Patients who may be at increased risk of opioid-related harm include those with:

• High total daily opioid doses
• Complex analgesia regimens or concerning patterns of analgesia use
• Poorly controlled pain, previous poor pain experience, or sensitising conditions (e.g. fibromyalgia)
• Previous or current opioid misuse or substance use disorder

Responsive Acute Palliative Intervention and Decision (RAPID) service

Who we can help

Patients with acute palliative care needs who require assistance to bridge any service delivery gaps between acute hospital and community palliative care (CPC) services

Our services

• Multidisciplinary team (palliative care doctor/nurse) provides rapid, responsive specialist palliative care to support clients to stay at home or in a residential aged care facility
• Assistance with coordinating between acute hospital and CPC services

Contact us

Referrals

Send RAPID service referrals to Specialist Clinics via Healthlink.

Find out more about referring your patient to Specialist Clinics.

Discuss a patient

Phone our switchboard and ask for RAPID palliative care.

Austin Health Switchboard

Phone: 03 9496 5000

Transitional Pain Clinic (POPPMED)

Who we can help

Peri-operative or peri-injury outpatients with high opioid dose, opioid replacement therapy, complex pain history or previous poor pain experience. The clinic aims to prevent progression to chronic pain or inappropriate drug use behaviours

Our services

• POPPMED (pre-operative): anaesthetist provides pre-operative opioid rotation/reduction, peri-operative analgesia planning and education to set peri-operative management expectations
• Transitional Pain Clinic (post-operative or post-injury): Anaesthetist or pain nurse provides post-operative or post-injury analgesia review and advises on opioid tapering with the GP

Contact us

Health Independence Program (HIP)

Phone: 03 9496 2211 press 1.
Email: hipcentralintake@austin.org.au
Open hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 4:30pm

Chronic Pain Clinic

Who we can help

Outpatients with persistent pain that is significantly impacting on their daily activities, who are willing to learn how to self-manage ongoing pain

Our services

• Multidisciplinary team (including pain doctors, nurses, psychologists, physiotherapists and psychiatrists)
• Services include introductory pain education; comprehensive assessment; time-limited group or individual programs (online and in-person)

This clinic does not provide appointments solely for medication management.

Contact us

Chronic Pain Clinic
Health Independence Program (HIP)

Phone: 03 9496 2211 press 1.
Email: hipcentralintake@austin.org.au
Open hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 4:30pm

Referrals

Find out more about referring your patient to our Chronic Pain Clinic.

Drug and Alcohol Service

Who we can help

Outpatients requiring opioid replacement therapy (ORT) whose management is generally too complex to be managed by the GP.

Our services

Specialist ORT outpatient clinic providing assessments and recommendations for opioid use disorder.

Contact us

Austin Drug and Alcohol Service (ADAS)

Email: adas.referral@austin.org.au

Phone: 03 9496 6940 (during business hours)