Frailty and Complex conditions of the Elderly

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

North South North West Statewide

Pre-referral work-up

History

All referrals should comply with the Referral Standards and specifically include:

  • Highlight specific concerns
  • Include relevant recent investigations and recent letters from other providers
  • Prior to referral arrange Physiotherapy assessment
  • Current medication list - Please note any recent changes in medication
  • Allergies
  • Past medical history
  • Recent BP recordings
  • Please note weight loss or gain
  • Recent imaging
  • If the person has services attending, please describe.

* It is preferred that the patient is accompanied by a friend or family member to provide the necessary collaborative history and help with follow up.

* Please indicate if an interpreter is required and for which language.  We will arrange this when booking the appointment.

Tests

  • BMD
  • Relevant imaging according to symptoms
  • Calcium, phosphate.
  • FBC, U&E, LFT, CMP.
  • TSH, B12, Folate
  • MSU
  • Cognitive testing (e.g. GP Cog/MMSE/ MOCA) - one only

Interim/GP management

To refer a patient with this condition, please see the Aged Care clinic page for the full referral process and templates.

From this Clinic the consultant may choose to refer the patient to allied health services within in the Community Rehabilitation Unit for further assessment or treatment. Referring GPs will be advised of this.

For psychogeriatric conditions please consider referral to Older Persons Mental Health Service via the Mental Health Helpline Referral Service.

For more information please see the Tasmanian Health Pathways website.

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

Emergency:

Proceed to Emergency Department (ED).

LGH ED Reception  – Phone: (03) 6777 6405  Fax: (03) 6777 5201

MCH ED* – Phone: (03) 6478 5120  Fax: (03) 6441 5923

NWRH ED* – Phone: (03) 6493 6351 Fax: (03) 6464 1926

RHH ED Reception – Phone: (03) 6166 6100  Fax: (03) 6173 0489

Advice for medical practitioners can be given by the Medical Officer In Charge (MOIC) - see HealthPathways Tasmania for contact information.

*MCH and NWRH MOICs request GPs call them prior to referring a patient to ensure the patient is being sent appropriately to a safe destination.

Urgent:

We will endeavour to see these patients within 4 weeks.  Urgent referrals should be accompanied by a telephone call to the Consultant/Registrar or Clinic Nurse to organise urgent review.

Semi-urgent:

We will endeavour to see these patients within 12 weeks.

Routine:

Next available appointment.