Required information
Learn more about how to refer to Mercy Health and download our latest referral forms.
Please review the following for specific information on referring to this clinic/service.
Essential information
Referral reason and required investigations (essential with referral)
Acute mild diverticulitis
- recent FBE; ESR; LFT’s,
- abdominal ultrasound
- BSL.
Recent changes in Bowel habits
- recent FBE; U&E’s; ESR; TFT’s, LFT’s
- stool sample
- AXR +/- CT Abdo/pelvis (where appropriate)
- ? PSA test.
Palpable mass on rectal examination
- recent FBE; U&E’s; ESR; LFT’s;
- possible colonoscopy.
Asymptomatic bloody stools
- recent FBE; U&E’s;
- recent stool sample
- bowel chart.
Unexplained weight loss
- recent FBE;U&E’s; LFT
- abdominal ultrasound +/- X-ray.
Colo-vesical or colo-vaginal fistula
- recent FBE; U&E’s Lipid profile.
Haemorrhoids
- PR examination findings.
Anal fistula/ fissures
- recent LFT; U&E;
- PR examination findings
- proctoscopy/sigmoidoscopy.
Suspected colo-rectal cancer
- any urgent cases refer to the emergency department
- recent FBE, U&E
- abdomen ultrasound
- colonoscopy
- recent examination.
Puritis
- blood tests – FBE, ESR, U&E’s, CA, LFT’s, FE, TFT’s, immunoglobulins.
Benign anal polyps
- rectal examination findings.
Rectal Prolapse
- rectal examination findings.
Referral process
Our clinic is receiving eReferrals via HealthLink SmartForms. Please see our Refer a patient page for more information.
Step 1
Essential referral content will be checked. You will be contacted if further information is required.
Acknowledgement of referral receipt will occur within eight working days.
Step 2
The referral will be triaged by the specialist areas according to clinical urgency.
This determines how long the patient will have to wait for an appointment.
Step 3
Patients with urgent conditions are scheduled to be seen within 30 days.
Patients with non-urgent conditions are given the next available appointment according to clinical need.
Both the referrer and patient are notified.
Immediate assessment criteria
Immediate assessment or admission criteria (not an exhaustive list)
Step 1: Check criteria for immediate assessment or admission.
- diverticulitis with systemic sepsis
- large bowel obstruction
- severe PR bleeding
- confirmed or suspected colorectal cancer
- acute pain or undiagnosed symptoms
- conditions not fitting the category 1 criteria
Step 2: Contact the Emergency Department Admitting Officer via the switchboard 03 8754 3000.
Step 3: Refer the patient to the Emergency Department. All urgent cases needs to be sent via MIA.
The clinical information provided in your referral will determine the triage category. The triage category will affect the timeframe in which the
patient is offered an appointment.
If the condition requires immediate assessment or admission a referral to the Emergency Department (ED) should be attended to. Please refer the patient to the ED for clinical review. Referrals for urgent review in the ED should be addressed to the Emergency Department.
Urgent (seen within 30 days of referral receipt)
The patient has a condition that has the potential to deteriorate quickly with significant
consequences for health and quality of life if not managed promptly. Examples
include:
• Positive FOBT – Refer to the Rapid Access Colonoscopy Clinic
• Acute mild diverticulitis
• Recent changes in bowel pattern
• Mass palpable on rectal examination
• Asymptomatic bloody stools
• Unexplained weight loss
• Colo-vesical or colo-vaginal fistula
Non-urgent (seen within 365 days of referral
receipt as clinically indicated)
The patient’s condition is unlikely to deteriorate quickly
or have significant consequences for the person’s
health and quality of life if specialist assessment is
delayed beyond one month. Examples:
• Low risk PR bleeding
• Visible haemorrhoids, palpable fistula on PR
• Bright blood on examination
• Fistulas or fissures uncomplicated
• Routine follow-up on IBD
• Diverticula or disease for follow-up
Contacts
In case of emergency, call 000
Outpatient Clinics - Medical/Surgical
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Phone numbers:
Outpatient Clinics - Medical/Surgical
03 8754 6700
- Phone number: 03 8754 6710
- Website: Outpatient access
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About:
Call this number for:
· Appointment questions
· Referral questions
· You want to speak to a nurse about why you are coming to see the specialist
· You want to change your appointment
· You want to tell us you no longer need your appointment
For Health Professionals
HealthPathways Melbourne
- Email address: info@healthpathwaysmelbourne.org.au
- Website: HealthPathways Melbourne
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About:
HealthPathways Melbourne provides clinicians with a single website to access clinical and referral pathways, and resources. Pathways are created by local GPs, working in partnership with specialists, nurses, allied health and other health professionals.
Mercy Health recommends clinicians to access HealthPathways Melbourne for guidance in assessing, managing and referring for patient conditions (login required).
Referrals to outpatient clinics at Mercy Health will be triaged against clinical information and investigations based on these guidelines.
Referrals that do not meet the required clinical information and investigations will not be accepted.
HealthPathways Melbourne is available for free to health professionals working in the North Western Melbourne and Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network catchments.
Email HealthPathways to request access or if you need to confirm your username and password.
Healthlink SmartForm eReferrals
- Website: au.healthlink.net/support
-
About:
HealthLink is a secure digital platform for sending referrals directly from your GP practice software (Best Practice, Genie, Medical Director and MedTech Evolution).
Practices without conformant software can register for a free HealthLink Portal licence by completing the online registration form and noting in the comments/message field that you would like to use the SmartForms, then selecting the two checkboxes – (1) Receive Electronic Correspondence (free of charge) and (3) Send Electronic Smart Forms (My Aged Care, Transport for NSW, Monash Health etc).
Once HealthLink receives your completed registration application, this will be processed and the portal details will be forwarded to you.
eReferral Support Contact Information
- For GPs in the Eastern Melbourne Primary Healthcare Network region wanting to enable eReferrals (HealthLink Smartforms), please contact digitalhealth@emphn.org.auor if urgent (03) 9046 0300.
- For GPs in the North Western Melbourne Primary Healthcare Network region wanting to enable eReferrals (HealthLink Smartforms), please contact HealthLink via phone: 1800 125 036 or email request@healthlink.net
- For issues with HealthLink SmartForms, or to have this solution enabled within your clinical software system, please contact HealthLink on 1800 125 036 or HelpdeskHL@healthlink.net.
Statewide Referral Criteria for Specialist Clinics - Victoria
- Website: Statewide Referral Criteria
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About:
The Department of Health and Human Services has developed statewide referral criteria to assist GPs and clinicians referring patients to specialist clinics. These referral criteria have been developed to improve access to specialist clinics in public hospitals by improving the quality and appropriateness of referrals.
Referral instructions and templates
Referrals to specialist clinics at Mercy Health can now be sent via HealthLink. To assist with appropriate referral triage and management, GP practices with compatible software are encouraged to send their referrals via HealthLink.
Primary Care Liaison Unit
The Primary Care Liaison Unit works to improve communication between the hospitals and general practice.
Providing feedback
We value feedback from the people we care for, including from your families, friends, carers, and our broader community. Find out how to register a concern, complaint or compliment, or make a suggestion for improvement at Mercy Health.