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Emergency Information 
Urology Centralized Access - Facilitated Access to Specialized Treatment (FAST)   at
Calgary Zone and Area
Central Access Healthcare Service
Specialty: Urology
Estimated time to routine appointment: Not Available
Alberta Health Services - Calgary Zone
CENTRAL ACCESS SERVICES
Referrals for Urology service in the Calgary Zone are accepted through this Facilitated Access to Specialized Treatment (FAST) central access and intake program. Referring providers can choose a next-available surgeon with the shortest waitlist; a specific surgeon, clinic, or site; or an out-of-zone provider. FAST receives the surgical referrals, reviews them for completeness and duplication, and then sends them to appropriate surgeons for triage and booking.
Referrals for Urology service in the Calgary Zone are accepted through this Facilitated Access to Specialized Treatment (FAST) central access and intake program. Referring providers can choose a next-available surgeon with the shortest waitlist; a specific surgeon, clinic, or site; or an out-of-zone provider. FAST receives the surgical referrals, reviews them for completeness and duplication, and then sends them to appropriate surgeons for triage and booking.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Review reasons for referral table below for eligibility requirements.
Review reasons for referral table below for eligibility requirements.
Referral instructions for primary care, community care, private
providers etc. who do not send referrals via Connect Care.
REFERRAL PROCESS - FOR NON-CONNECT CARE USERS
1. Complete the referral form or a referral letter stating the reason for referral.
2. Attach all mandatory information to the referral (see Provincial Adult Urology Referral Pathway for details)
3. Fax completed referral to Calgary Zone FAST at 1-833-627-7023.

You can also submit referrals through:
• Alberta Netcare eReferral: Follow these instructions.

Urgent Referrals: Call RAAPID South at 1-800-661-1700.
Patient may need to be seen immediately. Patients with conditions that require same day intervention and/or diagnostics but not hospitalizations and not life threatening.

The following are considered emergent reasons and patient need to be seen immediately:
• Acute Scrotal Pain
• Testicular Torsion
• Acute Renal Colic with Fever
• Genitourinary Trauma
• Genitourinary Tract Foreign Body
Call RAAPID South at 1-800-661-1700 or send to Emergency Department via 911 as appropriate.
1. Complete the referral form or a referral letter stating the reason for referral.
2. Attach all mandatory information to the referral (see Provincial Adult Urology Referral Pathway for details)
3. Fax completed referral to Calgary Zone FAST at 1-833-627-7023.

You can also submit referrals through:
• Alberta Netcare eReferral: Follow these instructions.

Urgent Referrals: Call RAAPID South at 1-800-661-1700.
Patient may need to be seen immediately. Patients with conditions that require same day intervention and/or diagnostics but not hospitalizations and not life threatening.

The following are considered emergent reasons and patient need to be seen immediately:
• Acute Scrotal Pain
• Testicular Torsion
• Acute Renal Colic with Fever
• Genitourinary Trauma
• Genitourinary Tract Foreign Body
Call RAAPID South at 1-800-661-1700 or send to Emergency Department via 911 as appropriate.
REFERRAL PROCESS - FOR CONNECT CARE USERS
An Outgoing Referral is required for this service.
Change the referral class to “Outgoing Referral” on the Ambulatory Order and complete order.
Outgoing orders are not sent electronically and require processing in workqueue 5.

You can also submit referrals through:
• Alberta Netcare eReferral: Follow these instructions.

Urgent Referrals: Call RAAPID South at 1-800-661-1700.
Patient may need to be seen immediately. Patients with conditions that require same day intervention and/or diagnostics but not hospitalizations and not life threatening.

The following are considered emergent reasons and patient need to be seen immediately:
• Acute Scrotal Pain
• Testicular Torsion
• Acute Renal Colic with Fever
• Genitourinary Trauma
• Genitourinary Tract Foreign Body
Call RAAPID South at 1-800-661-1700 or send to Emergency Department via 911 as appropriate.
An Outgoing Referral is required for this service.
Change the referral class to “Outgoing Referral” on the Ambulatory Order and complete order.
Outgoing orders are not sent electronically and require processing in workqueue 5.

You can also submit referrals through:
• Alberta Netcare eReferral: Follow these instructions.

Urgent Referrals: Call RAAPID South at 1-800-661-1700.
Patient may need to be seen immediately. Patients with conditions that require same day intervention and/or diagnostics but not hospitalizations and not life threatening.

