Endocrinology Patient Referral Guidelines for Physicians

How to refer a patient with an endocrine disorder

The pediatric endocrinology department works closely with pediatricians and primary care providers across the Phoenix region to help diagnose, treat and manage a patient’s endocrine disorder. Before referring your patient to one of our clinics, please review the following guidelines.

Patient Ages

New patients must be 18 years or younger. Follow-up care is available for those 21 or younger. Children at the CARE Clinic must be at least 8 years old.

Urgent Referrals

Please mark the following referrals as urgent to ensure we expedite appointments and care for children when needed:

• TSH is greater than 10 or less than 0.01
• Congenital hypothyroidism in a newborn baby
• Abnormal newborn screen
• Newly diagnosed Graves disease (hyperthyroidism)
• Hypocalcemia and hypercalcemia
  • Calcium less than 8 or greater than 13
• Tumor, malignancy, cancer, prolactinoma
• Adrenal insufficiency
  • Low cortisol
• Uncontrolled diabetes
  • A1c greater than 6.5%
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in a child 3 years old or younger
• Osteogenesis imperfecta
• Diabetes insipidus or any sodium greater than 150
• Hyponatremia or any sodium less than 130

Referring Patients to CARE Clinic

We will see anyone referred into CARE, but we feel our ability to help is highest for patients with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 85th percentile and who also have one of the following criteria:

• A1c 5.7% or above ( >6.5% please mark as urgent)
• Fasting glucose 100 or above; or non-fasting glucose >140
• Fasting triglycerides 130 or above
• Fasting LDL greater than 130
• Non-HDL >145

What to Include in a Referral to Endocrinology

We attempt to schedule nearly all referrals sent to us, for any reason, regardless of what was sent over as part of the referral. However, to make your patient’s visit most useful, we’d prefer if referring centers include:

• Patient insurance
• Demographic information
• Reason for referral
• Growth charts, if available
• Most recent clinic notes
• Any relevant imaging in the last two years
• Any relevant labs in the last two years

  Contact Us

  If you have questions, please contact us at 602-933-0935, or fax your referral to 602-933-2436.