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Emergency Information 
General Surgery Centralized Access - Facilitated Access to Specialized Treatment (FAST)   at
Calgary Zone and Area
Central Access Healthcare Service
Specialty: General Surgery
Estimated time to routine appointment: Not Available
Alberta Health Services - Calgary Zone
CENTRAL ACCESS SERVICES
Referrals for General surgeries in the Calgary Zone are accepted at this Facilitated Access to Specialized Treatment (FAST) central access office. Referring providers can choose a next-available surgeon with the shortest waitlist, a specific surgeon, clinic or site, or an out of zone provider. FAST receives the surgical referrals, reviews them for completeness and duplication, and then sends them to appropriate surgeons for triage and booking.
Referrals for General surgeries in the Calgary Zone are accepted at this Facilitated Access to Specialized Treatment (FAST) central access office. Referring providers can choose a next-available surgeon with the shortest waitlist, a specific surgeon, clinic or site, or an out of zone provider. FAST receives the surgical referrals, reviews them for completeness and duplication, and then sends them to appropriate surgeons for triage and booking.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Review reasons for referral table below for eligibility requirements.
Review reasons for referral table below for eligibility requirements.
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
1. Complete the referral form or a referral letter stating the reason for referral.
2. Attach all mandatory information to the referral (see General Surgery Adult Referral Pathway)
3. Fax completed referral to Calgary Zone FAST at 1-833-627-7023.
You can also submit referrals through Alberta Netcare eReferral: Follow these instructions.
For breast referrals, please submit the referral directly to the Breast Health Outpatient Clinic
1. Complete the referral form or a referral letter stating the reason for referral.
2. Attach all mandatory information to the referral (see General Surgery Adult Referral Pathway)
3. Fax completed referral to Calgary Zone FAST at 1-833-627-7023.
You can also submit referrals through Alberta Netcare eReferral: Follow these instructions.
For breast referrals, please submit the referral directly to the Breast Health Outpatient Clinic
REFERRAL PROCESS - FOR CONNECT CARE USERS
An Outgoing Referral is required for this service.
Change the referral class to “Outgoing Referral” on the Ambulatory Order and complete order.
Outgoing orders are not sent electronically and require processing in workqueue 5.
For breast referrals, please submit the referral directly to the Breast Health Outpatient Clinic
An Outgoing Referral is required for this service.
Change the referral class to “Outgoing Referral” on the Ambulatory Order and complete order.
Outgoing orders are not sent electronically and require processing in workqueue 5.
For breast referrals, please submit the referral directly to the Breast Health Outpatient Clinic
COMMUNICATION PROCESS
  • Referral receipt to referring source within 7 days.
ADDITIONAL SERVICE DETAILS
Learn more about FAST at ahs.ca/FAST.
Learn more about FAST at ahs.ca/FAST.
 
CENTRAL ACCESS REFERRAL PHONE
833-553-3278 ext 4
CENTRAL ACCESS REFERRAL FAX
833-627-7023
REFERRAL FORMS
PATHWAYS
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
+-
Abdominal hernia
N/A
 
N/A
OTHER ABDOMINAL HERNIA
+-
Adrenal mass
CT or MRI abdomen
 
Within 3 months of referral
Electrolytes, creatinine, random glucose, AM cortisol, 24-hour urine metanephrines
 
Within 3 months of referral
+-
Biopsy of lymph node
Fine needle aspiration result
 
N/A
Location
 
N/A
+-
Biopsy of muscle
N/A
 
N/A
+-
Biopsy of sural nerve
N/A
 
N/A
SURAL NERVE BIOPSY
+-
Biopsy of temporal artery
N/A
 
N/A
+-
Breast disease
N/A
 
N/A
BENIGN BREAST DISEASE
• Includes: Mastalgia, nipple discharge, skin changes NYD, benign breast masses NYD.

Refer to Provincial Breast Health Referral Pathway for mandatory investigations
+-
Chronic abdominal pain
Include detailed documentation or medical summary of completed Chronic Abdominal Pain Primary Care Pathway including treatments tried if available.
 
During the time frame of current illness
  • Refer to the CLINICAL PATHWAY: CHRONIC ABDOMINAL PAIN to help guide the care of your patient prior to referral.
  • If symptoms persist after completing the Chronic Abdominal Pain Clinical Pathway, send referral to Calgary Zone FAST Team
+-
Chronic constipation
CBC
 
During the time frame of current illness
Family history of colorectal cancer
 
During the time frame of current illness
History of screening for colorectal cancer
 
During the time frame of current illness
Abdominal x-ray if available
 
During the time frame of current illness
Include detailed documentation or medical summary of completed Chronic Constipation Primary Care Pathway including treatments tried if available
 
During the time frame of current illness
DISORDER OF THE GI TRACT
+-
Chronic diarrhea
CBC, electrolytes, ferritin, C-reactive protein (CPR)
 