The following are considered emergent reasons and patient need to be seen immediately:
• Acute Scrotal Pain
• Testicular Torsion
• Acute Renal Colic with Fever
• Genitourinary Trauma
• Genitourinary Tract Foreign Body
Call RAAPID South at 1-800-661-1700 or send to Emergency Department via 911 as appropriate.
COMMUNICATION PROCESS
  • Referral receipt to referring source within 7 days.
ADDITIONAL SERVICE DETAILS
Learn more about FAST at ahs.ca/FAST.
Learn more about FAST at ahs.ca/FAST.
 
CENTRAL ACCESS REFERRAL PHONE
1-833-553-3278 ext 4
CENTRAL ACCESS REFERRAL FAX
1-833-627-7023
REFERRAL FORMS
REFERRAL ADVICE
Specialist LINK
RAAPID
PATHWAYS
CLICK + TO VIEW REFERRAL GUIDELINES
+-
Routine Reason for Referral
Access Targets convey the clinically appropriate timeframe patients should be seen within, by reason for referral and priority level.
Access Target
Required Information/Investigations
Investigation Timing
Additional Details
+-
Abnormal DRE
< 4 Weeks
PSA
 
< 3 months
Alternate name: Abnormal DRE (new diagnosis)

Process: Send referral to Calgary Zone FAST Team.
+-
Adrenal mass
< 4 Weeks
Electrolyte panel (Sodium, Chloride, Potassium and Bicarbonate)-note if using paper requisition please write “electrolyte panel”
 
< 3 months
Creatinine, random glucose, cortisol, 24-hour urine metanephrines
 
< 3 months
CT or MRI abdomen
 
< 3 months
Alternate name: Adrenal Mass

Access Targets:
  • <4 weeks: <4cm size
  • <2 weeks: >4cm size (urgent)
Process: Send referral to Calgary Zone FAST Team.
+-
Anal fistula
N/A
 
N/A
Alternate name: Fistula Anal Region

Process: Refer to General Surgery.
See Provincial General Surgery Referral Pathway or General Surgery Central Access and Intake - Facilitated Access to Specialized Treatment (FAST) for zone process.
+-
Angiomyolipoma
Confirm with contrast enhanced CT/MRI
 
N/A
Process:
  • Angiomyolipoma (<4cm) - Ask for Advice by calling Specialist Link
  • Angiomyolipoma (>4cm) - Send referral to Calgary  Zone FAST Team
+-
Bladder diverticulum
Urinalysis
 
< 6 Months
Process: Request non-urgent advice: Call Specialist Link.
+-
Bladder fistula
< 1 Month
CT Cystogram
 
< 3 months
Alternate name: Bladder Fistula (documented)

Process: Send referral to Zone FAST Team.
+-
Bladder mass
< 2 Weeks
N/A
 
N/A
Alternate name: Bladder Mass

Process: Send referral to Zone FAST Team.
+-
Bladder stone
< 3 Months
N/A
 
N/A
Alternate name: Bladder Stone

Process: Send referral to Zone FAST Team.
+-
Dysfunctional voiding
< 6 Months
  • Urinalysis, urine culture
  • Renal and bladder ultrasound with PVR (no x-ray needed)
 
< 6 months
If available:
  • Include the following note in the exam reason field on the renal and bladder ultrasound requisition: “Please include PVR”
 
N/A
Female Voiding Dysfunction
(Female LUTS) (persistent symptoms despite 3-6 months of conservative management)

Send referral to Zone FAST Team
+-
Elevated PSA with no previous prostate cancer
< 4 Weeks
DRE Recommended
 
N/A
  • Urinalysis
  • Urine culture (if urinalysis abnormal)
  • Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) x 2 done at least 4 weeks apart
 
< 3 months
Elevated PSA (no previous prostate cancer)
+-
Elevated PSA with previous prostate cancer
< 4 Weeks
DRE Recommended
 
N/A
  • Urinalysis, urine culture (if urinalysis abnormal),
  • prostate specific antigen (PSA)
 
< 3 months
Elevated PSA (previous prostate cancer)
+-
Epididymal cyst
< 6 Months
Scrotal ultrasound (must include measured dimensions of cyst)
 
< 6 months
Alternate name: Epididymal Cyst

Symptomatic > 1 cm, spermatocele.

Process: Send referral to Zone FAST Team.
+-
Erectile dysfunction
< 6 Months
AM total testosterone (to be completed within the hours of 0800-1000)
 
< 6 months
Process: Send referral to Zone FAST Team.

Other information:
  • Refer only if patient has failed 2 different PDE 5 Inhibitors x 5 Consecutive Doses (each) or additional trials could not be completed.
  • Confirm patient interest in penile injection therapy or surgery prior to referral.
+-
Female urinary-genital tract fistula
< 3 Months
Include in referral letter if there is a history of pelvic surgery or radiation. These referrals are prioritized by the surgeon.
 
