Hepatic steatosis / Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
Adult

Hepatology

Useful Management Information

  • Manage metabolic factors
  • Lifestyle modification (increased activity, dietary, weight, smoking, alcohol)
  • Address misuse of other substance (illicit and prescription drugs)
  • Consider cessation of alcohol, hepatotoxic medication, herbal preparations, supplements, NSAIDs and benzodiazepines
  • Education: NASH-cirrhosis and HCC screening
  • Please see Fibroscan Only guidelines if a fibroscan only is required to assess fibrosis

Minimum Referral Criteria

Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?
Category 1 (appointment within 30 calendar days)
  • Hepatic steatosis/ NAFLD/NASH with concerning features
  • Evidence of liver decompensation i.e. jaundice and/or ascites and/or encephalopathy
Category 2 (appointment within 90 calendar days)
  • Hepatic steatosis / NAFLD without concerning features
Category 3 (appointment within 365 calendar days)
  • No category 3 criteria
  • If the patient does not meet the criteria for referral but the referring practitioner believes the patient requires specialist review, a clinical override may be requested:
    • Please explain why (e.g. warning signs or symptoms, clinical modifiers, uncertain about diagnosis, etc.)
  • Please note that your referral may not be accepted or may be redirected to another service.

Essential Referral Information

  • Height, weight and BMI
  • ELFT
  • FBC
  • HBV & HCV serology
  • Fasting glucose and lipid results
  • Upper abdominal ultrasound reports

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

  • Family history of liver disease or diabetes
  • Alcohol and illicit drug history
  • Medication history including non-prescription medications, herbs, supplements
  • Record of previous liver function tests
  • Iron studies/INR
  • Lipid profile
  • Please see Fibroscan Only guidelines if a fibroscan only is required to assess fibrosis
Last updated 17 June 2022

Send Referrals To

Smart Referrals

Preferred Method
About Smart Referrals

Secure Web Transfer

Send to: Gold Coast Health Service District

Internal Referrals

Hepatology (E-Blueslips)

Fax

(07) 5687 4497

Post

Booking and Referral Centre
Gold Coast University Hospital
1 Hospital Boulevard
Southport QLD 4215

Enquiries

1300 559 083

Related HealthPathways

No directly related pathways found

Service Availability

Dr Russell Canavan
Medical Director Hepatology, and Gastroenterology

Facilities

Gold Coast University 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.

Gold Coast Health - For Clinicians
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