PRACTITIONER RESOURCES

PRACTITIONER REFERRALS TO 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.

When sending a referral to our office, please include the following:

• examination details for the injury to optimize triage

• imaging reports, and details of any further imaging arranged by your office

• previous operative reports

• all relevant history

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.

MULTIDISCIPLINARY CARE

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 or imaging 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. Lizanne Bussieres, Dr. Nicola Hahn, Dr. Russ O’Connor, Dr. Heather Henry

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