Queensland Government
Home > Refer your patient > General Medicine > Falls

Falls

Emergency referrals

Phone on call Cardiology 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

  • Two or more falls in the previous month

Category 2

Appointment within 90 days is desirable

  • Two or more falls in previous 12 months
  • Falls as part of an overall decline in physical, social or psychological function

Category 3

Appointment within 365 days is desirable

  • No category 3 criteria

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

  • A history of falls in the past year is the single most important risk factor for falls and is a predictor for further falls.
  • Older people reporting a fall or considered at risk of falling should be observed for balance and gait deficits.  They should be considered for interventions that improve strength and balance
  • Consider referral to clinical pharmacist for Home Medical Review if evidence of polypharmacy.
  • Consider referral to specialist falls clinic (if available) if patient has suffered multiple falls with no cause found.
  • Depending on specialist availability, patients with falls can be referred to either general medicine or geriatric medicine.  In the setting of multiple geriatric syndromes, referral to geriatric medicine may be preferred.
  • The following links to cognitive assessment tools may be useful:
  • Evidence for fall prevention strategies:
    • exercise
    • high dose vitamin D
    • psychoactive medication withdrawal (particularly antidepressants, antipsychotics and benzodiazepines)
    • occupational therapy home visit
    • restricted multifocal spectacle use
    • expedited cataract surgery (where required)
    • podiatry assessment and intervention
    • multifactorial assessment with targeted interventions (including referral to physiotherapist, occupational therapist and/or dietitian as appropriate).
  • Refer to HealthPathways for assessment and management information if available

Referral requirements

A referral may be rejected without the following information.

Essential referral information

  • Relevant medical history, comorbidities and medications (including an assessment of adherence)
  • Number of falls in the previous 12 months
  • Assessment of cognitive function (MMSE, MOCA or other validated tool) in patients ≥ 65 years of age
  • Chronological profile of the impact of symptoms on ability to function
  • FBC & ELFT results
  • MSU results

Additional Referral Information (Useful for processing the referral)

  • Existing psychosocial issues and supports (family, carers, home services, etc)
  • Copies of discharge summaries and outpatient letters relating to hospitalisations for falls, or visits to fall clinics, or home assessments for falls risk
  • Bone mineral densitometry report, Vitamin D assay (if performed)
  • Home medications review report if available

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.)
Back to top