Referrals

Happy March break….

two things…

1) please call all internists and surgeons to arrange urgent or semi-urgent care for patients ( in – town is what I am referring too) so they can help triage and plan when to see a patient. we have had a few referrals done ( example – asking for stress test with- in a week) and the specialist is actually gonna be away and can’t do that…. I have received direct feedback to pass on that a phone call to arrange these things is the way to go.

2) plastics in the LHIN still has holes in coverage as we all know!! No one is planning on getting more plastics yet…. A task force is still meeting around this…but no luck yet…
If not ” emergent” then I write referral and call myself or have Bob (HDMH) or Jennifer (SMMH) call the next day plastics on call…
If emergent…I have tried Southlake a couple times recent and they have been helpfull. In the past this has not been the case though.
Some docs are just packaging the patient and telling them to go an er that does have plastics given no one is on call in the LHIN. Jan has received feedback that this is not ideal and other ER’s ( OSMH and RVH) have complained about this.
I am just the messenger here….although not ideal I will always advocate for the patient and if that means doing this last option to get them care they need …so be it…I think as a group we try to make the best arrangement for the patient but when all else fails…we gotta get them care….

John