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Pathology

Emergency referrals

Advise patient to present to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Department of Emergency Medicine.

For emergency referrals the on-call Oral and Maxillofacial Registrar must be contacted through Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital switch (07) 3646 8111 to obtain appropriate prioritisation and treatment advice. Urgent  cases accepted via phone must be accompanied with a written referral and a copy faxed immediately to the Oral and Maxillofacial Clinic Fax:  (07) 3646 3545

  • Biopsy proven SCC
  • Suspicious lesions
  • Benign soft tissue tumours
  • Benign bony tumours
    • Odontogenic
    • Non-odontogenic
  • Temporo-mandibular joint pathology
  • Salivary gland tumours
  • Cysts, lumps and suspected neoplasms affecting the jaw
  • Xerostomia (dry mouth)

Triage and management guideline

Priority

Category 1

Examples

  • Biopsy proven SCC
  • Suspicious lesions

Evaluation

Referral to include:

  • History and examination findings
  • Investigation results
  • CT Scan

Priority

Category 2

Examples

  • Benign Soft Tissue Tumours
  • Benign Bony Tumours
    • Odontogenic
    • Non-odontogenic
  • Temporo-mandibular Joint pathology
  • Salivary Gland Tumours
  • Cysts, lumps and suspected neoplasms affecting the jaw

Evaluation

Consider:

  • Aspiration if fluctuant
  • Diagnostic FNA
  • CT Scan

Referral to include:

  • History and examination findings including: swelling of jaw buccal and/ or lingual
  • Hard bony expansion
  • Loss of lip sensation
  • Tooth mobility
  • Fluctuation
  • Non-healing ulceration
  • Change of bony density on x-ray

Priority

Category 3

Examples

  • Xerostomia (dry mouth)

Evaluation

Consider:

  • Role of existing medication in producing xerostomia
  • Sugar free chewing gum
  • Artificial saliva
  • Dry mouth more common in older age group
  • Trial with pilocarpine – it is important to measure salivary flow prior to trial

Referral to include:

  • History and examination findings
  • Details of conservative measures trialled
  • Dry mouth associated with difficulty of speech and swallowing
  • Associated with other disease, such as Sjögren’s, rheumatic disease, previous history of radiotherapy

Referral requirements

A referral may be rejected without the following information.

  • 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

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@brisbanenorthphn.org.au

Login to Brisbane North Health Pathways:
brisbanenorth.healthpathwayscommunity.org

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