Calgary West Central Primary Care Network

Specialist LINK geriatric medicine pathway

Aug 4, 2021

Specialist LINK geriatric medicine pathway

Aug 4, 2021

Specialist LINK’s geriatric medicine access pathway presents multiple options for primary care physicians seeking assistance with their senior patients.

In addition to eReferral Advice Requests through Alberta Netcare for a response within five days, it outlines indications and the referral pathway to the AHS Seniors Health Clinic for:

Non-urgent advice:

  • Geriatrician-to-physician telephone consultation

Routine geriatric medicine: 

Wait: Patient requires evaluation within four to six weeks

Indications:

  • Routine: Complex dementia diagnosis and management, complex chronic disease management, decline in function, frailty, or falls
  • Semi-urgent: Review of complex medications/deprescribing, recurrent falls (over three in three months), assessment of frail older adults who are high users of acute care, or management of dementia-related behaviours

Urgent geriatric medicine:

Wait: Patient requires evaluation within one week

Indications:

  • Recent or subacute decline in function, new onset of multiple falls in a short period of time, or rapid decline in cognition

Eligibility

Patients aged 65 or older with complex medical issues

Referral Process

Send referrals to the AHS Seniors Health Clinic through Senior’s Health One Line Referral:

For emergencies that require a same-day appointment (e.g., delirium or disruptive behaviours): Call RAAPID at 403.944.4486 for geriatrician advice about management to avoid admission; or send patient to emergency via 911.