For Doctors

Patient referrals to a specialist or consultant physician for treatment, not including general practitioners, need to meet certain conditions. The referral must include all of the following:

• relevant clinical information about the patient’s condition for investigation, opinion, treatment, and management
• the date of the referral
• the signature of the referring practitioner.

Referrals don’t need to be made out to a certain specialist or consultant physician. Our referral forms highlight these mandatory elements in red. The above also applies to public hospital doctors referring patients for private outpatient care.

• General Practitioners - general referrals are valid for 12 months unless otherwise stated, i.e. Indefinite referrals. The referral is activated from the date the specialist first meets the patient, not the date issued.

• Specialist Physicians - referrals are valid for 3 months unless otherwise stated

• Test Only Referrals - referrals for tests only, e.g. echo only, stress test, holter monitor, are valid for 2 weeks only from the date the test is performed. If a consultation is required following the test another referral is required

• Indefinite Referrals - can be provided by a GP or Specialist for ongoing care for a single course of treatment. If a patient on an indefinite referral has a new or unrelated condition, the GP or specialist must issue a new referral for that condition.

More information regarding referrals can be found on the Medicare website

SA Heart referral pads are available in three different options:

• A5 landscape referral pad

• A4 portrait referral pad

• A4 portrait referral forms (used in conjunction with practice software and printer)

Referral pads can be ordered by contacting our administration team via email at admin@saheart.com.au

Please specify which version you would like and they will be sent to your nominated location.

The SA Heart referral template is now available as part of the suite of pre-loaded templates in both Medical Director and Best Practice.

Electronic referrals can be sent securely using either Healthlink (EDI: ashfordh) or Argus (argusreports@sahc.com.au)

The following links will allow you to access some aspects of cardiology, specifically electrophysiology, for medical practitioners:.

Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand

American Heart Association

Mayo Clinic

Heart Rhythm Society 

Disclaimer:

The purpose of this document is to provide general information regarding some aspects of cardiology for medical practitioners.  The information contained in this document is of a general nature only and does not purport to take into account or be relevant to, the circumstances of a particular patient.  SA Heart and the author(s) of this document assume no responsibility whatsoever if all or any part of this information or advice is relied on, or acted upon, by any medical practitioner or any other member of the public.  Medical practitioners and non medically qualified individuals should seek professional advice from suitably qualified cardiologists in relation to the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac conditions.

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Eating web page. Heart Foundation Healthy Eating Guidelines