For referrers
Referrer information for GPs, allied health practitioners, and surgeons across the Sunshine Coast and South East Queensland. Scope of practice, secure messaging via Medical Objects, imaging pathways, and surgical coordination.
Information for GPs, allied health practitioners, and surgeons referring to Specialist Sports Medicine, on the Sunshine Coast. The aim is to make the referral pathway clean, the scope of practice clear, and the communication back to you reliable.
Two Sunshine Coast locations. Dr Kimberley Wells consults at both. Refer to either, and the same secure pathways and scope of practice apply.
Noosa
Noosa Civic MediHub
26 Eenie Creek Road
Noosaville QLD 4566
Maroochydore
Maroochy Private Hospital
Level 9, 12 Future Way
Maroochydore QLD 4558
How to refer
Referrals are preferred via Medical Objects for secure, traceable transmission. The clinic provider details are listed in your Medical Objects directory under "Wells, Kimberley" or "Specialist Sports Medicine".
Where Medical Objects is not available, fax or email-with-encryption are accepted. Reception can guide on alternatives. For urgent referrals, please phone the clinic directly.
- Phone: (07) 5415 0428
- Noosa: Noosa Civic MediHub, 26 Eenie Creek Road, Noosaville QLD 4566
- Maroochydore: Maroochy Private Hospital, Level 9, 12 Future Way, Maroochydore QLD 4558
- Standard referral validity: 12 months (GP), 3 months (specialist)
What to include in your referral
A brief referral with the key concern is enough. Where available, it helps to include:
- Clinical presentation and duration of symptoms
- Relevant examination findings
- Imaging already performed, and the radiology provider
- Treatments already trialled (physiotherapy, medications)
- The specific question or reason for referral
- Relevant medical history, medications, and allergies
- The patient's activity level and goals
Urgent and priority referrals
For acute presentations where early diagnosis changes management, phone the clinic so the referral can be fast-tracked. These include:
- Acute knee injuries: suspected ACL tear, locked knee, or acute haemarthrosis
- Suspected concussion requiring return-to-sport clearance
- Acute shoulder dislocation or other significant joint injury
- A significant sporting injury where early diagnosis may affect outcomes
Scope of practice
Specialist sport and exercise medicine assessment and management of:
- Acute and chronic musculoskeletal injuries (all body regions, all ages)
- Tendinopathies, joint and soft tissue conditions
- Concussion and post-concussion syndrome
- Osteoarthritis (non-surgical management) and pre-operative optimisation
- Exercise prescription for chronic disease, healthy ageing, and rehabilitation
- Female athlete health, including RED-S and bone health
- Adolescent and youth athlete care, including growth-related conditions
- WorkCover Queensland claims (accepted)
- Surgical coordination, pre-habilitation, and post-operative review
- Image-guided injection therapies (cortisone, PRP, viscosupplementation)
Out of scope: paediatric primary care, complex spinal surgery, primary cardiology, primary neurology. Onward referrals to appropriate specialists are made where indicated.
Imaging access
Imaging before referral is not required. A patient can be referred and assessed without prior imaging. Where imaging is needed, the clinic prefers to determine the most appropriate modality for each presentation as part of the consultation.
As a specialist sport and exercise medicine service, we can refer for MRI under Medicare item numbers that are bulk-billed at some participating radiology providers. This often resolves the access issue when a GP cannot refer for MRI under Medicare for the relevant indication. Where imaging access is clinically relevant, this can support a specialist referral.
Surgical coordination
For surgical referrers, we provide:
- Pre-operative optimisation, including conditioning, education, and medical workup
- Surgical assisting in theatre with selected orthopaedic surgeons (see surgical assisting)
- Post-operative specialist review and rehabilitation oversight
- Return-to-sport assessment after surgery (see return to sport)
Correspondence and feedback
A specialist letter is sent to the referring practitioner after the consultation, with copies to other practitioners the patient nominates (with consent). Letters are typically dispatched within one to two business days. Letters cover the assessment, diagnosis, plan, and follow-up arrangement.
Where shared care is appropriate, the clinic supports ongoing communication with the referring practitioner. Phone calls between practitioners are welcome.
Education sessions
Specialist Sports Medicine may be able to provide sport and exercise medicine education for GP practices, allied health teams, and other clinical groups. If you are interested in arranging a session, get in touch via the contact form and the clinic will follow up directly.
Enquire via the contact page and note "education session" in your message.
Direct contact for referrers
For clinical questions, complex referrals, or to discuss a patient before referring, phone the clinic on (07) 5415 0428 and ask reception to relay a message to the clinical team. For non-urgent enquiries, the contact form is also monitored.
