Rheumatology

  • If any of the following are present or suspected, please refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary) or follow local emergency care protocols or seek emergent medical advice if in a remote region.

    Axial Spondyloarthritis – Ankylosing Spondylitis

    • Concerns for septic arthritis
    • Complications of disease or therapy requiring emergent review – systemically unwell

    Connective Tissue Disease - SLE, Scleroderma, MCTD, Sjogren's Syndrome and undifferentiated or overlap CTDs

    • Complications of disease or therapy requiring emergent review – systemically unwell

    Crystal Arthritis – Gout and CPPD (pseudogout)

    • Concerns for septic arthritis
    • Severe drug reaction to Allopurinol

    Polymyalgia Rheumatica

    • Complications of disease or therapy requiring emergent review – systemically unwell

    Giant Cell Arteritis/Temporal Arteritis

    • Presentation to ED if visual disturbance or loss
    • Complications of disease or therapy requiring emergent review

    Note: Discuss all cases immediately by phone with local Rheumatology service (or General physician/Emergency/Virtual Emergency Care Service) to facilitate access to temporal artery biopsy given clinical outcome could be time sensitive.

    Myositis - polymyositis, dermatomyositis, CTD associated myositis and undifferentiated inflammatory myositis

    • Complications of disease or therapy requiring emergent review – systemically unwell

    Peripheral Spondyloarthritis - Psoriatic arthritis and Reactive arthritis

    • Concerns for septic arthritis
    • Complications of disease or therapy requiring emergent review – systemically unwell

    Polymyalgia Rheumatica

    • Complications of disease or therapy requiring emergent review – systemically unwell

    Rheumatoid Arthritis

    • Concerns for septic arthritis
    • Complications of disease or therapy requiring emergent review – systemically unwell

    Vasculitis (non GCA/Temporal Arteritis)

    • Complications of disease or therapy requiring emergent review – systemically unwell

  • Please note this is not an exhaustive list of all conditions for outpatient services and does not exclude consideration for referral unless specifically stipulated in the CPC out of scope section.

  • The following are not routinely provided in a public Rheumatology service.

    • Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome/Hypermobility (Refer to Joint Hypermobility HealthPathways)
    • Chronic pain

Last updated: 23 September 2025

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