Description

The West Moreton Minor Lower Extremity Clinical Service serves as a vital referral pathway for healthcare professionals managing minor lower extremity injuries and trauma. This service is designed to streamline the referral process, ensuring that patients receive timely and appropriate care based on the severity and urgency of their condition.

Key Features

• Clinical Prioritisation: Referrals are prioritised to match the urgency of the injury, ensuring that patients with more severe conditions are seen promptly.
• Standardised Referral Criteria: By providing clear criteria for referrals, the service helps healthcare providers submit comprehensive and consistent information, facilitating effective assessment and management.

Referral Categories

Referrals are categorised into three main groups:

Category 1

• Seen within 30 days
• Undisplaced fractures
• Satisfactorily reduced and immobilised fractures
• Delayed nerve or tendon injuries
• Delayed joint dislocations

Category 2

• Seen within 90 days
• Fracture delayed or non-union
• Mal-union affecting function

Category 3

• Seen within 365 days
• Mal-union not affecting function

Minimum Referral Criteria

To ensure effective triage and management, the following information is required:

• Reason for referral
• Essential clinical history
• Neurovascular examination findings (for Category 1)
• Management to date
• X-ray results

Additional details such as patient demographics, clinical findings, previous treatments, comorbidities, current medications, and relevant social factors may also be included to enhance the referral process.

Use Cases

This clinical service is particularly beneficial for:

• Primary care providers and other healthcare settings referring patients with minor lower limb injuries to specialist outpatient or fracture clinics.
• Ensuring that lower extremity trauma cases are triaged and prioritised effectively, leading to better patient outcomes.

Maintenance Guidelines

Healthcare providers are encouraged to:

• Complete all required referral information accurately and comprehensively.
• Adhere to local clinical guidelines for initial assessment and management before making a referral.
• Consider streaming referrals to allied health or nursing services when appropriate.

By following these guidelines, the West Moreton Minor Lower Extremity Clinical Service aims to enhance the coordination and quality of care for patients with minor lower limb injuries, ultimately contributing to improved healthcare delivery within the region.