Referrals must come from other physicians or other care providers with a valid provincial health plan number (e.g. MSP number) in Canada.

Central Referral Process:

For the most streamlined referral pathway, please fill out our referral form HERE  and fax it to the central intake fax number: (604) 914-2521 along with all the required information outlined below.  Your referral will be reviewed, triaged, and redirect to the most appropriate physician with the shortest waiting list.

If your patient is likely nonsurgical, we may redirect them to our Regional Orthopaedic Consultation Clinic (ROCC).  One of our nonsurgical musculoskeletal/sports medicine specialists will evaluate the patient initiate the most appropriate care, such as further investigations and nonsurgical treatments.  If surgery is indicated, they will refer the one of our surgeons who is most appropriate for the patient’s condition and with the current shortest waiting list. 

If you believe your patient’s condition likely needs surgery, you may also refer to a specific surgeon but the wait time may be longer.  To do this, simply fax our referral form to that surgeon’s office along with the required information outlined below.  You can find fax numbers HERE.

To help with your referral, we have created a checklist to simplify the process for you, available here.

**Please note that POSM does not treat conditions of the hand, including carpal bones and fingers, or conditions of the spine.  For any hand or carpal conditions (scaphoid, trapezium, etc.) please refer to Plastic Surgery.  For conditions of the spine (cervical, thoracic, lumbar) please refer to Neurosurgery.

Referral Requirements

All referrals require including a brief history and physical outlining the pertinent findings for which you are referring the patient.  Alternatively you may simply send your most recent clinical note containing the same information.

Please note that referrals sent without required relevant history and physical exam information may be automatically returned indicating the need for this information to allow us to triage the case appropriately.

Imaging Requirement

Referrals to POSM require at least some imaging such as an X-Ray of the affected body part within 6 months to allow us to triage the referral appropriately.  Please include the radiology report with your referral form.

Please note that referrals sent without required imaging will be automatically returned indicating the need for imaging to allow us to triage the case appropriately.

Must I use the POSM Referral Form?

We are happy to accept referrals via traditional referral letters if they contain all the required information contained within our referral form.

What X-Rays do I order?