N/A
CT cystogram
 
< 3 months
Fistula - Female Urinary Genital Tract

Send referral to Zone FAST Team
+-
Foreskin problem
< 3 Months
N/A
 
N/A
Alternate name: Foreskin Problems (includes Phimosis)

Process: Send referral to Zone FAST Team.

Other information: Patient must have failed a two-month trial of a steroid cream prior to referral.
+-
Hematospermia
< 6 Months
Urinalysis
 
< 3 months
Urine culture
 
< 3 months
PSA, if between age 40-75
 
< 3 months
Abdominal and pelvic ultrasound
 
< 3 months
Process: Request non-urgent advice: Call Specialist Link.
+-
Hematuria - gross
< 4 Weeks
  • Include in the referral letter if there is a history of smoking and/or pelvic radiation
  • Creatinine
  • CT Urogram - with indication of “gross hematuria, urology consult pending.”
 
N/A
Hematuria Gross
Other Information:
  • Do Not Delay Urology Referral for CT results
  • The referral to urology and for CT should made concurrently
  • Ultrasound and Urine CYTOLOGY is not indicated and will be performed by urology as required
+-
Hematuria - microscopic
< 3 Months
Include in the referral letter if there is a history of smoking and/or pelvic radiation
 
N/A
  • Creatinine, urinalysis x 2 (approx.1 month apart)
  • Renal and bladder ultrasound
    • If patient has had a CT, an ultrasound is not necessary
 
< 12 months
Hematuria Microscopic must be greater than or equal to 3 RBC/HPF on at least two urinalysis prior to referral.
 
N/A
Hematuria Microscopic (≥3 rbc/hpf)
+-
Hydrocele of testis
< 6 Months
Scrotal ultrasound (must include dimensions of hydrocele)
 
< 3 months
Alternate name: Hydrocele

Process: Send referral to Zone FAST Team.

Other information: Must be symptomatic and clinically detectable on exam.
+-
Hydronephrosis
< 4 Weeks
Electrolytes (sodium, chloride, potassium, bicarbonate) and creatinine
 
< 3 months
Urinalysis
 
< 3 months
Renal and bladder ultrasound
 
< 3 months
If patient had CT, ultrasound is not necessary.
 
N/A
Process: Send referral to Zone FAST Team.
+-
Hypospadias
N/A
 
N/A
Process: Send referral to Zone FAST Team
+-
Kidney stone
< 2 Weeks
  • Electrolyte panel (Sodium, Chloride, Potassium and Bicarbonate)- note if using paper requisition please write "electrolyte panel”
  • Calcium, creatinine, urinalysis
  • Kidney Ureter Bladder (KUB) x-ray and renal colic CT or KUB x-ray and abdominal ultrasound
 
< 30 days
If there is a discrepancy between the ultrasound and KUB x-ray, please consider a CT scan
 
N/A
Must have KUB x-ray - Referrals with ultrasounds only, will not be accepted
 
N/A
Kidney Stone (Acute/Ureteric)

Send referral to Zone FAST Team
+-
Lower urinary tract symptoms
< 6 Months
Urinalysis
 
< 6 months
Renal and bladder ultrasound
 
< 6 months
Alternate name: Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (male LUTS)

Access Target: < 2 weeks for urgent

Process: Send referral to Zone FAST Team.

Other information: Includes BPH, urethral strictures, prostatitis, male chronic pelvic pain. For BPH, patient must have failed a one-month trial of tamsulosin (Flomax) prior to referral.
+-
Male infertility
< 3 Months
  • Semen analysis
  • FSH
  • AM total testosterone (to be completed within the hours of 0800-1000)
  • LH
  • Prolactin
  • Estradiol
 
< 6 months
Process: Send referral to Zone FAST Team.
+-
Male sexual dysfunction
< 6 Months
Referrals for low testosterone or hypogonadism require the following:
  • AM total testosterone (to be completed within the hours of 0800-1000)
 
N/A
Male Sexual Dysfunction
Includes low testosterone, hypogonadism, ejaculatory dysfunction, rapid ejaculation

Process: Send referral to Zone FAST Team
+-
Neurogenic bladder
< 6 Months
Include known/suspected neurologic condition in the referral letter
 
N/A
  • Creatinine, urinalysis, urine culture
  • Renal and bladder ultrasound
 
< 3 months
Neurogenic Bladder
  • Lower urinary tract symptoms and a neurologic condition (i.e. stroke, MS, Parkinsons, spinal cord injury, and spina bifida)
Send referral to Zone FAST Team
+-
Non-obstructive kidney stone
< 3 Months
Electrolytes (sodium, chloride, potassium, bicarbonate) and creatinine
 
< 3 months
Urinalysis
 
< 3 months
Kidney Ureter Bladder (KUB) x-ray. Referrals missing KUB x-ray will not be accepted
 
< 3 months
Renal colic CT or abdominal ultrasound
 
< 3 months
If discrepancy between KUB x-ray and abdominal ultrasound, consider a CT scan.
 
