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Osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease

Emergency department referrals

Phone on call Diabetic and Endocrinology Registrar via:

  • Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital switch - (07) 3646 8111
  • The Prince Charles Hospital switch - (07) 3139 4000
  • Redcliffe Hospital switch – (07) 3883 7777
  • Caboolture Hospital switch – (07) 5433 8888

and send patient to the Department of Emergency Medicine (DEM) at their nearest hospital.

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

  • Recurrent or current fractures despite initiation of treatment for osteoporosis

Category 2

Appointment within 90 days is desirable

  • Pagets disease
  • Fibrous dysplasia
  • Osteomalacia
  • Low trauma fracture, in individuals in whom there are contraindications/concerns regarding conventional osteoporosis management
  • Long term glucocorticoids with BMD t-score <-1.5, in individuals in whom there are contraindications/concerns regarding conventional osteoporosis management
  • Post-transplant osteoporotic (BMD t-score <-2.5) and/or fracturing and/or using glucocorticoids  at the PBS threshold
  • Osteoporosis where PBS thresholds are not met for e.g. Inflammatory bowel disease)
  • Unexplained osteoporosis

Category 3

Appointment within 365 days is desirable

  • Osteoporosis on BMD without fracture
  • Other (suspected) metabolic bone disease  eg.Osteogenesis imperfecta

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

  • Optimize calcium and vitamin D3 status (if vitamin d deficient)
  • Weight-bearing exercise
  • Oestrogen or testosterone if hypogonadal
  • Bisphosphonates or Denosumab
  • Use a fracture risk calculator (FRAX or Garvan) to help guide the need for specific drug therapy
  • Uncomplicated postmenopausal osteoporosis with fracture should be able to be managed in primary care

Clinical Resources

Referral requirements

A referral may be rejected without the following information.

Essential Referral Information

  • General referral information
  • History including
    • menopausal status
    • alcohol history
    • fractures & medications
    • glucocorticoid therapy
    • early menopause
    • hypogonadism
    • weight loss
    • diarrhoea and iron deficiency
  • Details of all treatments offered and efficacy
  • FBC ELFT ESR vitamin D PTH ionised calcium TSH, EPP anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies, IgA
  • Lateral XR thoracic and lumbar spine reports
  • Bone mineral density and XR reports of fracture if relevant
  • For men please include tests for hypogonadism (morning testosterone, LH, FSH and SHBG) results

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.)
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