Test Environment
  
X Close Window
This healthcare service has 1 current healthcare service locations.
Email Profile Link
Emergency Information 
Rheumatology Central Access and Triage   at
Calgary Zone and Area
Central Access Healthcare Service
Specialty: Rheumatology
Connect Care Department: CALGARY ZONE RHEUMATOLOGY CAT
Estimated time to routine appointment: >18 months
Alberta Health Services - Calgary Zone
CENTRAL ACCESS SERVICES
This central access referral service provides a single point of entry for individuals who need to see a Rheumatologist. Provides a referral service for doctors, emergency departments, and urgent care centres that need to refer people to see a Rheumatologist in the Calgary Zone.
This central access referral service provides a single point of entry for individuals who need to see a Rheumatologist. Provides a referral service for doctors, emergency departments, and urgent care centres that need to refer people to see a Rheumatologist in the Calgary Zone.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
As per referral guidelines
As per referral guidelines
Referral instructions for primary care, community care, private
providers etc. who do not send referrals via Connect Care.
REFERRAL PROCESS - FOR NON-CONNECT CARE USERS
Review Eligibility requirements and Referral guidelines below before making a referral to this service.
Complete the referral form and fax it to the service using the contact information in this profile.
Page Rheumatologist on call for URGENT advice or appointment:
  • Phone Specialist Link (during regular office hours): Ph 403-910-2551.
  • Phone the Rheumatologist on call (if AFTER business hours): Ph 403-944-1110.
The following conditions are deemed URGENT;
  • Early Inflammatory Arthritis WITH joint swelling
  • Active Vasculitis or Connective Tissue Disease that is NOT organ threatening
  • Myositis
The following conditions are deemed SEMI-URGENT;
  • Inflammatory Arthritis with NO swelling
  • Polymyalgia Rheumatica (Please call Specialist LINK to discuss)
  • Stable Myopathy
  • Crystal Arthropathy (use Gout Pathway while waiting)
If uncertain about time frame or urgency, please page the Outpatient Rheumatologist on-call :
  • Phone Specialist Link (during regular office hours): Ph 403-910-2551.
  • Phone the Rheumatologist on call (if AFTER business hours): Ph 403-944-1110.
Review Eligibility requirements and Referral guidelines below before making a referral to this service.
Complete the referral form and fax it to the service using the contact information in this profile.
Page Rheumatologist on call for URGENT advice or appointment:
  • Phone Specialist Link (during regular office hours): Ph 403-910-2551.
  • Phone the Rheumatologist on call (if AFTER business hours): Ph 403-944-1110.
The following conditions are deemed URGENT;
  • Early Inflammatory Arthritis WITH joint swelling
  • Active Vasculitis or Connective Tissue Disease that is NOT organ threatening
  • Myositis
The following conditions are deemed SEMI-URGENT;
  • Inflammatory Arthritis with NO swelling
  • Polymyalgia Rheumatica (Please call Specialist LINK to discuss)
  • Stable Myopathy
  • Crystal Arthropathy (use Gout Pathway while waiting)
If uncertain about time frame or urgency, please page the Outpatient Rheumatologist on-call :
  • Phone Specialist Link (during regular office hours): Ph 403-910-2551.
  • Phone the Rheumatologist on call (if AFTER business hours): Ph 403-944-1110.
