Musculoskeletal or soft tissue or cancer: Relating to Cancer Genetics (A/P)
Emergency department referrals
If any of the following are present or suspected, refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary) or seek emergent medical advice if in a remote region.
- No referrals to emergency relating to clinical genetics
Does your patient wish to be referred?
Minimum referral criteria
Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?
Category 1
Appointment within 30 days is desirable
- Sarcoma diagnosed < 3 years ago
Category 2
Appointment within 90 days is desirable
- An individual whose referral to GHQ was recommended after review of a relative
Category 3
Appointment within 365 days is desirable
- Intra-abdominal or abdominal wall desmoid tumour diagnosed at age < 60 years
- Sarcoma diagnosed > 3 years ago with no evidence of recurrent disease
If your patient does not meet the minimum referral criteria
Consider other treatment pathways or an alternative diagnosis.
If you still need to refer your patient:
- 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
Other important information for referring practitioners
Not an exhaustive list
- The offer of an appointment by Genetic Health Queensland (GHQ) does NOT guarantee that the patient will be offered a publicly funded gene test.
- If the patient is an UNTESTED blood relative of a person with an identified mutation in a cancer predisposition gene, please refer to the Untested blood relative condition
- If the patient has undergone mainstreamed and/or private genetic testing refer to the Mainstreamed or private testing condition
- If the patient fulfills eviQ criteria for genetic testing and has a very limited life expectancy, arrange for two separate blood collections of 2x4mL EDTA tubes each to be sent to the Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Pathology Queensland (RBWH) for DNA extraction and storage prior to or at the time of referral. Advise Pathology Queensland that these specimens have been collected in accordance with Genetics Health Queensland protocols
- Patients will be mailed a family history questionnaire to complete and return. Failure to do so may result in removal of the patient from the waitlist.
- Clinical urgency is the dominant consideration in the prioritisation of a referral for a child currently in out of home care (OOHC), or at risk of entering or leaving OOHC.
Referral requirements
A referral may be rejected without the following information.
- As much detail as possible about the patient’s personal of cancer including the following:
- type/s of cancer
- age at diagnosis
- treatment including outcome
- known relevant family history
- Relevant pathology including results of any genetic testing if performed (if results are available on Auslab please indicate this on referral)
- Relevant imaging
- Confirmation of OOHC (where appropriate) and contact details to send correspondence for OOHC
Additional useful information (useful for processing the referral)
- If the family is known to GHQ, include the GHQ reference number (GF) if known
Out of catchment
Metro North 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 North 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.
- Impact on employment
- Impact on education
- Impact on home
- Impact on activities of daily living
- Impact on ability to care for others
- Impact on personal frailty or safety
- Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
- 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
- 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
- Body mass index (BMI)
- Details of any associated medical conditions which may affect the condition or its treatment (e.g. diabetes), noting these must be stable and controlled prior to referral
- Current medications and dosages
- Drug allergies
- Alcohol, tobacco and other drugs use
- Full name (including aliases)
- Date of birth
- Residential and postal address
- Telephone contact number/s – home, mobile and alternative
- Medicare number (where eligible)
- Name of the parent or caregiver (if appropriate)
- Preferred language and interpreter requirements
- Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
- Full name
- Full address
- Contact details – telephone, fax, email
- Provider number
- Date of referral
- Signature
- 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.)
Send referral
Hotline: 1300 364 938
Medical Objects ID: MQ40290004P
HealthLink EDI: qldmnhhs
Mail:
Metro North Central Patient Intake
Aspley Community Centre
776 Zillmere Road
ASPLEY QLD 4034
Health pathways
Access to Health Pathways is free for clinicians in Metro North Brisbane.
For login details email:
healthpathways@brisbanenorthphn.org.au
Login to Brisbane North Health Pathways:
brisbanenorth.healthpathwayscommunity.org