Referral to emergency

If any of the following are present or suspected, please refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary) or seek emergent medical advice if in a remote region.

  • all cases of Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) are an emergency, all suspected cases should be discussed with the rheumatology registrar during the day or on call consultant out of hours for assessment, triage and advice on initial management

Please contact the on-call registrar to discuss your concerns prior to referral.

For clinical advice, please telephone the relevant metropolitan Local Health Network switchboard and ask to speak to the relevant specialty service.

Central Adelaide Local Health Network

Northern Adelaide Local Health Network

Southern Adelaide Local Health Network

Category 1 (appointment clinically indicated within 30 days)

  • all cases of Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) are an emergency, all suspected cases should be discussed with the rheumatology registrar during the day or on call consultant out of hours for assessment, triage and advice on initial management

Category 2 (appointment clinically indicated within 90 days)

  • stable GCA on treatment
  • transfer of care from interstate service for ongoing care

Category 3 (appointment clinically indicated within 365 days)

  • nil

For information on referral forms and how to import them, please view general referral information.

Essential referral information

Completion required before first appointment to ensure patients are ready for care. Please indicate in the referral if the patient is unable to access mandatory tests or investigations as they incur a cost or are unavailable locally.

  • identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
  • relevant social history, including identifying if you feel your patient is from a vulnerable population and/or requires a third party to receive correspondence on their behalf
  • interpreter required
  • history of presenting condition:
    • symptoms including visual disturbance
    • disease course
    • current and prior management
    • prior investigations
  • blood results including location of company and accession number if available:
    • full blood count (FBC)
    • electrolytes, urea, creatinine (EUC)
    • estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)
    • liver function tests (LFTs)
    • C-reactive protein (CRP)
    • erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
  • need for additional supports at home or lives alone or in remote region. Factors which may preclude day admission for temporal artery biopsy

Additional information to assist triage categorisation

  • relevant allied health/diagnostic/imaging reports including location of company and accession number
  • previous assessments or opinions from other relevant specialist such as ophthalmologist or optometrist

Clinical management advice

All cases of giant cell arteritis are an emergency, all suspected cases should be discussed with the rheumatology registrar during the day or on call consultant out of hours for assessment, triage, and advice on initial management.

Clinical resources

Consumer resources