Outpatient Referral Process
South Australian public hospital outpatient referral process guideline for clinicians.
Bone density outpatient service at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital
The Bone Density Clinic provides bone density scans to diagnose and manage osteoporosis — a disease that weakens bones to the point where they break easily.
This is a free public health service located at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital and is part of the Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN).
Contact and opening hours
Phone: (08) 8222 6913
Fax: (08) 8222 6021
Email: Health.FaxEndocrineUnitQEH@sa.gov.au
Opening hours: 9 am — 4 pm, Monday to Friday
Location
Level 1, Link Wing
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital
28 Woodville Road
Woodville South, 5011
How to make a referral
Patients need a referral from a general practitioner (GP) or specialist to book an appointment.
- Complete the Bone densitometry referral form (DOCX 41KB)
- Fax or email the referral to:
- Fax: (08) 8222 6021
- Email: Health.FaxEndocrineUnitQEH@sa.gov.au
Booking an appointment
Patients with a referral from a GP or specialist can contact us to book an appointment.
Appointments are free.
Getting to the clinic
The Bone Density Clinic is located on Level 1 in the Link Wing of The Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Paid parking is available 300m from the clinic in the multi-storey car park.
If you are mobility impaired, a wheelchair can be borrowed from the patient enquiries desk at the main entrance to the hospital.
Once you arrive at the hospital:
- Go to the main entrance (behind the cafe)
- Take the lift to Level 1
- Follow the signs to Bone Density Clinic (view directions from Level 1 lift)
- Take a seat in our waiting area until the x-ray technician calls you. We do not have a receptionist.
At the appointment
The appointment usually takes 20 mins.
Patients should wear clothing without metal parts and bring their:
- completed referral
- Medicare Card
- Veterans Affairs Gold Card (if applicable)
Low-dose x-rays scan the lower spine and upper femur to measure how many grams of calcium and other minerals are packed into a segment of bone. This type of scan uses Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA).
Getting the results
- Results are sent to the referring doctor.
- We recommend patients contact their doctor two weeks after the scan to discuss results.