REFERRAL PROCESS - FOR CONNECT CARE USERS
Review Eligibility requirements and Referral guidelines below before making a referral to this service.
Send an Internal Referral using the Ambulatory Referral Order to Rheumatology, type CALGARY ZONE RHEUMATOLOGY CAT in the “To Department” section and complete order.
Page Rheumatologist on call for URGENT advice or appointment:
  • Phone Specialist Link (during regular office hours): Ph 403-910-2551.
  • Phone the Rheumatologist on call (if AFTER business hours): Ph 403-944-1110.
The following conditions are deemed URGENT;
  • Early Inflammatory Arthritis WITH joint swelling
  • Active Vasculitis or Connective Tissue Disease that is NOT organ threatening
  • Myositis
The following conditions are deemed SEMI-URGENT;
  • Inflammatory Arthritis with NO swelling
  • Polymyalgia Rheumatica (Please call Specialist LINK to discuss)
  • Stable Myopathy
  • Crystal Arthropathy (use Gout Pathway while waiting)
If uncertain about time frame or urgency, please page the Outpatient Rheumatologist on-call :
  • Phone Specialist Link (during regular office hours): Ph 403-910-2551.
  • Phone the Rheumatologist on call (if AFTER business hours): Ph 403-944-1110.
Review Eligibility requirements and Referral guidelines below before making a referral to this service.
Send an Internal Referral using the Ambulatory Referral Order to Rheumatology, type CALGARY ZONE RHEUMATOLOGY CAT in the “To Department” section and complete order.
Page Rheumatologist on call for URGENT advice or appointment:
  • Phone Specialist Link (during regular office hours): Ph 403-910-2551.
  • Phone the Rheumatologist on call (if AFTER business hours): Ph 403-944-1110.
The following conditions are deemed URGENT;
  • Early Inflammatory Arthritis WITH joint swelling
  • Active Vasculitis or Connective Tissue Disease that is NOT organ threatening
  • Myositis
The following conditions are deemed SEMI-URGENT;
  • Inflammatory Arthritis with NO swelling
  • Polymyalgia Rheumatica (Please call Specialist LINK to discuss)
  • Stable Myopathy
  • Crystal Arthropathy (use Gout Pathway while waiting)
If uncertain about time frame or urgency, please page the Outpatient Rheumatologist on-call :
  • Phone Specialist Link (during regular office hours): Ph 403-910-2551.
  • Phone the Rheumatologist on call (if AFTER business hours): Ph 403-944-1110.
COMMUNICATION PROCESS
  • Referral receipt to referring source within 7 days.
  • Acceptance via appointment details or wait list status letter to referring source and patient within 14 days.
  • Wait list status update every 90 days.
  • Appointment outcome to referral source within 30 days.
ADDITIONAL SERVICE DETAILS
All routine, semi-urgent and urgent consults are managed through this Rheumatology Central Access & Triage. Referrals will be triaged and waitlisted accordingly.
Rheumatology CAT manages referrals for a number of different rheumatology clinics in the Calgary Zone:
  • Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic at Richmond Road Diagnostic and Treatment Centre
  • Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic at South Health Campus
  • Private Rheumatology Practices in Calgary
If you feel the patient needs to be seen urgently or their condition worsens, please page the Rheumatologist On Call at: 
  • Phone Specialist Link (during regular office hours): Ph 403-910-2551.
  • Phone the Rheumatologist on call (if AFTER business hours): Ph 403-944-1110.

