Skip links and keyboard navigation

Health alert: COVID-19

COVID-19 Alert: We are currently at GREEN traffic light level - there is no restriction for coming to hospital to receive healthcare. Visitors are currently welcome at Metro South Health facilities, and are asked to help keep patients safe by maintaining physical distancing where possible and practising hand hygiene. See visitor restrictions and the latest Queensland Government information. [18 January 2023].

Pulmonary hypertension

Useful management information

  • No useful management information 

Minimum referral criteria (Does your patient meet the minimum criteria?)

Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?

Category 1
(appointment within 30 calendar days)
 
If you feel your patient meets Category 1 criteria, please mark "urgent" on your referral
  • Newly diagnosed pulmonary hypertension without known heart or lung disease
  • Known pulmonary hypertension with Class 3/4 dyspnoea (ADLs affected by dyspnoea) 
  • Known pulmonary hypertension with deteriorating functional status over 3 months
Category 2
(appointment within 90 calendar days)
  • Known pulmonary hypertension with deteriorating functional status over the past year 
  • Known pulmonary hypertension with Class 1/2 dyspnoea 
Category 3
(appointment within 365 calendar days)
  • Stable pulmonary hypertension for specialist opinion  
If your patient does not meet the minimum referral criteria 
  • Consider other treatment pathways or an alternative diagnosis
  • If the patient does not meet the criteria for referral but the referring practitioner believes the patient requires specialist review, a clinical override may be requested:
    • Please explain why (e.g. warning signs or symptoms, clinical modifiers, uncertain about diagnosis, etc.)
  • Please note that your referral may not be accepted or may be redirected to another service

Standard referral information (To be included in all referrals)

Reason for request

  • To establish a diagnosis
  • For treatment or intervention
  • For advice and management
  • For specialist to take over management
  • Reassurance for GP/second opinion
  • For a specified test/investigation the GP can't order, or the patient can't afford or access
  • Reassurance for the patient/family
  • For other reason (e.g. rapidly accelerating disease progression)
  • Clinical judgement indicates a referral for specialist review is necessary

Relevant clinical information about the condition

  • Presenting symptoms (evolution and duration)
  • Physical findings
  • Details of previous treatment (including systemic and topical medications prescribed) including the course and outcome of the treatment
  • All conservative options that have been pursued unsuccessfully prior to referral
  • Body mass index (BMI)
  • Details of any associated medical conditions which may affect the condition or its treatment (e.g. diabetes, BMI), noting these must be stable and controlled prior to referral
  • Any special care requirements where relevant (e.g tracheostomy in place, oxygen required)
  • Current medications and dosages
  • Drug allergies
  • Alcohol, tobacco and other drugs use
  • A comprehensive capture of information in relation to MSH Referral Criteria

Clinical modifiers

  • The presence of clinical modifiers may impact the categorisation of the patient.
  • Impact on employment
  • Impact on education
  • Impact on home
  • Impact on activities of daily living functioning – low/medium/high
  • Impact on ability to care for others
  • Impact on personal frailty or safety
  • Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander

Patient's Demographic Details

  • Full name (including aliases)
  • Date and country of birth
  • Residential and postal address including whether patient resides at an aged care facility
  • Telephone contact number/s – home, mobile and alternative
  • Medicare number (where eligible)
  • Name of the parent or caregiver (if appropriate)
  • Name of delegate and contact details (Department of Corrective Services)
  • Preferred language and interpreter requirements
  • Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
  • Any special needs, access requirements and/or disability relevant to the referral

Referring Practitioner Details

  • Full name
  • Full address
  • Contact details – telephone, fax, email
  • Provider number
  • Date of referral
  • Signature
  • Nominated general practitioner’s details (if known), if the nominated general practitioner is different from the referring practitioner

Other relevant information

  • Willingness to have surgery (where surgery is a likely intervention)
  • Choice to be treated as a public or private patient
  • Compensable status (e.g. DVA, Work Cover, Motor Vehicle Insurance, etc.)

 

Essential referral information for Pulmonary hypertension referrals (Referral will be returned without this)

  • Details of any previous: 
    • Cardiac disease 
    • Respiratory disease
    • Venous thromboembolism
  • Degree of functional impairment 
  • Known history of connective tissue disorders 
  • Medication history 
  • Relevant imaging (CT thorax, CTPA, V/Q scan or echo)

If a specific test result is unable to be obtained due to access, financial, religious, cultural or consent reasons a Clinical Override may be requested. This reason must be clearly articulated in the body of the referral.
 
 

Additional referral information for Pulmonary hypertension referrals

  • FBC
  • ELFT
  • ANF
  • ENA results
  • Lung function tests (if available)
  • Family history 
  • Sleep investigations 
     

Out of catchment

Metro South Health is responsible for providing public health services to the people who reside within its boundaries. Special consideration is made for patients requiring tertiary care or services that are not provided by their local Hospital and Health Service.  If your patient lives outside the Metro South Health area and you wish to refer them to one of our services, inclusion of information regarding their particular medical and social factors will assist with the triaging of your referral.

Last updated 16 November 2022