TranslateScleroderma Clinic
Outpatients
Information about outpatient clinics for the assessment and management of patients with known Scleroderma and patients with known or suspected connective tissue disease particularly associated with Raynaud's disease or skin changes including digital ulceration.
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. Outpatient Central Services can be contacted on 1300 522 809.
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.
Emergency conditions
- Digital ischaemia or infected digital ulceration with threatened digit
- Scleroderma gut with pseudo-obstruction
- Suspected scleroderma renal crisis
Please refer patient to the Emergency Department and contact the on-call registrar.
Scope
North and North West
Refer to General Medicine.
South
Paediatric patients should be referred to the paediatric clinic for initial assessment.
Information to be included in the referral
History
- History of Raynaud's and year of onset
- Smoking status
Tests
- FBE
- ESR, and CRP
- U&E, eGFr
- LFTs
- C3/C4
- ANA/ENA/ dsDNA binding
- CK (raised in myositis)
- Urinalysis/MSU and urinary ACR
Referral process
Where available, eReferral via HealthLink smart forms is now the preferred and only secure method of referral to the Tasmanian Department of Health.
A referral is required for all new appointments and must conform to the referral standards.
Specific requirements are detailed in the individual clinic and condition referral guidelines.
All referrals triaged and allocated to consultant or unit registrar based on clinical priority. Registrar cases will be discussed with consultant.
Patients are assessed by Rheumatologist and Rheumatology Nurse.
Appointments are based on clinical priority.
Clinic appointments
Urgent (Category 1)
Urgent referrals should be accompanied by a phone call to the Consultant/Registrar to organise urgent review and the referral must be faxed.
We will try to see these patients within four weeks, or sooner if clinically indicated.
Semi-urgent (Category 2)
We will try to see these patients within 12 weeks.
Routine (Category 3)
Next available appointment.
Additional information
It would be appreciated if fingernail polish could be removed prior to clinic appointment.
Related clinics include Rheumatology Clinic.