All routine, semi-urgent and urgent consults are managed through this Rheumatology Central Access & Triage. Referrals will be triaged and waitlisted accordingly.
Rheumatology CAT manages referrals for a number of different rheumatology clinics in the Calgary Zone:
  • Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic at Richmond Road Diagnostic and Treatment Centre
  • Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic at South Health Campus
  • Private Rheumatology Practices in Calgary
If you feel the patient needs to be seen urgently or their condition worsens, please page the Rheumatologist On Call at: 
  • Phone Specialist Link (during regular office hours): Ph 403-910-2551.
  • Phone the Rheumatologist on call (if AFTER business hours): Ph 403-944-1110.

 
CENTRAL ACCESS REFERRAL PHONE
403-955-8734
CENTRAL ACCESS REFERRAL FAX
403-955-8199
REFERRAL FORMS
REFERRAL ADVICE
Specialist LINK
PATHWAYS
CENTRAL ACCESS LINKED SERVICES
CLICK + TO VIEW REFERRAL GUIDELINES
+-
Routine Reason for Referral
Access Targets convey the clinically appropriate timeframe patients should be seen within, by reason for referral and priority level.
Access Target
Required Information/Investigations
Investigation Timing
Additional Details
+-
Connective tissue disease
Physical exam and History
 
Within 1 month
Previous specialists consult notes
 
Within 1 month
Medication list, previous treatments and responses
 
Within 1 month
X-rays of affected joints
 
Within 3 months
Describe symptoms:
  • alopecia, dry eyes, dry mouth, photosensitivity, scleritis
  • nasal ulcers, oral ulcers, weight loss
  • malar rash, joint pain, swelling, morning stiffness, muscle pain
  • history of blood clots or miscarriage
  • Raynaud's
  • pleuritic chest pain, dyspnea
  • hematuria
  • proteinuria
 
Within 1 month
  • RF, Anti-CCP, CBC, CRP, Cr, ALT, ALP
  • Albumin, ANA, ENA, CK, Anti ds DNA
  • C3, C4, Urinalysis, Urine PCR
 
Within 3 months
+-
Crystal arthropathy
Describe symptoms:
  • description of joints involved
  • swelling, pain, morning stiffness
  • duration of symptoms, number of flares per year
  • renal impairment
 
Within 1 month
Physical exam and History
 
Within 1 month
Previous specialists consult notes
 
Within 1 month
Medication list, previous treatments and responses
 
Within 1 month
Has Gout pathway been utilized
 
Within 1 month
  • RF, Anti-CCP, CBC, CRP
  • Cr, ALT, ALP, Albumin
  • ANA, ENA, Urate, Urinalysis
     
    Within 3 months
    Xrays of affected joints
     
    Within 3 months
    Synovial fluid aspiration for crystals if possible
     
    Within 3 months
    +-
    Inflammatory arthritis
    Describe symptoms:
    • description of joints involved
    • swelling
    • pain
    • morning stiffness
    • duration of symptoms
     
    Within 1 month
    Physical exam and History
     
    Within 1 month
    Previous specialists consult notes
     
    Within 1 month
    Medication list, previous treatments and responses
     
    Within 1 month
    • RF, Anti-CCP, CBC, CRP, Cr, ALT, ALP
    • Albumin, ANA, ENA
    • Urate, Urinalysis
     
    Within 3 months
    X-rays of Hands, Feet and Chest and/or affected joints
     
    Within 3 months
    +-
    Polymyalgia rheumatica
    Describe symptoms:
    • description of muscles or joints involved
    • swelling, pain, weakness, morning stiffness
    • duration of symptoms
    • response to prednisone
    • ability to stand from chair and lift arms over head
     
    Within 1 month
    Any symptoms of Giant Cell Arteritis
     
    Within 1 month
    Physical exam and History to support findings
     
    Within 1 month
    Previous specialists consult notes
     
    Within 1 month
    Medication list, previous treatments and responses
     
    Within 1 month
    • RF, Anti-CCP, CBC, CRP, Cr
    • ALT, ALP, Albumin
    • ANA, ENA, CK
    • Myositis panel, Scleroderma panel
    • Anti ds DNA, Urinalysis
     
    Within 3 months
    • Xrays and Ultrasound of Shoulders and/or Hips if involved
    • Xray's of hands if involved
     
    Within 3 months
    +-
    Raynaud's phenomenon
    Describe symptoms:
    • Skin color changes
    • effect of temperature changes, numbness
    • pain, joint pain
    • swelling, morning stiffness
     
    Within 1 month
    Physical exam and History
     
    Within 1 month
    Previous specialists consult notes
     
    Within 1 month
    Medication list, previous treatments and responses
     
    Within 1 month
    • RF, Anti-CCP, CBC, CRP, Cr
    • ALT, ALP, Albumin
    • ANA, ENA, CK
    • Anti ds DNA, C3, C4
    • Urinalysis, Urine PCR
       
      Within 3 months
      Raynaud's Ultrasound/Peripheral arterial Doppler ultrasound (arterial arms)
       
