Cardiology

A referral requires minimum information. The essential demographic referral requirements are as outlined in the statewide referral guide.
Clinical information required as a minimum:

• Reason for referral
• Duration of symptoms and current symptoms
• Relevant pathology and imaging reports
• Past medical history
• Current Medications and allergies

Essential referral content is checked and you may be contacted if further information is required.

The referral is triaged by the specialist unit, according to clinical urgency. This determines how long the patient will have to wait for an appointment.

Patients with urgent conditions are scheduled to be seen within 30 days. Patients with routine conditions are given the next available appointment according to clinical need.

Some clinics offer an MBS-billed service. There is no-out-of-pocket expense to the patient.  

MBS-billed services require a current referral to a named specialist - please provide your patient with a 12 month referral addressed to the specialist of your choice.  

Please note that your patient may be seen by another specialist in that clinic, in order to speed up their treatment.  

We may also divert patients to see a specialist with an interest or expertise in particular areas.

Rapid Access Atrial Fibrillation Clinic

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac arrhythmia condition that increases the risk of stroke by nearly fivefold and contributes significantly to health system costs. With appropriate prescription of oral anticoagulants, the incidence of stroke can be dramatically reduced by 60 to 65 per cent.

Any patient with atrial fibrillation on ECG can be referred if they require assessment or commencement of anticoagulation and/or medical management of symptoms. Patients with established atrial fibrillation already managed by a cardiologist or physician are not for referral.

The Rapid Access Atrial Fibrillation Clinic will see patients within 14 days of referral, as part of Safer Care Victoria supported project in the region.

Patients will receive a cardiac pharmacist assessment of current medications and medical history followed by a physician consultation and generation of an AF management plan. The management plan will include referrals for further investigations/treatment as well as other specialist referrals if needed.

Grampians Health Ballarat is currently in the process of developing clinics to deal with specific conditions. We will update this information on the website when appropriate and notify the local medical community.

• Cardiothoracic surgery – consultation for referral to Melbourne or Geelong for Coronary Artery Bypass surgery and management of valvular heart disease

Please note: The times to assessment may vary depending on the triage. It is particularly important that we have enough information to be able to triage appropriately.

Referrals for stress tests that are sent to cardiology clinic will NOT be accepted, because GPs can refer for these tests directly without waiting for a clinic appointment.

Our team will NOT see people routinely for test results ordered by a GP, unless the test results accompany the patient. Our team have on many occasions reviewed a patient with a test result that was normal.

If you are concerned about the delay of an outpatient appointment or if there is any deterioration in the patient’s condition, please contact the Cardiology Registrar on call on 03 5320 4000.

Discussion with the registrar or sending a follow-up referral may save your patient a visit to the Emergency Department (ED).

Referrals from ED staff are triaged in the same way as referrals from GPs, with the clinical urgency rather than the source of the referral being taken into consideration.

After hours the medical registrar is the appropriate contact - call Grampians Health Ballarat reception or the Cardiology Registrar on call on 03 5320 4000.