Lipid Disorders
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
- Total triglyceride > 20mmol/L in patients having had episode of pancreatitis (consider referring to Endocrinology or Lipid Clinic if local services are available)
Category 2
Appointment within 90 days is desirable
- Patients with prior ACS, polyvascular disease and rapidly progressive CVD* and
- LDL>2.6mmol/L despite (or intolerance to) medical therapy or
- DLNC Score > 6 (i.e., likely heterozygous family history)
* 2nd or 3rd CV event despite appropriate therapy and compliance
Category 3
Appointment within 365 days is desirable
- Significantly raised LDL (> 4 mmol/L) in high CVD risk patients despite initial medical therapy
- Difficult to control LDL (>3.3 mmol/L) in CHD patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia
- Severe mixed dyslipidaemia (TC and TG more than 10 mmol/L)
- Young patients with dyslipidaemia with a family history of premature CAD or possible FH (DLNC 4-6)
- Severe hypertriglyceridemia (>10 mmol/L)
- Severely elevated Lp(a) >72 nmol/L in patients with an early FH of CVD
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
- Consider commencing statins in patients with high LDL depending on other cardiac risk factors
- The Heart Foundation’s Lipid Management Guidelines provide some additional guidance for patient management
- The CVD Check: Calculator or the QRISK®3 calculator are helpful in assessing cardiovascular disease risk
- Patients with hyperlipidaemia may also be referred to a general physician rather than a cardiologist depending on local services
- Refer to HealthPathways for assessment and management information if available
Referral requirements
A referral may be rejected without the following information.
- BP
- ELFTs, HbA1c, TSH, CK results
- Recent (within 3 months) fasting lipid results (cholesterol/ triglyceride/ HDL-cholesterol/ LDL-cholesterol)
Additional Referral Information (Useful for processing the referral)
- Details of all treatments offered and efficacy
- Relevant previous medical history and co-morbidities (especially cardiovascular disease)
- Smoking and alcohol history
- Family history of hyperlipidaemia and CVD
- Previous lipid results (serial if available)
- CK results
- Any imaging confirming presence of cardiovascular disease
- Coronary artery calcium score
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