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Useful Management Information
- For adults with diabetes, assess their risk of developing a diabetic foot problem at the following times:
- when diabetes is diagnosed, and at least annually thereafter
- if any foot problems arise
- on any admission to hospital, and if there is any change in their status while they are in hospital
- For low risk of developing a diabetic foot problem, continue to carry out annual foot assessments, emphasise the importance of foot care, and advise they could progress to moderate or high risk
- Basic foot care advice and the importance of foot care
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with diabetes are considered to be at high risk of developing foot complications until adequately assessed otherwise
- Commence antibiotics as per therapeutic guidelines
- Renal impairment increases the risk of amputation for people with diabetes who experience amputation rates 11 times that of the general diabetic population, which in turn is 15 times the rate in people without diabetes
- Examine both feet for evidence of the following risk factors:
- Neuropathy (use a 10 g monofilament as part of a foot sensory examination)
- Limb ischaemia (see CPC on peripheral arterial disease)
- Ulceration
- Callus
- Infection and/or inflammation
- Deformity
- Gangrene
- Charcot arthropathy
Minimum Referral Criteria
Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?
Category 1 (appointment within 30 calendar days) |
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Category 2 (appointment within 90 calendar days) |
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Category 3 (appointment within 365 calendar days) |
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Essential Referral Information
- Details of all treatments offered and efficacy
- Peripheral pulses, femoral/popliteal/foot
If a specific test result cannot be obtained due to access, financial, religious, cultural or consent reasons a clinical override may be requested. This reason must be clearly articulated in the body of the referral.
Additional Referral Information
- Is the ulcer neuropathic or ischaemic (or both) in origin?
- Is there active infection? Consider deep wound swab/pathology for culture, ESR CRP FBC
- Is there invasive infection with spreading cellulitis around the wound?
- Is there bony infection? X-Ray if required.
- If suspected arterial disease –Doppler Ankle Brachial Pressure Index (ABPI), toe pressures, duplex scan etc
- Appropriate medical history including claudication distance, rest pain, ischaemic changes and risk factors
- Depression Screening tool Phq-2
- Over the last two weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following problems?
- Little interest or pleasure doing things?
- Feeling down or hopeless?
- Over the last two weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following problems?
Send Referrals To
Smart Referrals
Preferred Method
About Smart Referrals
Secure Web Transfer
Send to: Gold Coast Health Service District
Internal Referrals
Fax
(07) 5687 4497
Post
Gold Coast University Hospital
1 Hospital Boulevard
Southport QLD 4215
Enquiries
(07) 5687 4779
Service Availability
Mr Manjeet Sagoo
Podiatry Lead
Facilities
Gold Coast University Hospital
Robina Hospital
Helensvale Community Health Centre
Robina Health Precinct
Tugun Satellite Hospital
If you would like to send a named referral, please address it to the specialist listed above, who will allocate a suitably qualified specialist to see the patient. Alternatively, you can view a full list of our specialists.