PATIENT SERVICES

PATIENT SERVICES AVAILABLE THROUGH SEA TO SKY ORTHOPAEDICS

The British Columbia medical services plan requires all patients to have a referral to see an Orthopaedic Specialist. Any physician may fax a referral on behalf of a patient to our Sea to Sky Orthopaedics fax number: (604) 905-4073. A Sea to Sky Orthopaedics team member will contact referred patients directly with an appointment time.

Our doctors review all referrals each business day to determine the next steps. We recognize that high volumes of people are waiting to be seen by an orthopaedic surgeon in the Sea to Sky Corridor. We have implemented a process to ensure that patients are able to receive care from the appropriate specialist.

In an effort to reduce overall wait times and increase efficiency of patient care, our office has implemented an Intake Assessment clinic. After the Intake appointment, patients often require further investigations, imaging, or rehabilitation prior to being triaged into the appropriate stream or referred elsewhere for ongoing care.

Many patients referred to our practice are seen rapidly in this Intake Clinic and are then triaged to be seen in one of three streams as follows:

Orthopaedic Surgeon Stream: Consultation with Orthopaedic Surgeon and urgent/elective surgery for athletic injuries and other acute orthopaedic injuries.

Sports Medicine Stream: Consultation with Sports Medicine Physician to optimize non-surgical care of orthopaedic injuries.

Fracture Clinic Stream: Consultation with Orthopaedic Surgeon in the Whistler Health Care Center for fractures and other acute injuries requiring cast technician support and specialized imaging.

Wait times within the streams vary. A patient may be moved between streams throughout their care depending on what is most appropriate. We have a wonderful team that is constantly evolving to ensure patients receive the care they need. Please recognize that we are not primary care physicians, and that patients will be referred back to their primary care physician for care when appropriate. Please see your GP for medical issues that arise during this process.

Patients are always free to choose a specific healthcare practitioner within our office, understanding that this may result in a prolonged wait time. If you have any questions about this process, please contact our office.

Orthopaedic Surgeons: Dr. Alex Brooks-Hill, Dr. Sally Clark, Dr. Michelle Arakgi (locum)

Sports Medicine Physicians: Dr. Jim Demarco, Dr. Lizanne Bussieres, Dr. Nicola Hahn, Dr. Russ O’Connor

Intake Physicians: Dr. Jim Demarco, Dr. Marie-Eve Pelletier

APPOINTMENT

Prior to your appointment:

• Submit our Sea to Sky Orthopaedic History form to our office. We will send an email where you can fill this out online, if you are unable to complete the online version, please complete the pdf and email it to us (click to download and complete the History Form pdf).

• Submit your Medical records from any previous surgeries (e.g. operative reports and consultations related to your condition) to our office (click to download and complete the Request for Medical Records pdf).

• Call the Sea to Sky Orthopaedics Office (604-905-4075) with updated personal information ie. phone number, address, name of family doctor, physiotherapist, etc.

Please bring with you to each appointment:

• Health Care Card

• Details of any other personal/private medical coverage plans

• Sleeveless shirt for upper body examinations/Shorts for lower body examinations

• Updated personal information ie. phone number, address, name of family doctor, physiotherapist, etc.

• If your images were done outside of a VCH facility, please bring CD or USB copies of images or reports for any tests taken relating to your current physical condition (actual images are required in addition to the reports)

• List of medications including vitamins, supplements etc. (if applicable)

• Translator, if necessary (medical terminology may be used and fluent English or French is required)

Canada's provincial medical plans (excluding Quebec), including the Medical Services Plan of BC (MSP), cover the cost of office visits, fracture clinic visits, as well as medically necessary surgeries at Squamish General Hospital.

Fees are billed to patients who are not covered by a Canadian provincial medical plan, or who have Quebec coverage. Please contact our office for more details.

OTHER SERVICES NOT COVERED BY PROVINCIAL MEDICAL PLANS

*Patients set up their own physiotherapy appointments with their practitioner of choice