COPD

This condition is treated in the Respiratory and Sleep Medicine clinic.

Pre-referral work-up

History

All referrals should comply with the referral standards and specifically include:

• Smoking and occupational history
• Immunisation status
• Functional status
• Current and past medications

Patients with COPD where there are the following concerns may be referred:

• Diagnostic uncertainty
• Unusual symptoms e.g. haemoptysis
• Rapid decline in FEV1
• Moderate to severe COPD
• Cor Pulmonale
• Respiratory failure and assessment for supplemental oxygen
• Assessment for pulmonary rehabilitation
• Assessment for lung transplantation
• Patients with frequent exacerbations
• Bullous lung disease
• COPD in patients less than 40 years of age
• Assessment for lung volume reduction procedures

Tests

Pathology:

• Sputum M/C/S

Imaging:

• CXR

Investigations:

• Spirometry (if available)

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.

Refer to the COPDX guidelines

1. Confirm diagnosis
2. Optimise function
3. Prevent deterioration
4. Develop support
5. Manage exacerbations

See Health Pathways - COPD page

For more information please see the HealthPathways Tasmania website.

Clinic appointments

? Red location flags are clinical indicators of possible serious underlying conditions requiring further medical intervention. They may or may not indicate an emergency.

Emergency

? Acute exacerbations of COPD with respiratory failure

? COPD with respiratory failure

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.

Urgent (Category 1)

COPD with worsening right heart failure

We will endeavour to see these patients within four weeks.

Patients with suspected lung cancer will be seen within one week.

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)

Recurrent acute exacerbations or acute presentations to emergency

Uncontrolled but stable symptoms on daily basis that limit ADLs

Significant co-morbidities

Requiring assessment for oxygen therapy

Routine (Category 3)

Diagnostic uncertainty

Stable COPD for consideration for pulmonary rehabilitation 

Note that following assessment, your referral may be forwarded to the Pulmonary Rehabilitation service on your behalf where appropriate.

Next available appointment.

Availability

North

Launceston General Hospital
Level 3 - Specialist Clinics

Phone: 1300 977 694
Fax: 03 6777 5227

North West

North West Regional Hospital
Phone: 03 6493 6300
Fax: 03 6464 1928

Mersey Community Hospital
Phone: 1800 636 455 
Fax: 03 6441 5928

Smoking Cessation (nursing service)
Burnie Community Health
11 Jones Street, Burnie
Phone: 03 6477 7350
and
Mersey Community Hospital
Phone: 03 6478 5251 or 03 6478 5222
Fax: 03 6441 5928

South

Respiratory Clinic including urgent referrals (please mark as urgent)
Phone: 03 6166 0000
Fax: 03 6234 3982

Respiratory Lung Function Testing (technician)
Phone: 03 6166 0042 
Fax: 03 6234 3982

Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
Phone the CF coordinator via the switchboard on 03 6166 8308

Possible TB (please mark Attention Dr David Stock)
Phone: 03 6166 8438
Fax: 03 6173 0462

Locations:

• Wellington Clinics (Level 10)
• Telstra Building (Level 5 - Cystic Fibrosis Clinic)
• Clarence Integrated Health Centre