Cardiology

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.

The RHH Cardiology Department provide a comprehensive range of services in general cardiology, heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, management of cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac device implants, electrophysiology, echocardiography, diagnostic and interventional cardiology along with the provision of a 24/7 emergency Cardiac Catheterisation Lab angiography service.The Department is actively involved in a broad range of clinical research and clinical trials.

Availability

North South North West Statewide

Scope

Assessment and management of adult acute and chronic cardiac conditions. Paediatric patients under the age of 17 should be referred to paediatric clinics.

Cardiology clinics and diagnostic services located in Wellington Centre include;

  • Cardiology general outpatient clinics
  • Heart Failure
  • Pulmonary Hypertension
  • Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic
  • Pacemaker, ICD and cardiac device clinics and checks
  • Cardiac Pre-Assessment
  • ECG service
  • Holter Monitoring
  • 24 hr Ambulatory BP monitoring

Diagnostic services located in the Cardiology Department, Level 2, D Block, Royal Hobart Hospital include;

  • Echocardiography
  • Stress Echocardiography
  • Transoesophageal Echocardiography (TOE) & Cardioversion (DCR)
  • Exercise Stress Testing
  • Tilt Table Tests

Cardiology Department Invasive & Interventional Services located in the Cardiac Catheterisation Lab include but not limited to;

  • 24hr emergency acute myocardial infarction angioplasty service through our Code STEMI initiative. This is the only 24 hour emergency STEMI and emergency cardiac service available to both public and private patients within southern Tasmania
  • Coronary angiograms
  • Percutaneous coronary interventions
  • Right heart studies
  • Cardiac Device Implants; Permanent Pacemaker (PPM). PPM box change, Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD), Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy (CRT) / Biventricular pacing and Implantable Loop Recorders (ILR)
  • Electrophysiology studies (EPS) and ablation
  • ASD and PFO percutaneous closures

THS North West Region

Patients under the age of 15 should be referred to paediatric clinics.

NWRH and MCH - non-urgent cardiology referrals can be made to the Outpatients Department.

Emergency conditions

Emergency conditions/symptoms include (not an exhaustive list):

  • Acute cardiac failure
  • Acute Coronary Syndrome
  • Acute Myocardial Infarction
  • Acute symptomatic AF
  • Acute symptomatic SVT
  • Acute Unstable Angina
  • Malignant Hypertension
  • Suspected or proven Bacterial Endocarditis
  • Symptomatic Bradycardia / Bradyarrhythmias
  • Syncope
  • Ventricular tachycardia

Referral process

All referrals must conform to the Referral Standards as outlined on the For Clinicians page and therefore should include patient and referrer demographics, history of presenting complaint, clinical examination findings, medications, allergies, relevant past and family history and relevant investigations. Specific requirements are detailed in the individual clinic and condition referral guidelines.

Referrals may be returned if essential requirements are not included.

eReferral is now the preferred method of referral for this service and is available in all THS regions. Please refer via HealthLink eReferral through your software system (either Best Practice, or Medical Director). For instructions, see Quick Guide: Creating an eReferral.

Referrals are registered by the clinic to who they are referred and are triaged according to the specific clinic guidelines.

Urgent referrals should be accompanied by a phone call to the Consultant/Registrar or Clinic Nurse to organise urgent review.

Acute - if symptomatic send to ED and/or contact Cardiology Registrar.

Clinic Appointments - Appointments are based on clinical priority:

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 / category 1

Urgent referrals should be accompanied by a phone call to the Consultant/Registrar to organise urgent review.

We will endeavour to see these patients within one week, or sooner if clinically indicated.

Semi-urgent / category 2

We will endeavour to see these patients within four weeks

Routine / category 3

Next available appointment usually within eight weeks

Referral template

For use by health professionals only

Additional information

More information about RHH Cardiology Services