      Within 3 months
      +-
      Rheumatology initial assessment
      Describe symptoms:
      • joint pain, swelling, morning stiffness
      • alopecia, photosensitive rash, malar rash, oral or nasal ulcers
      • Raynaud's, calcinosis, thickening of skin, sclerodactyly
      • alopecia, dry eyes or mouth, photophobia, scleritis
      • weight loss, photosensitivity
      • joint pain, swelling, morning stiffness
      • pleuritic chest pain, hematuria, proteinuria
       
      Within 1 month
      Physical exam and History
       
      Within 1 month
      Previous specialists consult notes
       
      Within 1 month
      Medication list, previous treatments and responses
       
      Within 1 month
      • RF, Anti-CCP, CBC, CRP, Cr
      • ALT, ALP, Albumin
      • ANA, ENA, CK
      • Anti ds DNA, C3, C4
      • Urinalysis, Urine PCR
       
      Within 3 months
      X-rays of Hands, Feet and Chest and/or affected joints
       
      Within 3 months
      +-
      Scleroderma
      Describe symptoms:
      • skin changes (tightening, shiny)
      • calcinosis, esophageal dysfunction, sclerodactyly
      • telangiectasia, interstitial lung disease
      • joint pain, muscle pain, swelling
      • Raynaud's, renal or cardiac involvement, fatigue
       
      Within 1 month
      Physical exam and History
       
      Within 1 month
      Previous specialists consult notes
       
      Within 1 month
      Medication list, previous treatments and responses
       
      Within 1 month
      • RF, Anti-CCP, CBC, CRP, Cr
      • ALT, ALP, Albumin, ANA, ENA, CK
      • Myositis panel, Scleroderma panel, Anti ds DNA, Urinalysis
       
      Within 3 months
      X-rays of affected joints
       
      Within 3 months
      +-
      Sjögren's syndrome
      Describe symptoms:
      • alopecia, dry eyes, painful eyes, photosensitivity
      • dry mouth, oral ulcers, dental decay
      • fatigue, joint pain, swelling, stiffness, muscle pain, peripheral neuropathy
      • swollen salivary glands, Interstitial Lung disease
       
      Within 1 month
      Physical exam and History to support findings
       
      Within 1 month
      Previous ophthalmology and other specialist's consult notes if applicable
       
      Within 1 month
      Medication list, previous treatments and responses
       
      Within 1 month
      • RF, Anti-CCP, CBC, CRP, Cr
      • ALT, ALP, Albumin, ANA, ENA, CK
      • Anti ds DNA, C3, C4
      • Urinalysis, Urine PCR
       
      Within 3 months
      Parotid gland U/S if applicable
       
      N/A
      +-
      Spondyloarthritis
      Describe symptoms:
      • description of joints involved
      • swelling, pain, morning stiffness
      • duration of symptoms
      • improvement or exacerbation with rest or exercise
      • affected ROM of spine
      • nocturnal pain
       
      Within 1 month
      Physical exam and History to support findings
       
      Within 1 month
      Previous specialists consult notes
       
      Within 1 month
      Medication list, previous treatments and responses
       
      Within 1 month
      • RF, Anti-CCP, CBC, CRP, Cr
      • ALT, ALP, Albumin
      • Urate, Urinalysis
      • HLA B27
       
      Within 3 months
      X-rays of spine and SI joints
       
      Within 3 months
      +-
      Systemic lupus erythematosus
      Describe symptoms:
      • alopecia, dry eyes, dry mouth
      • scleritis, nasal ulcers, oral ulcers, weight loss
      • malar rash, photosensitivity
      • joint pain, swelling, morning stiffness, muscle pain
      • history of blood clots or miscarriage
      • Raynaud's
      • pleuritic chest pain, dyspnea
      • hematuria, proteinuria
      • discoid lupus
       
      Within 1 month
      Physical exam and History to support findings
       
      Within 1 month
      Previous specialists consult notes
       
      Within 1 month
      Medication list, previous treatments and responses
       
      Within 1 month
      • RF, Anti-CCP, CBC, CRP, Cr
      • ALT, ALP, Albumin
      • ANA, ENA, CK
      • Anti ds DNA, C3, C4
      • Urinalysis, Urine PCR
       
