SPINE ASSESSMENT INFORMATION
As of October 17, 2022, Caleo Health Spine has joined the Alberta Facilitated Access to Specialized Treatment (FAST) program. Please update your outbound fax numbers to include the Alberta FAST office toll-free fax number 1-833-627-7023 which can be used for all future SPINE referrals.
The Alberta FAST program is supporting better access to surgical consultation by checking referrals for completeness and assigning them to the requested clinic/provider or the next available clinic/provider.
CALEO HEALTH SPINE: A partnership of Spine Surgeons associated with the University of Calgary. The team also consists of; Spine Focused Physicians, Physiatrists, Physiotherapists, Chiropractors & other Allied Health Professionals.
Why: To address a critical delay in access to multidisciplinary assessment and management of patients with spinal diseases and injuries.
What: You have been referred for assessment with our triage team: Spine Focused Physician, Physiotherapist/Chiropractor and rehabilitation coordinators. The assessment team will review your file with one of our surgeons and/or they will refer you to the appropriate specialist when deemed necessary. You will not see a surgeon on your first visit.
THE PATIENT JOURNEY
STEP 1 |
STEP 2 |
STEP 3 |
STEP 4 |
STEP 5 |
STEP 6 |
REFERRAL |
REGISTER ONLINE |
eCONSULTATION |
ASSESSMENT |
DIAGNOSIS |
TREATMENT |
Based on the historical outcomes data, greater than 50% of spine patients referred to Caleo Health have been determined to be non-surgical.
~ 44% of the spine assessment patients at Caleo Health meet the criteria of a surgical candidates
~ 56% of the spine patients are deemed non-surgical
“Urgent” Surgical
“Probable” Surgical
“Routine” Surgical
“Non-Surgical”
PATIENTS THAT HAVE BEEN ASSESSED AND DEEMED APPROPRIATE FOR SURGICAL INTERVENTION WILL RECEIVE A FORMAL CONSULTATION WITH A SPINE SURGEON. ROUTINE CONSULTATION WITH THE SPINE SURGEON MAY TAKE 18-24 MONTHS
NON-SURGICAL PATIENTS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH APPROPRIATE TREATMENT RECOMMENDATION(S) AND/OR REFERRAL.
THE INITIAL VISIT TO CALEO HEALTH
The initial visit to Caleo Health focuses on evaluating your most critical area of complaint. The goal is to provide you and your physician; with the most responsible diagnosis, subsequent care pathway recommendation(s) and/or the referral(s) necessary for the treatment of your spinal condition.
As part of the assessment and management process a referral to one (1) or more of the following may be necessary:
- Investigational Studies: MRI, X-Ray, CT, etc.
- Electro-diagnostics: such as EMG or NCS studies.
- Pain Clinic: Physiatry evaluation & treatment (facet: injections, nerve blocks, etc.)
- Allied Health Professional: such as specific/specialized physiotherapy and/or Chiropractic.
- Medical Specialist: as deemed necessary by the assessment team
- Surgical Specialist: further consultation with a surgeon to discuss surgical options.
What you need to know to prepare for your spine assessment at Caleo Health
Patients are required to complete the Spine Assessment registration & make their payment Online before receiving a Spine Assessment appointment with the interdisciplinary team.
Please visit our home page at www.caleohealth.ca and click the orange Get Started button to access the online Spine Assessment sign-up page.
- 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 Spine Assessment will be approximately one hour in length and performed by our interdisciplinary assessment team. Please dress comfortably.
- FEE: There is a fee of $250.00 charged to the patient for the initial appointment. The assessment is only covered in part by your Provincial Health Insurance (i.e. Alberta Health).
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.
Spine Assessment wait-times are based from the time the online registration process is fully completed and form submitted (including any necessary payment). Wait-times are subject to change from time to time due to volume of registered patients and availability of service providers.
Surgery wait-times are based form the time you see the surgeon and sign consent for surgery.
Surgical Consult and Surgery wait-times are based on the availability of the surgeon, the urgency of the case and OR resources available through Alberta Health Services. Wait-times are subject to change from time to time due to volume of patients and available resources.