For Patients and Visitors
What is the Service?
- UNDER REVIEW
What do I bring/need for my appointment? [if relevant]
- Medicare card
- Up to date list of medications (or the boxes themselves)
- Recent or previous investigations relevant to the reason for the referral
- GP details
For further enquiries contact us: 8405 8335
Contact us via the link Enquiries – Specialist Clinics
For Health Professionals
Rheumatology service overview
The Rheumatology Service at Northern Health provides patient-centered care to diagnose and manage autoimmune and inflammatory diseases that primarily affect the body’s musculoskeletal system which includes joints, ligaments, muscles and tendons. These conditions are known as systemic rheumatic diseases. As well as affecting the musculoskeletal system these conditions can affect blood vessels, skin, nerves and most internal organs.
At Northern Health, rheumatologists work closely with many other physicians in fields such as dermatology, nephrology, orthopaedic surgery and respiratory medicine. Some of the more common conditions we treat include rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, spondyloarthritis, gout and pseudogout, and connective tissue diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and scleroderma.
Our services includes outpatient specialist clinics and a consult service to assist inpatient units diagnose and manage rheumatology conditions. We do no currently have an inpatient unit.
Rheumatology Referral Guidelines (incorporating Statewide Referral Criteria) – Click here
Rheumatology Services not offered at Northern Health
- Patients under the age of 16 years requiring opinion – please direct referral to Northern Health paediatric medical service
- Patients who are being treated for the same condition at another Victorian public hospital
Patients with the following conditions are not seen at Northern Health:
Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hand, hip, shoulder, knees and spine
- Hip & knee OA – consider referral to Northern Health Osteoarthritis Hip and Knee Service (OAHKS) click here for referral criteria.
- Hand OA – consider referral to Northern Health Plastic Surgery click here for referral criteria.
- Shoulder OA – consider referral to Northern Health Orthopaedic Screening Clinic click here for referral criteria.
- Spine OA in the absence of inflammatory symptoms – consider referral to Northern Health Neurosurgical Spinal Service – click here for referral criteria.
Chronic pain syndrome including fibromyalgia, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and chronic non-specific lower back pain
- Consider referral to Northern Health Chronic Pain clinic click here for Victorian statewide referral criteria
Mechanical pain including lower back, neck and shoulder pain
- Back & neck pain – consider referral to Northern Health Neurosurgical Spinal Service – click here for referral criteria
- Shoulder pain – consider referral to Northern Health Orthopaedic Screening Clinic click here for referral criteria
Osteoporosis
- Consider referral to Northern Health Endocrinology Metabolic Bone Disease clinic click here for Victorian statewide criteria
Ehlers Danlos Syndrome
- Consider referral to genetics clinic at an alternative health service. For further information click here for HealthPathways Melbourne
Positive blood tests without clinical symptoms
- Antinuclear antibody (ANA) 1:320
- Rheumatoid factor (RF) >60
- Clinical symptoms: moth/nasal ulcerations, Alopecia, Raynaud’s, Inlammatory Arthritis, Photosensitive rash, Proteinuria/Heamaturia
For further guidance on how to manage specific conditions in general practice, or what specific investigations and information are required for specialist referral, please visit your local HealthPathways website or equivalent online care pathways website.
Click here for HealthPathways Melbourne
Please contact your local PHN if you require login access
How to refer
Urgent referrals can be discussed with the Rheumatology Registrar by calling Northern Health switchboard Tel: 8405 8000.
Acutely unwell patients should be directed to the nearest Emergency Department.
GP referrals: Use HealthLink to send referrals, results and reports. For more information click here
Other health services (hospitals, allied health, specialists etc.): Fax your referral to 8405 8616.
Our Team
CLINIC LEAD:
Vickie Hutchison
CONSULTANTS:
Dr Andrew Foote (Head of Unit)
Dr Pamela Anjara
Dr Diane Apostolopoulos
Dr David Liew
Dr Mueed Mian
Dr Laura Ross
Dr Michele Seah
REGISTRARS (2021):
Dr Laura Eades
Dr Bonnia Liu
