (Referral will be declined without this) General Referral Information Relevant history, of onset, recurrence, acuity, joints involved Details of treatments offered (if available) Interference with activities of daily living and working ability XR affected joints Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral) FBC, U&E, ELFTs, ESR, CRP, Urate Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list) Refer to local Healthpathways or local guidelines Please note that CPCs have been developed Knee pain (acute) and Knee pain (chronic) by Orthopaedic Support services and information Arthritis Queensland Patient Information Sheet on Osteoarthritis Online self-management tool – My Joint Pain Categorisation Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.
Essential information (Referral will be declined without this) General Referral Information History of inflammatory arthritis- symptoms, evolution and rate of deterioration Number and location of swollen, tender joints, tenosynovitis, enthesitis or dactylitis Duration of early morning stiffness (greater or less than 30 minutes) Extra-articular, axial or systemic features Presence of psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), or inflammatory eye disease (uveitis) If on a biologic DMARD and for PBS review, please state timeframe FBC, E/LFTs CRP, ESR Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral) Pain assessment –waking up at night, analgesic consumption, aggravating and relieving factors Interference with activities of daily living and working ability HLA-B27 Imaging e.g. XR, MRI/US results of affected joints Details of previous treatment/management offered and assessment of efficacy including relevant PBS documentation Other screening previously performed including CXR, HepB, HepC, HIV, QuantiFERON Gold (QFG), Rheumatoid factor and Anti-CCP Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list) Patient resources Refer to local Healthpathways or local guidelines Support Services and information Arthritis Queensland Patient Information Sheet on Spondyloarthritis Patient Information Sheet on Psoriatic Arthritis Patient Information Sheet on Reactive Arthritis Empowered – patient information on Psoriatic Arthritis from Arthritis Australia Categorisation Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.
New onset, suspected or recently diagnosed inflammatory arthritis
Active established inflammatory arthritis requiring escalation of management
Known Spondyloarthritis on established conventional or biologic DMARDs
Essential information (Referral will be declined without this) General Referral Information Relevant history of onset, recurrence, acuity (muscle pain, morning stiffness, headaches, amaurosis fugax) Details of treatments offered (if available) FBC, E/LFT, ESR and CRP Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral) TFTs, CK, RF, anti-CCP, Serum EPP Other screening previously performed including CXR, HepB, HepC, HIV, QuantiFERON Gold (QFG), Bone density (if available) Cancer screening information (if available) Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list) Patient resources Refer to local Healthpathways or local guidelines Support Services and information Arthritis Queensland Patient Information Sheet on Polymyalgia Rheumatica Categorisation Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.
Any concern for concomitant Giant Cell Arteritis/Temporal Arteritis
Essential information (Referral will be declined without this) General Referral Information History of inflammatory arthritis symptoms, evolution and rate of deterioration Number and location of swollen, tender joints Duration of early morning stiffness (greater or less than 30 minutes) Rheumatoid factor and Anti-CCP If on a biologic DMARD and for PBS review, please state timeframe FBC, E/LFTs CRP, ESR Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral) Extra-articular and systemic features, if any including weight loss Imaging e.g. XR, MRI/US results of affected joints Details of previous treatment/management offered and assessment of efficacy including relevant PBS documentation Pain assessment e.g. waking up at night, analgesic consumption, aggravating and relieving factors Interference with activities of daily living and working ability Other screening previously performed including CXR, HepB, HepC, HIV, QuantiFERON Gold (QFG) Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list) Refer to local Healthpathways or local guidelines Support Services and information Arthritis Queensland Patient Information Sheet on Rheumatoid Arthritis Empowered – patient information on Rheumatoid Arthritis from Arthritis Australia Categorisation Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.
Essential information (Referral will be declined without this) General Referral Information Relevant history, of onset and time since onset of skin, joint, respiratory, sinus or other symptoms Details of treatments offered (if available) FBC, E/LFT, ESR and CRP ANCAs Urinalysis for MCS, casts, protein Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral) Skin, artery, respiratory tract or renal biopsy histology RhF or anti-CCP ANA, ENA, dsDNA, C3 and C4 CXR (if available) Other useful information for management (not an exhaustive list) Refer to local Healthpathways or local guidelines Early discussion with Rheumatologist will aid prioritisation, if the patient is unwell and may need to be seen urgently. Support services and information Arthritis Queensland Categorisation Available appointments are provided to our patients based on clinical priority. A process of categorisation ensures safety and equity of access.
Mater Health Services offers patients the opportunity to attend bulk billed clinics. To provide your patient with the opportunity to attend a bulk billed specialist clinic, please provide a named referral to one of our specialists listed above.
If you would like to discuss a referral, including clinical criteria, or update the status of a current patient please contact our priority GP phone line on 07 3163 2200
We provide up to date data on how long patients are waiting for their clinic first appointment by specialty here.
These Mater Referral Guidelines have been developed locally by GPs and specialists to support safe and quality referral to publicly funded specialist outpatient services.
Content last reviewed: 13 December 2023
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