TranslateAsthma
Outpatients | Respiratory and Sleep Medicine
This condition is treated in the Respiratory and Sleep Medicine clinic.
This clinic is for Specialist assessment of patients with life threatening asthma attacks, moderate or severe persistent asthma, patient difficulty with self-management, atypical features and doubt about diagnosis, severe rhinitis, lack of response to treatment, guidance needed re triggers and avoidance.
Emergency Referral Criteria
If any of the following are present or suspected, please refer the patient to the Emergency Department (via ambulance if necessary) or follow local emergency care protocols or seek emergent medical advice if in a remote region. Clinical judgement should always be considered in addition to these criteria.
Criteria for Emergency include:
Emergency Referral Criteria
- Life threatening severe asthma
- Acute exacerbation of asthma not responding to therapy
- Asthma with any of the following concerning features:
- coexistent pneumothorax
- pneumonia
- silent chest
- cardiovascular compromise
- altered consciousness
- relative bradycardia
- decreasing rate and depth of breathing
If you, or someone else, are experiencing a serious and life-threatening injury or illness call triple zero (000) immediately or go to the nearest Emergency Department.
Learn more about when to access emergency care and non-emergency care options if the injury or illness is not serious or life-threatening.
Statewide Referral Criteria (SRC)
Criteria for referral to public hospital specialist clinic services
Red flags are clinical indicators of possible serious underlying conditions requiring further medical intervention. They may or may not indicate an emergency.
Urgent (Category 1)
- Frequent exacerbations
- Asthma related hospital admission/s in the last 3 months
- Need for oral corticosteroids on more than two occasions per year
Urgent referrals should be accompanied by a phone call to the Respiratory Department and/or the relevant doctor for urgent assessment.
Semi-urgent (Category 2)
- Moderate or severe persistent asthma
- Atypical features and doubt about diagnosis
- Inadequate asthma control despite optimal treatment
- Asthma with frequent after-hours attendance (ED or after-hours GP) despite optimal treatment
Routine (Category 3)
- Difficulty with self-management
Information to be included in the referral
(Referral may be returned without this)
Essential supporting information
Pathology
- Any relevant
Imaging
- CXR (where indicated/performed)
Investigations/other
- Spirometry pre and post bronchodilator
Additional information
- Approximate age at diagnosis
- Duration and severity of symptoms (breathlessness, chest tightness, wheezing and cough)
- Frequency of exacerbations
- Management including:
- current medications (including complete list of all patient's medications)
- previously tried respiratory medications
- compliance with treatment
- Oral corticosteroids use/need
- Previous hospitalisations for asthma
- Allergies
- Family history
- Smoking status
Interim/GP management
To refer a patient with this condition, please see the Respiratory and Sleep Medicine clinic page for the full referral process and templates.
- Smoking cessation, identify and avoid or control trigger factors
- Education about illness, inhaler technique
- Provision of an asthma management plan
- Annual flu vaccination in patients with severe asthma, see National Vaccination guidelines
- Allergen avoidance
Please see Health Pathways - Asthma Adults/Children pages.
For more information please see the HealthPathways Tasmania website.