During the time frame of current illness
Fecal calprotectin test
 
During the time frame of current illness
Include detailed documentation or medical summary of completed Chronic Diarrhea Primary Care Pathway including treatments tried if available
 
During the time frame of current illness
Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
 
During the time frame of current illness
DISORDER OF THE GI TRACT Chronic diarrhea is defined as: 3 or more loose/watery stools per day, Onset at least 4 weeks ago
+-
Disorder of anal region
DRE Findings or explanation of why unable to complete a DRE
 
N/A
Include documentation or medical summary of completed Peri-Anal Disease Primary Care Pathway if available
 
N/A
DISORDER OF THE ANAL REGION
• Fissures
• Fistulas
• Hemorrhoids

Include documentation or medical summary of completed Peri-Anal Disease Primary Care Pathway
+-
Diverticulitis
Relevant imaging if available
 
N/A
+-
Dyspepsia
CBC
 
During the time frame of current illness
H. pylori test (HpSAT [H. pylori Stool Antigen Test])
 
During the time frame of current illness
Include documentation or medical summary of completed Dyspepsia Primary Care Pathway including treatments tried if available
 
During the time frame of current illness
Any related motility and diagnostic testing as appropriate if available
 
During the time frame of current illness
Celiac serology results if available
 
During the time frame of current illness
DISORDER OF THE GI TRACT
+-
Dysphagia
Imaging results if available
 
During the time frame of current illness
Include description of disease progression if available
 
During the time frame of current illness
DISORDER OF THE GI TRACT
+-
Esophageal mass
N/A
 
N/A
+-
Excision of lipoma
Size and Location
 
N/A
SYMPTOMATIC LIPOMA EXCISION
+-
Excision of sebaceous cyst
Size and Location
 
N/A
SEBACEOUS CYST EXCISION
+-
Family history of colorectal cancer
Body Mass Index (BMI)
 
Within 1 year of referral
Include detailed documentation or medical summary, i.e., Medication, anticoagulants usage, diabetes, etc.
 
N/A
Copy of previous colonoscopy and pathology report if applicable
 
N/A
FAMILY HISTORY OF COLORECTAL CANCER
Includes: High Risk Adenomatous Polyps
  • Based on the age of affected first degree family members: Family history of colorectal cancer or advanced adenoma in one first degree relative less than or equal to 60 years or 2 or more affected first-degree relatives, any age.
  • For asymptomatic patients aged 74 and younger, refer to Colon Cancer Screening Centre.
  • If your patient does not meet your Zone Colorectal Cancer Screening Program criteria but you feel they are still eligible for colon cancer screening, please send referral to Gastroenterology Centralized Referral Service (GI Central Triage)
  • For more information on surveillance guidelines: Screening for life guidelines
+-
Fecal immunochemical test (FIT) positive
Body Mass Index (BMI)
 
Within 1 year of referral
Include detailed documentation or medical summary, i.e., Medication, anticoagulants usage, diabetes, family history of cancer and polyps if available
 
N/A
CBC, electrolytes, creatinine/GFR if available
 
N/A
FECAL IMMUNOCHEMICAL TEST (FIT): POSITIVE FINDING
+-
Gallbladder calculus
Gallbladder imaging
 
N/A
SYMPTOMATIC GALLSTONES
+-
Gallbladder mass
Gallbladder imaging
 
N/A
+-
Gallbladder polyp
Gallbladder imaging
 
N/A
+-
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Include documentation or medical summary of completed GERD Primary Care Pathway including treatments tried if available
 
During the time frame of current illness
DISORDER OF THE GI TRACT
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
+-
General surgery consultation
N/A
 
N/A
CONSULT FOR GENERAL SURGERY OTHER
+-
HSIL on anal pap smear
DRE findings or explanation of why unable to complete a DRE
 
N/A
ANAL LOW-GRADE SQUAMOUS INTRAEPITHELIAL LESIONS (LSIL)/ HIGH-GRADE SQUAMOUS INTRAEPITHELIAL LESIONS (HSIL)
+-
History of colorectal neoplasia
Include detailed documentation or medical summary, i.e., Medication, anticoagulants usage, diabetes, etc.
 
N/A
Body Mass Index (BMI)
 
Within 1 year of referral
Copy of previous colonoscopy, pathology report and operative report if applicable.
 
