RHEUMATOLOGY ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

YOU HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO US BY YOUR PHYSICIAN OR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER

CALEO HEALTH RHEUMATOLOGY TRIAGE: A partnership of local Rheumatologist and Caleo Health.  The team consists of; Rheumatology Focused Physicians, Pain Management Physicians & Allied Health Professionals.

We are a multidisciplinary patient focused centre with a structured triage approach with emphasis on diagnostic, risk stratification and treatment recommendations.  The triage process is designed to provide: single-site management of your condition(s), coordinate investigations and optimize care processes.

Why: To address a critical delay in access to specialist and to provide multidisciplinary assessment and management of patients with rheumatic or other connective tissue diseases.

What: You have been referred for assessment with our triage team:  Rheumatology Focused Physician, Physiotherapist and rehabilitation coordinators.  The Triage team will review your file with one of the Rheumatologists and/or they will refer you to the appropriate specialist when deemed necessary. You will not be seeing a Rheumatologist on your first visit.

The Patient Experience

STEP 1

FAMILY DOCTOR REFERRAL

STEP 2

REGISTER ONLINE

STEP 3

RHEUMATOLOGY ASSESSMENT

STEP 4

DIAGNOSIS

STEP 5

TREATMENT

Based on the historical outcomes data, approximately 75% of rheumatology patients referred to Caleo Health have do not have a connective tissue disorder so no rheumatologist consultation was required.

~ 25% of the patients assessed require a formal Rheumatologist Consult

~ 75% of the patients require no Rheumatologist Consult

“Urgent” Consultation

1%

“Routine” Consultation

24%

“N0 Rheumatologist Consult”

75%

ONLY PATIENTS WHO ARE FOUND TO HAVE STRONG EVIDENCE FOR A RHEUMATIC DISEASE WILL RECEIVE A FORMAL CONSULTATION WITH A RHEUMATOLOGIST.  Please be aware that a referral to a Rheumatologist does not mean you suffer with rheumatic or other connective tissue diseases.

PATIENTS THAT HAVE HAD RHEUMATIC AND OTHER CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISEASES RULED OUT WILL BE PROVIDED WITH APPROPRIATE TREATMENT RECOMMENDATION(S) OR REFERRAL.

The initial visit to Caleo Health focuses on evaluating your most critical area of complaint.  The goal is to provide you and your physician; the most responsible diagnosis, subsequent care pathway recommendation(s) and/or the referral(s) necessary for the treatment of your condition.

As part of the assessment and management process a referral to one (1) or more of the following may be necessary:

  • Laboratory investigations (blood work)
  • Investigational & Electro-diagnostics Studies: such as, MRI, X-Ray, CT, Ultrasound, EMG and NCS studies etc.
  • Pain Clinic: evaluation & treatment (medication management and joint injections, nerve blocks, etc.)
  • Allied Health Professional: such as specific and specialized physiotherapy and/or Chiropractic.
  • Medical Specialist: as deemed necessary by the assessment team
  • Rheumatologist: further consultation with a rheumatologist to discuss treatment options.

Patients should make all attempts to have a copy of all available Disc(s) with relevant X-rays, MRI and CT images prior to the assessment.  You may consider asking your physician’s office to assist you with obtaining the required images.

** We suggest all relevant images be ordered and available at the time of the assessment when possible; including diagnostic images completed at any Alberta Health Services facility.

The Rheumatology Assessment will be approximately one hour in length and performed by our Multidisciplinary Assessment Team.  Please dress comfortably.

FEE:  There is a fee of $150.00 charged to the patient for the initial appointment.  The assessment is only covered in part by your Provincial Health Insurance (i.e. Alberta Health).

The assessment is performed with a physiotherapist as part of the assessment team.  Physiotherapy assessments are uninsured services through Albert Health.  The fee you are required to pay is for uninsured services only.  It is the responsibility of the patient to cover the cost of all uninsured services.

The AHS Central Intake Rheumatology Department accepts direct referrals from community based physicians and access to a Rheumatologist is not limited to only those that pay the fee.   However, the direct route may take up to 24 months for a patient to be seen in consult unless the Rheumatology Department  is confident that this is an urgent matter.  Approximately 50% of patients referred directly to a Rheumatology Department  from their family physician are deemed non-Rheumatological.   The result is a significant delay in access to Rheumatology care for patients that are truly suffering with connective tissue disease.  This in turn is frustrating for non-rheumatological patients that have waited long periods with little or no outcome for their condition.

Individual Rheumatologist have the right decline direct referrals from time to time in an attempt to manage their wait lists.  the Rheumatology Department may also decline a referral if there is no clear indication that the patient will benefit from treatment.

The triage and assessment process is in place to assist non-rheumatological patients with obtaining timely treatment recommendations and access to the appropriate care pathway.  The process also serves to determine urgency of Rheumatology patients so that care is not delayed for patients with urgent conditions.

Invoices for uninsured services will be provided and you may submit them to your extended healthcare plan. Payments can be made by: Credit Card or Debit; we do not accept personal cheques.

All refunds are subject to a $20 administration & processing fee.  No refunds will be made after 90 days of your initial Payment.

Patients are required to complete the Rheumatology Assessment registration & make their payment ON-LINE prior to receiving an appointment with our multidisciplinary team.

Please visit our home page at www.caleohealth.ca and click the green Get Started button to access the on-line Rheumatology Assessment sign-up page.

NOTE: IF YOU HAVE AN ACTIVE WCB CLAIM FOR THIS INJURY, PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO HAVE THE SPINE ASSESSMENT; THE FEE PAID FOR THIS ASSESSMENT WILL NOT BE REIMBURSED BY WCB ALBERTA!   YOU MAY PREFER TO HAVE YOUR PHYSICIAN FORWARD THE REFERRAL DIRECTLY TO WCB.

TO AVOID A NO SHOW OR LATE CANCELLATION FEE A MINIMUM OF 48 HOURS NOTICE IS REQUIRED TO CHANGE OR CANCEL ANY APPOINTMENTS.

Changing or cancelling appointments in a timely manner allows for appointments to be filled efficiently and reduce wait times for others. Your cooperation is appreciated.  Thank you!