Useful information about working in Rheumatology
Who to call
Inpatient consultations: contact the Rheumatology Registrar between 8am-5pm Mon-Fri.
After hours (5pm-8am): there is an on-call Consultant Rheumatologist available via operator for urgent matters.
The Rheumatology Service is based at Greenlane Clinical Centre and only available for consultation service at Auckland Hospital for a few hours each day (time varies day-to-day). Consultant ward rounds for inpatient referrals occur twice per week (usually on a Monday afternoon and Thursday morning).
Outpatient referrals: please send an eReferral.
Conditions covered:
Essential information to have before referring
Examination of the affected joints/organ systems
FBC, creatinine, LFTs
CRP (or ESR)
Joint aspirate if available
Gram stain and culture (MC+S)
Cell counts and differential
Polarised light examination for crystals
X-ray joint (especially if history of trauma)
X-ray of hands and feet if rheumatoid arthritis suspected
When indicated from history:
Tissue type – HLA-B27
Serum urate level if concern for gout
Swab throat, cervix, urethra, anus, MSU (N. gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis)
Culture faeces (Yersinia, Salmonella, Campylobacter)
Ferritin and iron saturation if haemochromatosis suspected
Serological testing for rheumatoid arthritis (rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP antibodies)
Antinuclear antibodies/complement (if concern for SLE/another connective tissue disease)
ANCA if concern for ANCA vasculitis
MSU and urine P:Cr ratio if suspect connective tissue disease/vasculitis
Blood culture if infection suspected: 2 sets
If gonococcal infection is suspected, inform the laboratory as special cultures are required
Coagulation profile if bleeding disorder suspected