Osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease
Emergency 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 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 osteoporoticsis (BMD t-score <-2.5) and/or fracturing and/or using glucocorticoids
- 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
- Refer to local Healthpathways or local guidelines
- 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, usually considered if high 10-year risk if fracture (Hip fracture >3%, any fracture greater than 20%)
- Uncomplicated postmenopausal osteoporosis with fracture should be able to be managed in primary care
Clinical Resources
- Fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX)
- Garvan fracture risk calculator
- Calcium and bone health-position statement for ANZBMS, osteoporosis Australia and ESA
Referral requirements
A referral may be rejected without the following information.
Send referral
Hotline: 1300 364 938
Fax: 1300 364 952
Electronic: eReferral system
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
Login to Brisbane North Health Pathways:
brisbanenorth.