      Within 3 months
      X-rays of joints involved
       
      Within 3 months

      +-
      Urgent Reason for Referral
      Access Targets convey the clinically appropriate timeframe patients should be seen within, by reason for referral and priority level.
      Access Target
      Required Information/Investigations
      Investigation Timing
      Additional Details
      +-
      Connective tissue disease
      Physical exam and History
       
      Within 1 month
      Previous specialists consult notes
       
      Within 1 month
      Medication list, previous treatments and responses
       
      Within 1 month
      X-ray's of affected joints
       
      Within 3 months
      Describe symptoms:
      • alopecia, dry eyes, dry mouth, photosensitivity, scleritis
      • nasal ulcers, oral ulcers, weight loss
      • malar rash, joint pain, swelling, morning stiffness, muscle pain
      • history of blood clots or miscarriage
      • Raynaud's
      • pleuritic chest pain, dyspnea
      • hematuria
      • proteinuria
       
      Within 1 month
      • RF, Anti-CCP, CBC, CRP, Cr, ALT, ALP
      • Albumin, ANA, ENA, CK, Anti ds DNA
      • C3, C4, Urinalysis, Urine PCR
       
      Within 3 months
      CTD that is NOT organ threatening
      +-
      Myositis
      Describe symptoms:
      • description of muscles or joints involved and distribution (proximal or distal)
      • swelling, pain, weakness, morning stiffness
      • duration of symptoms, functional impairment
      • new rashes
       
      Within 1 month
      Physical exam and History
       
      Within 1 month
      Previous specialists consult notes
       
      Within 1 month
      Medication list, previous treatments and responses
       
      Within 1 month
      • RF, Anti-CCP, CBC, CRP, Cr
      • ALT, ALP, Albumin
      • ANA, ENA, CK
      • Myositis panel, Scleroderma panel
      • Anti ds DNA, Urinalysis
       
      Within 3 months
      EMG
       
      Within 3 months
      Muscle Biopsy if appropriate
       
      Within 3 months
      +-
      Vasculitis
      Describe symptoms:
      • Organs are involved
      • Neurologic symptoms, headaches, vision changes
      • asthma, cough, hemoptysis, shortness of breath
      • renal issues, rashes, dry mouth, nasal ulcers, oral ulcers
      • joint pain, fatigue, weight loss
      • numbness or tingling extremities, fever
       
      Within 1 month
      Physical exam and History to support findings
       
      Within 1 month
      Previous specialists consult notes
       
      Within 1 month
      Medication list, previous treatments and responses
       
      Within 1 month
      • RF, Anti-CCP, CBC, CRP, Cr
      • ALT, ALP, Albumin
      • ANA, ENA, CK
      • Anti ds DNA, C3, C4
      • Urinalysis, Urine PCR, ANCA
       
      Within 3 months
      Biopsy if applicable
       
      Within 3 months
      CT/MRI imaging if appropriate
       
      Within 3 months
      Active Vasculitis that is NOT organ threatening

      +-
      Emergent Reason for Referral
      Additional Details
      +-
      Connective tissue disease
      Aggressive organ-threatening Connective Tissue Disease (the patient should be seen within 24 hours).
      Page the Rheumatologist on call at:  

      • Phone Specialist Link (during regular office hours): Ph 403-910-2551.
      • Phone the Rheumatologist on call (if AFTER business hours): Ph 403-944-1110.



      +-
      Systemic lupus erythematosus
      SLE Flare with Organ Damage (patient should be seen within 24 hrs).
      Page the Rheumatologist on call at:  

      • Phone Specialist Link (during regular office hours): Ph 403-910-2551.
      • Phone the Rheumatologist on call (if AFTER business hours): Ph 403-944-1110.
      +-
      Systemic vasculitis
      Organ-threatening Vasculitis (the patient should be seen within 24 hours).
      Page the Rheumatologist on call at:  

      • Phone Specialist Link (during regular office hours): Ph 403-910-2551.
      • Phone the Rheumatologist on call (if AFTER business hours): Ph 403-944-1110.

