For Professionals

Our highly experienced team of cardiologists and staff are committed to providing your patients with the very best care.

For information on how to refer your patient to our practice, please see below. For further information, please contact our friendly staff.

Electronic Correspondence

It is our preference to receive referrals and correspondence electronically please. We are able to receive correspondence via the following secure methods:

  • Healthlink: EDI ‘cardiovs’
  • Fax: (08) 8362 2273

Referrals

Patients will not be able to claim Medicare rebates unless they have a valid referral at the time of appointment. Please read the ‘Checklist for Valid Referrals‘ tab below.

Referrals do not need to be made out to a specific doctor in our practice. Referrals may be sent to the Cardiovascular Centre by post, fax (08 8362 2273), email (cvc@adelaide.edu.au) or Healthlink (cardiovs).

Referrals are generally valid for a 12 month period from GPs and for a 3 month period from Specialists. We accept indefinite referrals from GPs if patients have conditions that need ongoing treatment. However, we are required by Medicare to request a new referral if a patient has a new presenting problem, if the referring doctor has changed practice location or has ceased practicing.

Checklist for valid referrals

Addressed to:

  • Referrals do not need to be made out to a specific doctor in our practice.
  • Diagnostic test referrals can be addressed to the practice only or unspecified doctor

A valid referral must contain:

  • the patient’s name
  • date of birth
  • date of referral
  • relevant clinical information about the patient’s condition for investigation
  • opinion, treatment and management
  • signature of the referring practitioner.

The above applies to all referrals, including public hospital referrals.

Period of referral

If the period of the referral is not specified, Medicare deems it to be 12 months for GPs and 3 months for specialists/physicians.

If, as a GP, you wish to make an indefinite referral, please use the word “indefinite” to convey this. This will avoid your staff being contacted for new referrals when we are not sure of your intentions. Please do not use phrases such as “ongoing care” or “continuing care” as indefinite referrals. Although these phrases can be recognised by Medicare, it is not always this easy to interpret the GPs intention.

Developing new and innovative approaches to heart problems and patient care

Together with the University of Adelaide's Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders (CHRD), we are involved in multiple studies, ranging from 'pure' research to applied clinical trials and consultancies. You can help us continue to expand our important research program, and make an impact of your own. This will ultimately benefit everyone undergoing treatment for heart rhythm disorders.

Cardiovascular Centre
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