A–Z Service Directory

Clinic to prevent and manage persons with

• High risk of fragility fracture
• Hypercalcaemia
• Other metabolic bone diseases e.g. osteogenesis imperfecta, Paget's disease
• Primary Hyperparathyroidism

Criteria for Referral

Information is available on HealthPathways Melbourne for assistance in managing your patient’s condition. This includes what investigations you need to perform prior to referring to a specialist and what information you need to include in the referral.  If you require login access to HealthPathways, contact info@healthpathwaysmelbourne.org.au.

For conditions listed below, referrals should meet the Statewide Referral Criteria for Specialist Clinics:

• Ankylosing spondylitis (inflammatory back pain)
• Crystal arthritis (gout)
• Inflammatory arthritis
• Metabolic bone disease (rheumatology)
  • Note: Referrals for this service is offered in Endocrinology with Rheumatology involvement. Please refer patient to Endocrinology- Metabolic bone disease (endocrinology)

For Osteoarthritis of the  hip and knees, refer to Orthopaedic Clinic - Osteoarthritis Hip and Knee Service (OAHKS)

For all other Rheumatology conditions, please continue to refer as per clinical assessment and need. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Temporal arteritis/ Giant cell arteritis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus/ Scleroderma
• Vasculitis including: ANCA ,vasculitis, , Behcet’s disease , Sarcoidosis, Polyarteritis nodosa

Referral to this clinic is not appropriate for:

• Chronic pain conditions (e.g. Fibromyalgia).
• Children below 16 years of age.
• Management of cases with third-party payer involvement (e.g. Workcover, Transport Accident Commission).

Additional information:

Please note that we are unable to provide the following:

• Disability reports/ letters (e.g. for National Disability Insurance Scheme)
• Sickness certificates
• Prescriptions for opiates

REFERRALS: Updated annual current GP referrals/letters required for all patients including referrals from ED/ recent discharges from hospital. This would include medications from GP external investigations and other external specialist/ hospital letters. This is for safety and continuity of care

FUTURE INVESTIGATIONS : for patients who are reviewed at public clinics, pathology and radiology should be done at the various Eastern Health sites ie Box Hill, Maroondah, Angliss, Healesville

TELEHEALTH Appointments: This are always available especially for frail and disabled patients who can wait in comfort of own home with carer/ family member. Reviews after initial consults also encouraged to discuss recent diagnosis and medications. Please contact telehealth team for help.

Maroondah Hospital