Referral Information

Department of Addiction Medicine Referral Guidelines

  

The Department of Addiction Medicine is an outpatient clinic of St Vincent’s Hospital

 

To ensure that your patient is appropriately triaged and waitlisted please provide the following mandatory clinical information:

  • Referrer name and provider numberPatient name, address and contact number(s)

  • Preferred language / need for interpreter

  • Detailed reason for referral

  • Duration of referral ( 3 months / 12 months)

  • Past medical history, including relevant psychosocial factors

  • Management to date and response to treatment

  • Current medications, allergies - and medication history if relevant

  • Relevant imaging and pathology reports

If you believe your patient should be fast-tracked or seen urgently, please state the reason in the referral.

  

S8 permits: While your patient is on our waiting list, a referral acknowledgement letter can be used to liaise with DPU to request a 3 month interim permit. Please indicate in your referral if an acknowledgement letter is required for this purpose.

 

Telehealth: Please note that we are able to provide Telehealth consultations. Please indicate if you feel this type of consult would be helpful for you/your patient.

 

Regional patients: Should your patient be required to travel more than 100km one way in order to attend our clinic, they may be eligible for financial assistance through the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS). Please refer your patient to VPTAS if this support is required. Brochures about VPTAS are available through the clinic.

 

Clinic DNA (Did Not Attend) Process: The Department of Addiction Medicine provides statewide support. In order to ensure equitable access, and reduce waiting times, please be aware that we require 24 hours notice of inability to attend an appointment. Failure to provide this notice results in a DNA. Should a patient have 2 DNA’s, the Department of Addiction Medicine reserves the right to discharge the patient depending on an individual assessment of the circumstances. Please note that re-entry to the clinic will then require a new referral.

 

Please fax referrals to (03) 9231 2642