I HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO YOUR OFFICE. WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW BEFORE?
Please click below to help you feel prepared for your appointment and to access the new patient form.
I HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO YOUR OFFICE, HOWEVER, I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING FOR A FEW WEEKS. SHOULD I BE CONCERNED?
No need for concern. You will be contacted shortly.
CAN I BE PUT ON THE SURGICAL WAITING LIST BEFORE I SEE THE DOCTOR?
No. You have been referred to see if you need surgery but this does not necessarily mean that you absolutely will need surgery. Your surgeon will assess you and determine if you need surgery or provide other treatment options. If you need and agree to surgery, you will be placed on the waitlist for surgery after all necessary investigations are complete.
WHY DOES IT TAKE SO LONG FROM THE TIME OF MY REFERRAL TO GET IN TO SEE THE DOCTOR?
We truly try to see you as soon as possible and as our available clinic and operating room time allow. Please know when we see you, we will do our best to make the correct diagnosis, recommend and start a treatment plan, with full explanations and time for answering your questions.
I AM sitting here waiting to see THE DOCTOR. What is taking so long?
We do our best to see patients in a timely manner and stay on schedule, but this is not always possible. This may be because of the hospital, another physician or a patient urgently needing us, delays in the x-ray department, or previous patients arriving late. Often, it is because a patient needs more time to ask questions so they understand their condition and treatment options. Please know that we will spend the appropriate amount of time with you to ensure you are satisfied as well.
I HAVE BEEN REFERRED FOR MY SHOULDER, BUT I ALSO HAVE A SORE KNEE. CAN YOU LOOK AT THAT AS WELL?
No. You have been referred for a specific body part and we have allotted your appointment time appropriately for that.
You are definitely able to ask your family doctor for a second referral and we will see you again for your additional concerns, however we are unable to see you for more than what you have been referred for.
I HAVE BEEN GIVEN A SURGICAL DATE, BUT NOW I HAVE A COLD. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Please contact our office immediately to let us know. It may be safe to proceed with surgery, but we need to know this to make the best decision. If you are on antibiotics, we may need to postpone your surgery, to decrease any risk of your surgical site becoming infected or of you having complications with your surgery.
How do I best find out the results of my MRI?
When we put in a request for your MRI, we will give you a little reminder card to phone to make a follow-up appointment for 1-2 weeks after the MRI to discuss the results. Once the MRI department contacts you, we appreciate if you can then contact our office and book a follow-up appointment for 1-2 weeks after your MRI date. We only get notification that the MRI was done when the results come across our desk after your MRI is complete. If our office were to contact you, the next available appointment would likely be in another month. Thus, in order to get your results in a timely manner, please contact our office as soon as you know your MRI date to schedule your follow-up appointment.
The surgeon has booked me for surgery. When will IT be?
Once your surgeon has submitted the surgical booking package, it is the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region that books the surgeries, not our office. The surgeons do have some input as to how urgently the surgery should be done, but the ultimate scheduling is done by the health region. To find out where you are on the list, please contact the surgical waitlist hotline at (306)766-0460 or 1-866-622-0222.
Will medical students or residents be involved in my care?
Yes they may from time to time. Any encounter you may have with a medical trainee would be under your surgeon’s supervision. If you have concerns, please let our office know.
A medical student is currently receiving training in the medical field as part of a 4 year program of lectures, exams, as well as clinical rotations in the hospital or community. They are in training to become a doctor.
A resident has graduated from medical school and has their MD. They are a doctor. However, before they practice independently, they undergo a residency where they specialize in one particular area of medicine (ex. Orthopaedic Surgery, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, etc.). This training is similar to an apprenticeship, where individuals learn on the job, and spans anywhere from 2-5 years. Orthopaedic Surgery Residency is 5 years. Orthopaedic Surgeons often spend an extra 1-2 years doing subspecialty training after residency, called a fellowship. This allows them to gain additional expertise in a specific subspecialty area of Orthopaedics.