      The primary purpose of the All Locations list is to let the user easily access any location of a healthcare service without going back to the main search screen.

      The locations listed have 3 background colors:
      • Green means the healthcare service@location has referral information attached to it.
      • Brown means the healthcare service@location never had referral information attached to it, or it has unpublished referral information.
      • Red means
        • IA changed the healthcare service@location's status to something other than Current
        • It was deleted if it is an ARD healthcare service@location.
      Green  and Brown are always at the top of the list. These are the Healthcare Service@Locations with the status of Current.
      The Red list at the bottom consists of non-current Healthcare Service@locations that once had Published referral information in the ARD.
      If the referral information was never published in ARD the Healthcare Service@location will not show in the Red list.

      The secondary purpose of the All Locations list is to allow ARD Administrators to recover (copy) referral information from the non-current Healthcare Service@Locations to ones that are current.

      Common Scenario:
      A Healthcare Service moves from one location to another. In this case the IA Healthcare Service@Location record will be made defunct (non-current) and a new Healthcare Service@Location record will be created with a current status. In this scenario the captured referral guidelines in ARD can become "orphaned" as they are not attached to any current IA healthcare service.

      Categories of non-current or orphaned referral guidelines: INDIVIDUAL and COMMON.
      The REFERRAL GUIDELINES section of the profile has the prefix INDIVIDUAL or COMMON to help you choose the method below when transferring referral guidelines from a non-current Healthcare Service@Location to a current healthcare service@location.

      Individual referral process
      1. Click on a non-current (Red) Healthcare Service@Location at the bottom of the All Locations list.
      2. The non-current referral info is displayed with the link Copy this Referral Process to another Healthcare Service@Location link on the upper right hand corner. Click on the copy link.
      3. Choose a current location (Green or Brown) from the All Locations list. This will be the Healthcare Service@Location you are pasting the referral info into.
      4. The system will display the Edit Referral Info screen populated with the referral info from the non-current Healthcare Service@Location you viewed in the first step.
      5. Click Save and the referral info is transferred from the non-current Healthcare Service@Location to the current one.
      6. Repeat these steps for each Healthcare Service@Location that needs attention.

      Common referral process - 2 sub cases.
      Case 1: At least 1 current Healthcare Service@Location with common referral info is with current status for this healthcare service; One or more Healthcare Healthcare Service@Locations where replaced by new one.
      1. Click on any current Healthcare Service@Location whether it has referral info (Green) or not (Brown).
      2. The healthcare service location opens in the Edit Referral Info screen populated with the current common referral info.
      3. Save it. 
      4. All locations will be updated with the common referral information, including all the locations that don't have referral info yet (Brown). The non-current referrals (Red) will also be updated.
      Case 2:  All Healthcare Healthcare Service@Locations for a healthcare service are set to a non-current status and replaced by new ones. In this case there is no current additional referral info to copy from, so the only alternative is to pick up the non-current common referral process (Red). Follow the steps described in the section Individual Referral Process above to copy/paste the non-current common referral info to the current healthcare service locations.
      Generally we want to replicate current common referral info to new or replaced healthcare service locations. We only resort to copying non-current common referral info if there is no other option.

      Remember: Some fields can be location specific with the common referral process:
      Parking Instructions, Directions, Parking Map, Wait Time, Referral Phone or Referral Fax.
      To update these items you have to edit each Healthcare Service@Location separately.

      ADDITONAL NOTES:
      • The info icon after the All Locations drop down will be visible to ARD Administrators.
      • The system doesn't allow you to copy referral information from one non-current Healthcare Service@Location to another.

       

      About Us
      Terms of Use
      Privacy Statement
      Disclaimer
      ARD Partners
      Search Tips
      Back to top
      FAQ
      Contact Us
      V6.5