N/A
Alternate name: Kidney Stone Non-Obstructive

Process: Review clinical pathway
Send referral to Zone FAST Team
+-
Orchidectomy
Diagnosis of gender dysphoria by a specialist in transgendercare
 
N/A
ORCHIDECTOMY (GENDER AFFIRMING)

Process: Send referral to Calgary Zone FAST Team
Please note, referrals will only be accepted from specialty transgender clinics/practices.
+-
Overactive bladder
< 6 Months
Electrolytes (sodium, chloride, potassium, bicarbonate) and creatinine
 
< 3 months
Urinalysis
 
< 3 months
Urine culture
 
< 3 months
Renal and bladder ultrasound
 
< 3 months
Alternate name: Overactive Bladder (OAB)

Process: Send referral to Zone FAST Team.
+-
Pelvic organ prolapse
< 6 Months
  • Creatinine
  • Urinalysis
  • Urine culture
 
< 3 months
Pelvic Organ Prolapse (extending
beyond the opening of the vagina)
Includes Cystocele

Send referral to Zone FAST Team
+-
Penile mass
< 2 Weeks
  • CBC, INR
  • CT Abdomen/pelvis with contrast
 
< 3 months
If patient is seen in a clinic with biopsy capability (i.e. dermatology), biopsy of suspicious lesions may be performed prior to referral. Referral should not be delayed if biopsy is not available or not appropriate in the referral setting.
 
N/A
Penile Mass (cutaneous mass)
Cancer Concern

Send referral to Zone FAST Team
+-
Persistent testicular pain
< 6 Months
Urinalysis
 
< 6 months
Urine culture
 
< 6 months
Scrotal ultrasound
 
< 6 months
Alternate name: Testicular Pain Chronic (non-STD)

For STD-related pain, refer to zonal STD clinic.

Process: Request non-urgent advice: Call Specialist Link.
+-
Peyronies disease
< 6 Months
Patient to bring picture of erection to appointment (within 30 days)
 
< 30 days
  • AM total testosterone(to be completed within the hours of 0800-1000)
  • Fasting glucose
  • Lipids panel
 
< 6 months
Process: Send referral to Zone FAST Team
+-
Renal cyst
< 3 Months
Simple renal cysts do not require consultation or further imaging.
 
N/A
If mass originally identified on US: order Renal Mass ProtocolCT
 
N/A
If mass originally found on Contrast Enhanced CT Abd/Pelvis:Urology to order further imaging (if required)
 
N/A
Alternate name:
  • Renal Cyst (Simple, Asymptomatic) 
    • Refer to CLINICAL PATHWAY: Provincial Renal Mass Primary Care Pathway
    • Simple renal cysts that are asymptomatic (Bosniak
      score I or II) do not require consultation or further imaging
  • Renal Cyst (Complex or symptomatic simple) 
    • Refer to CLINICAL PATHWAY: Provincial Renal Mass Primary Care Pathway
    • Complex is considered a Bosniak Category IIF (with symptoms), III or IV. 
    • If Bosniak Category IIF with no symptoms. Follow Renal Mass Protocol CT/MRI q6-12 months for the first year and then yearly x 5 years. No consultation required.
Access Target: < 2 weeks for urgent

Process: Send referral to Zone FAST Team.
+-
Renal mass
< 2 Weeks
If mass originally found on Contrast Enhanced CT Abd/Pelvis:Urology to order further imaging (if required)
 
N/A
If mass originally identified on US: order Renal Mass ProtocolCT
 
N/A
Alternate name: Renal Mass (suspicious for malignancy) 

Process: Send referral to Zone FAST Team
  • Refer to CLINICAL PATHWAY: Provincial Renal Mass Primary Care Pathway
+-
Testicular mass
< 1 Week
Scrotal ultrasound ordered
 
N/A
Testicular Mass

Send referral to Zone FAST Team
+-
Testicular microlithiasis
< 6 Months
Scrotal ultrasound
 
< 6 months
Process: Request non-urgent advice: Call Specialist Link.