N/A
PERSONAL HISTORY OF COLORECTAL NEOPLASIA
Includes: Colonic adenomas
+-
Imaging of gastrointestinal tract abnormal
Copy of abnormal imaging report
 
N/A
Description of symptoms, i.e., unintended weight loss, and reason for requesting imaging
 
N/A
ABNORMAL IMAGING OF GI TRACT
+-
Incisional hernia
Clinical estimate of size
 
N/A
+-
Incontinence of feces
DRE Findings or explanation of why unable to complete a DRE
 
During the time frame of current illness
FECAL INCONTINENCE
+-
Inguinal hernia
N/A
 
N/A
Refer for SYMPTOMATIC findings only
+-
Irritable bowel syndrome
CBC
 
During the time frame of current illness
Celiac serology
 
During the time frame of current illness
For Irritable Bowel Syndrome-Diarrhea (IBS-D): o Fecal calprotectin (>200mcg/g), C-reactive protein (CRP) if applicable
 
During the time frame of current illness
Include detailed documentation or medical summary of completed Irritable Bowel Syndrome Primary Care Pathway including treatments tried if available
 
During the time frame of current illness
DISORDER OF THE GI TRACT
+-
LSIL on anal pap smear
DRE findings or explanation of why unable to complete a DRE
 
N/A
ANAL LOW-GRADE SQUAMOUS INTRAEPITHELIAL LESIONS (LSIL)/ HIGH-GRADE SQUAMOUS INTRAEPITHELIAL LESIONS (HSIL)
+-
Malignant neoplasm of colon
N/A
 
N/A
SUSPECTED/KNOWN COLON CANCER
+-
Malignant neoplasm of soft tissue
N/A
 
N/A
SUSPECTED/KNOWN SOFT TISSUE CANCER
Consider non-urgent advice prior to referral
+-
Malignant tumor of anal canal
N/A
 
N/A
RECTAL/ANAL CANCER
+-
Malignant tumor of rectum
N/A
 
N/A
RECTAL/ANAL CANCER
+-
Malignant tumor of stomach
N/A
 
N/A
SUSPECTED/KNOWN STOMACH CANCER
+-
Neck mass
Imaging results
 
N/A
For Lipomas refer to Lipoma Reason for Referral.
+-
Pancreatic mass
Relevant imaging
 
N/A
+-
Pilonidal disease
N/A
 
N/A
+-
Rectal bleeding
DRE Findings or explanation of why unable to complete a DRE
 
During the time frame of current illness
Completed High Risk Rectal Bleeding Checklist or contents of checklist in referral letter (See additional details for the checklist link)
 
N/A
CBC, creatinine, serum iron, TIBC, and serum ferritin
 
During the time frame of current illness
Include documentation or medical summary of completed High Risk Rectal Bleeding Pathway for Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Diagnosis if available
 
During the time frame of current illness
RECTAL BLEEDING (BRIGHT RED BLOOD)
+-
Rectal prolapse
DRE Findings or explanation of why unable to complete a DRE
 
During the time frame of current illness
+-
Suspected malignant neoplasm of soft tissue
N/A
 
N/A
SUSPECTED/KNOWN SOFT TISSUE CANCER
Consider non-urgent advice prior to referral
+-
Suspected malignant neoplasm of stomach
N/A
 
N/A
SUSPECTED/KNOWN STOMACH CANCER
+-
Suspected neuroendocrine neoplasm
CT Abdomen/pelvis
 
Within 12 months of referral
SUSPECTED NEUROENDOCRINE TUMOR (MESENTERIC MASS, CARCINOID, OTHER)

For stable patients - send referrals to Calgary Zone FAST Team
+-
Suspected parathyroid disease
24-hour urine calcium and creatinine
 
Within 6 months of referral
If age > 50: bone density testing ordered
 
Within 2 years of referral
Serum calcium, phosphate, PTH, albumin, creatinine, ALP (all completed on the same day)
 
Within 6 months of referral
Ultrasound neck ordered
 
Within 1 year of referral
Vitamin D level (choose calcium reason, can be done on a separate day)
 
Within 6 months of referral
SUSPECTED PARATHYROID DISEASE (HYPERCALCEMIA OR ELEVATED PTH OR INCIDENTAL IMAGING FINDING)

For stable patients - send referral to Calgary Zone FAST Team.

Serum calcium >3 should be seen urgently by Endocrine
+-
Thyroid mass
Progressive TSH
 
Within 1 year of referral
Ultrasound neck
 
Within 1 year of referral
Thyroid scan if hyperthyroidism - if available
 
N/A
Fine needle aspiration* if indicated based on imaging and availability if available
 
N/A
For more information, refer to CLINICAL PATHWAY: THYROID NODULE
+-
Umbilical hernia
N/A
 
N/A
+-
Varicose veins
Any relevant diagnostic imaging already completed if available
 
N/A
VENOUS DISEASE UNCOMPLICATED (VARICOSE VEINS WITHOUT COMPLICATION)
+-
Venous disease
Any relevant diagnostic imaging already completed if available
 
N/A
VENOUS DISEASE COMPLICATED (ULCERATION OR BLEEDING)
Includes: Bleeding varix, venous ulcer, recurrent episodes of phlebitis


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.

 

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