- All new patients require a referral.
- For general referrals (not Complex Feeding and Nutrition), write your own referral letter and fax it to us. Please include relevant investigations and growth curves.
- If you are stating that the referral is "urgent", please specify why.
- You can suggest if you prefer that the patient be seen via Videoconference (particularly for remote / outlying communities), or in Outreach clinic (presently in Prince George, Nanaimo, Victoria, and Kelowna). Not all requests can be honored.
- A division member will triage the referral and a cover letter will sent back to the referring office. Please take this as a receipt of referral and unless specified, no action is required. Our booking secretary will contact the families directly with the appointment, usually one month prior to the appointment.
- If there is a change in clinical status or new information, feel free to send an update and then we can review whether this will change the original triaging status.
We continue to receive a very high volume of referrals which exceeds our capacity to see patients.
The more details provided on the patient, the easier it is to appropriately triage. A part of our triage may include a request for further investigations such as blood work.
We do have a generally standard GI triage guideline. The suggested time is not a guarantee of how quickly the patient will be seen.
Urgent or acute referrals
Any urgent matters can be discussed with the GI physician on-call who can be contacted through the switchboard: 1-888-300-3088 or 604 875 2345. Inpatient transfers should also be discussed directly.
Chronic abdominal pain (unless there are warning signs) will be categorized as non-urgent. Patients with chronic constipation are also non-urgent (typically > 6 months).
Through the RACE (Rapid Access to Consultative Expertise) program, you can get connected with a pediatric gastroenterologist who will respond to your call within 2 hours. This service is available Monday to Friday 8 am to 5 pm by calling 604 696 2131 (or toll free 1877 696 2131). You can discuss a case and receive advice over the phone. It is NOT meant for acute/urgent issues, appointment bookings, informing of an incoming referral or arranging transfer.
Referrals for G-tubes (gastrostomy tubes) should continue to go to General Surgery (G-tube referral form) or if appropriate Interventional Radiology. A referral to GI may be appropriate if there is a family or doctor requesting a review regarding the necessity of the G-tube.