Other information: Refer only if patient has failed 3 different PDE 5 Inhibitors x 5 consecutive doses.
+-
Undescended testicle
N/A
 
N/A
Alternate name: Undescended Testicle with Negative BHCQ and AFP

Process: If urgent, call RAAPID.
If non-urgent, send referral to Zone FAST Team.
+-
Urachal cyst
Abdominal ultrasound
 
< 3 months
Process: Request non-urgent advice: Call Specialist Link.
+-
Urethral disorder
< 6 Weeks
Urinalysis
 
< 3 months
Urine culture
 
< 3 months
Alternate name: Urethral Disorder (female)

Process: Send referral to Zone FAST Team.
+-
Urethral stricture
N/A
 
N/A
Process: Jump to “Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS)” on this page.
+-
Urinary incontinence
< 6 Months
Pelvic ultrasound (needs to include bladder with PVR)
 
N/A
Referral letter should include description of pelvic exam findings
 
N/A
Urinalysis, urine culture, creatinine
 
< 3 months
Process: Review clinical pathway Female Urinary Incontinence
Send referral to Zone FAST Team.
+-
Urinary retention - acute
< 2 Weeks
  • Creatinine
  • Urinalysis
  • Urine culture
 
< 2 weeks
Process: Send referral to Zone FAST Team.
+-
Urinary tract infection
< 6 Months
Evidence on urinalysis and cultures of 2 UTIs in 6 months or 3 UTIs in 12 months
 
N/A
  • Creatinine
  • Urinalysis
  • Urine culture
  • Renal and bladder ultrasound
  • Include a copy of medications used for treatment
 
< 3 months
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI Recurrent)
Definition of recurrent UTI:
  • 2 UTI’s in 6 months, or
  • 3 UTIs in 12 months
Process: 
+-
Varicocele
< 6 Months
Scrotal ultrasound
 
< 6 months
Process: Request non-urgent advice: Call Specialist Link.

Other information: Must be symptomatic and clinically detectable on physical exam.
+-
Vasectomy
< 6 Months
N/A
 
N/A
Process: Send referral to Zone FAST Team.
+-
Vasectomy reversal
< 6 Months
N/A
 
N/A
Alternate name: Vasectomy Reversal

Process: Send referral to Zone FAST Team.


The primary purpose of the All Locations list is to let the user easily access any location of a healthcare service without going back to the main search screen.

The locations listed have 3 background colors:
  • Green means the healthcare service@location has referral information attached to it.
  • Brown means the healthcare service@location never had referral information attached to it, or it has unpublished referral information.
  • Red means
    • IA changed the healthcare service@location's status to something other than Current
    • It was deleted if it is an ARD healthcare service@location.
Green  and Brown are always at the top of the list. These are the Healthcare Service@Locations with the status of Current.
The Red list at the bottom consists of non-current Healthcare Service@locations that once had Published referral information in the ARD.
If the referral information was never published in ARD the Healthcare Service@location will not show in the Red list.

The secondary purpose of the All Locations list is to allow ARD Administrators to recover (copy) referral information from the non-current Healthcare Service@Locations to ones that are current.

Common Scenario:
A Healthcare Service moves from one location to another. In this case the IA Healthcare Service@Location record will be made defunct (non-current) and a new Healthcare Service@Location record will be created with a current status. In this scenario the captured referral guidelines in ARD can become "orphaned" as they are not attached to any current IA healthcare service.

Categories of non-current or orphaned referral guidelines: INDIVIDUAL and COMMON.
The REFERRAL GUIDELINES section of the profile has the prefix INDIVIDUAL or COMMON to help you choose the method below when transferring referral guidelines from a non-current Healthcare Service@Location to a current healthcare service@location.

Individual referral process
  1. Click on a non-current (Red) Healthcare Service@Location at the bottom of the All Locations list.
  2. The non-current referral info is displayed with the link Copy this Referral Process to another Healthcare Service@Location link on the upper right hand corner. Click on the copy link.
  3. Choose a current location (Green or Brown) from the All Locations list. This will be the Healthcare Service@Location you are pasting the referral info into.
  4. The system will display the Edit Referral Info screen populated with the referral info from the non-current Healthcare Service@Location you viewed in the first step.
  5. Click Save and the referral info is transferred from the non-current Healthcare Service@Location to the current one.
  6. Repeat these steps for each Healthcare Service@Location that needs attention.

Common referral process - 2 sub cases.
Case 1: At least 1 current Healthcare Service@Location with common referral info is with current status for this healthcare service; One or more Healthcare Healthcare Service@Locations where replaced by new one.
  1. