Referrals to specialist outpatient services within Redland Hospital and Wynnum Health Service must be in writing, and as a minimum contain the following:
• Patient demographics including Medicare number and Interpreter requirements
• Patient's mobile phone contact number and an alternate postal or contact address (if not the same as usual residence)
• Reason for referral (including the problem to be assessed, degree of loss of function, pain experienced)
• Results of relevant investigations (pathology, radiology, histology)
• Current medications and doses, prescribed and over the counter (note any recent changes in drug therapy)
• Allergies (drug/topical preparation)
• Relevant information about the patient's condition such as previous medical/surgical treatment (include systemic and topical medications prescribed for the condition) and details of any associated medical conditions which may affect the condition or its treatment (e.g., diabetes)
• Relevant psychological and social issues impacted by condition
• Smoking and alcohol history.
• hormone levels
• relevant investigations - any relevant imaging studies
• For a pituitary problem: morning prolactin, LH, FSH, oestradiol (testosterone if male), TSH, T4, cortisol, ACTH, growth hormone, IGF1, ELFT, FBE
• For thyrotoxicosis: TSH, T4, T3, ESR, TSH receptor antibodies (Primary hypothyroidism should be able to be managed by the GP and not require specialist referral).
• For calcium disorder: ELFT, ionised calcium, PTH, Vitamin D and 1,25(OH)2 Vitamin D, 24 hour urine calcium. If primary hyperparathyroidism include bone mineral density and US kidneys or AXR KUB
• For osteoporosis: FBE, ELFT, ESR, Vitamin D, PTH, ionised calcium, TSH, serum EPP, antitransglutaminase antibodies, bone mineral density and vertebral x-rays or x-rays of fractures if relevant
• For adrenal insufficiency: short synacthen test, morning cortisol and ACTH, renin and aldosterone
• For Cushing's syndrome: 24 hour urine free cortisol, 1mg dexamethasone suppression test, morning cortisol, ACTH
• For hypogonadism: morning LH, FSH, oestradiol and progesterone (testosterone if male), prolactin