Purpose: To help you decide when and how to refer a client from your clinic to another within the UC Health Clinics

When to refer to Nutrition & Dietetics

Unintentional /Intentional weight loss or gain
Healthy eating advice
Poor appetite, gastrointestinal symptoms affecting food intake
Diabetes management (hypo/hyperglycemia, HbA1c not within acceptable ranges)
Hyperlipidemia
Hypertension requiring dietary strategies
Malnutritional risk
Cancer and cancer-treated related issues (i.e., sarcopenia, neutropenic diets, high caloric rich foods)
Sarcopenia or increased protein intake needs especially in the elderly, Oncology and Post-Operation client
Bone health optimisation (calcium / vitamin D)
Renal considerations
Sport and performance needs
Services available: Initial consultations, review/follow-up appointments, BIA (bio-impedance analysis)

When to refer to Neurological Physiotherapy

Clients with a diagnosed neurological condition such as Parkinson's disease
Services available: Initial consultation and Group Exercise Classes

When to refer to Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy

Acute or subacute musculoskeletal injury requiring diagnosis or assessment
Post-operative protocols, tissue healing guidelines, or manual therapy needs
Persistent pain requiring assessment of impairment/causation
Services available: Initial consultation with follow-up appointments, Osteoarthritis program initial screening and 10-week EP/PT exercise sessions

Optometry

New or worsening vision change, diplopia, headaches with near tasks, or visual fatigue affecting exercise safety
Conditions requiring regular reviews (i.e., diabetic retinopathy, screening or overdue glaucoma risk, visual acuity concerns impacting driving or ADLs)
Vision processing issues post-neurological conditions impacting balance or mobility
Services available: 6-months old to adults, CASA eyesight tension, Eyesight assessment with or without pathology, Dry eye management, Colour vision testing, glasses.

When to refer to Psychology:

Anxiety, low mood, trauma history or distress impacting participation in social or exercise engagement
Fear-avoidance, catastrophising,
Persistent stressor exercise barriers unresponsive to lifestyle behavior strategies
Pain coping skills, CBT based strategies, or behavior change support
Services available: Aged 7 years to adults, therapy sessions, Cognitive assessments,

Exclusion criteria

No clients who have close friends or family who are employed as staff at the UC Health Clinics
No clients under 7 years old
No clients who are undertaking (or planning to undertake) placements at the UC Health Clinics
No forensic or court related referrals (including NDIS referrals, court or workers compensation matters, referrals relating to aggressive or intimidating behaviour or history of violence or child sexual assault)
No primary presentation of or past history of:
PTSD and Acute Stress Disorder (clear trauma history, DV etc)
High risk categories, including significant history of/current risk of harm to self or others
Complex comorbid presentations
Gender identity concerns or gender dysphoria
Active psychosis
Active hypermanic, manic episode or uncontrolled Bipolar Disorder
Eating disorders (including Bulimia or Anorexia Nervosa)
ASD (only if this is the primary presenting problem or Level 3 – otherwise fine)
Personality Disorders - Somatic Symptom and related disorders
Sexual dysfunctions - Disruptive, Impulse-Control and Conduct disorder
Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders
Paraphilic Disorders

How to make an in-house referral

1. Identify if your client would be suitable to attend another clinic to improve/enhance their care/outcome

2. Discuss with the client and obtain informed consent. Explain the reason for the referral, what the other clinic will do and the expected benefit

3. Notify your supervisor of the recommended referral and provide a justification for the referral

4. Document clearly that the client has been identified as suitable to be referred to another clinic, reason for the referral, and if the client consents to the referral

5. Notify reception to book client in for an initial appointment with the desired service (write on payment slip and add that a referral letter will be emailed shortly)

6. Complete in the "in-house referral" template located on Nookal

Open the client's clinical notes
Click on "Letter"
Scroll to "In-house referral" template
All client details i.e., name, date of birth, email, phone number, are prepopulated once the document is saved
Enter your discipline under "Referred by" and enter the name of the discipline you intend on referring your client to
Provide a reason for the referral
Enter all required information which can be found in your client's notes. This information can be "copied and pasted". Ensure you only included relevant information
Under the additional information section, you can include information about your treatment plan for the client (i.e., client is enrolled in a 10/52 EP group exercise physiology program attending 2/7 with exercises prescribed to address low muscle mass and strength). See example under the "Clinic document" module.
Once you have written and saved the referral letter, notify your Clinical Educator to review and email to the desired clinic
If you have any questions, please speak with your Clinical Educator