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Rheumatology
Outpatients
Information about outpatient clinics for the assessment and management of musculoskeletal and inflammatory disorders.
The Department will periodically contact patients waiting for an outpatient clinic appointment via SMS, with a link to an electronic form. This is part of routine waitlist auditing to ensure patient details are up to date. If you receive this SMS, please update your details.
Availability
Emergency conditions
Emergency conditions/symptoms include (not an exhaustive list):
- Acutely unwell patients with SLE or Vasculitis.
- Patients with symptoms of giant cell/ temporal arthritis, acute visual loss, jaw claudication, severe persistent unilateral headache, raised inflammatory markers.
- Patients with suspected Septic Arthritis - acute hot swollen joint with fever and high inflammatory markers.
Emergency care
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.
Scope
North and North West
Refer to General Medicine.
South
Paediatric rheumatology patients to the age of 15 years please refer to Paediatric Clinic
Suspected or known ankylosing spondylitis refer to Inflammatory Spinal Clinic
Suspected or known scleroderma refer to Scleroderma Clinic
For open access zolendronic acid infusion please refer to the RHH Ambulatory Care Centre via link on by the osteoporosis/osteomalacia page.
Degenerative and soft tissue conditions are unable to be seen in this clinic at this time. Please refer to HealthPathways for guidance.
For non-specific symptoms such as fatigue, consider a General Medical Clinic in the first instance if the person cannot be managed in the primary care setting.
Patients with possible fibromyalgia can be referred non-urgently for diagnostic purposes and initial management advice.
Referral process
A referral is required for all new appointments and must conform to the referral standards. eReferral is now the preferred method of referral for this service. Please refer via HealthLink SmartForm eReferral through your software system (either Best Practice, or Medical Director). For instructions, see the creating an eReferral quick guide.
All referrals triaged and allocated to Consultant or Unit Registrar. Registrar cases will be discussed with Consultant.
Urgent referrals (e.g. temporal arteritis, septic arthritis) should be accompanied by a phone call to the Rheumatology Registrar or Consultant for urgent assessment, or patient should be directed to the Emergency Department.
Please forward relevant clinical history including current and past management, co morbidities, social and work history, investigation results and ask patients to bring current medication list and, if appropriate, any relevant x-rays.
Appointments are based on clinical priority.
Where available, eReferral via HealthLink smart forms is now the preferred and only secure method of referral to the Tasmanian Department of Health.
Clinic appointments
Urgent (Category 1)
Please discuss with registrar or consultant. We will try to see these patients within four weeks.
Urgent referrals (e.g. temporal arteritis, septic arthritis) should be accompanied by a phone call to the Rheumatology Registrar or Consultant for urgent assessment, or patient should be directed to the Emergency Department.
Semi-urgent (Category 2)
We will try to see these patients within 12 weeks.
Routine (Category 3)
Next available appointment.
Additional information
Patient information advice is found at Arthritis Australia
