Receive specialist advice in just days via Smart Referrals
General practitioners (GPs) in the Brisbane South PHN region can now request advice from a Metro South Health specialist with a new function added to the Smart Referrals system. With the click of a button, GPs can submit a Request for Advice (RFA) in the following specialty areas:
Diabetes and endocrinology
Respiratory
Persistent Pain Management Service
Logan Hospital General Paediatrics (ADHD)*
It is anticipated that more specialty areas will be added over time. *ADHD advice is available only for patients known to Logan Hospital Paediatrics.
Benefits of using GP Smart Referrals ‘Request for Advice’
Specialist advice based on the clinical problem is provided and received securely as correspondence via your practice management system. Metro South Health’s target response time for Requests for Advice submitted through GP Smart Referrals is 5 business days, but in recent weeks this response time has been as little as 2 business days.
Metro South Health has designed the RFA function in GP Smart Referrals to provide:
enhanced documentation
improved communication quality
removal of the need for both GP and specialist to be available at the same time (which helps reduce delays and a rushed conversation)
more comprehensive advice and evidence-based care
integration of advice provided to the hospital and GP through electronic medical record systems.
According to GP feedback provided to Metro South Health, advice received via the RFA service has eliminated the need for some patients to be referred and waitlisted to see a specialist for treatment. GPs using the new service are encouraged to complete the quick survey request afterwards to help:
ensure the RFA service meets GP needs
inform the future scale and spread of RFA across new services.
Next time you are thinking of an outpatient referral in the specialty areas mentioned above, consider Request for Advice as a care option.
More information for GPs
Contact a Metro South GP Liason Officer
The Metro South GP Liaison Officer team is available for assistance with Smart Referrals and enquiries or feedback about Request for Advice.
Phone 1300 364 155 (select option 2)
Visit Brisbane South Health Pathways
Find more information about Smart Referrals in HealthPathways. Brisbane South HealthPathways is a free in-consult tool helping primary care clinicians to navigate the available hospital and health services and referral pathways for patients in the Brisbane South, Redlands, Logan, and Scenic Rim catchments. Learn more about Brisbane South HealthPathways on our website.