Information for Doctors
Referring patients to see our allergists
URGENT PATIENTS
When referring new patients to us, we recommend that you ask the patient to ring us to book an appointment. Your referral can then be sent through to be assessed. We DO NOT have a fax, we use Medical Objects or email signed scan copy to referrals@qldallergy.com.
Referrals will be assessed for priority. Urgent and high priority is given to patients with unknown severe (anaphylaxis) allergic reaction, babies (especially those with suspected food reactions and any growth problem), and patients with severe eczema.
Hospital referrals are accepted if the doctor’s provider number is included.
General practitioner referrals are preferred as the patient is then able to follow up the consultation outcome with their doctor.
Patients who have been hospitalised are advised to obtain a general practitioner referral and send both to us for assessment.
ANAPHYLAXIS & EPIPEN®/ANAPEN® AUTHORITY PRESCRIPTION
All patients with a severe episode to unknown allergies should be seen by an allergist as soon as possible for allergy testing and consultation.
If an EpiPen® is needed, our allergists will write an authority prescription in the consultation. The patient will be provided training for EpiPen® and a management plan, or for children an action plan for school or day care.
Please note that if you wish to obtain an authority for EpiPen® for your patient, they are to be seen by our allergists for consultation. Please advise your patient to make an appointment to see our doctors. With appropriate referral information these patients will be given high to urgent priority and first available appointment time.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT ADRENALINE AUTOINJECTORS (EPIPEN®/ANAPEN®)
SENDING REFERRALS
Our preferred method of receiving referrals is through Medical-objects.
Patients can be referred to a specialist or consultant physician for treatment of their condition. The referral must include:
- relevant clinical information about the patient’s condition for investigation, opinion, treatment and/or management
- the date of the referral, and
- the signature of the referring practitioner
Referrals don’t need to be made out to a certain specialist or consultant physician.
Referrers should let patients choose where to present the referral, this also applies to electronic referrals.
PHONE CONSULTATION
Unfortunately we cannot offer phone consultation for doctors or patients.
Medicare Telehealth consultation via Skype can be arranged for review patients only who live in remote areas and are eligible for Telehealth.
For more information about Medicare Telehealth consultation, please refer to Medicare website.
IMMUNOTHERAPY
Immunotherapy, often referred to as desensitisation, is the closest thing to a cure for allergy, particularly for allergies to common inhalants such as dustmite and pollens. Immunotherapy alters the way in which the immune system reacts to allergens by switching off allergy.
However, immunotherapy is not a “quick fix” form of treatment. Patients needs to be committed to the program to get results, and cooperate with the doctor to minimise the frequency of any side effects such as localised swelling.
Immunotherapy involves the administration of gradually increasing doses of allergen extracts over a period of years. The allergen is administered to the patient by injection or sublingual drops (under the tongue).
Immunotherapy should only be initiated by a doctor who is fully trained in allergy. If you have a patient who you think might benefit from this treatment please ask them to book an appointment to see our doctors, and they will determine if patient's allergy symptoms may be relieved by initiating immunotherapy.