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.

  • complications of disease or therapy requiring emergent review, for example progressive renal failure, respiratory failure, haemoptysis, malignant hypertension
  • unexplained illness or fever in a patient being treated with biologic or immunosuppressant medicines

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)

  • new onset, suspected or regionally diagnosed vasculitis
  • flare of established disease

Category 2 (appointment clinically indicated within 90 days)

  • known vasculitis on established treatment

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
  • if the patient is pregnant or planning a pregnancy
  • details of previous medical management including the course of treatment and outcome
  • current and complete medication history including non-prescription medicines, herbs and supplements
  • history of presenting complaint
    • description of clinical features, please specify any organ dysfunction
    • duration of symptoms
    • pattern of symptom progression
  • interference with activities of daily living and working ability - for example, has the patient had to stop or change work practices, are they requiring assistance with self care
  • 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 test (LFT)
    • C-reactive protein (CRP)
    • erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
    • antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ACNA)
    • urinalysis
  • relevant diagnostic/imaging reports including location of company and accession number

Additional information to assist triage categorisation

  • spirometry
  • any other relevant investigations, for example, skin or other biopsy, echocardiogram.
  • previous assessments or opinions from a rheumatologist or other relevant specialist or allied health clinician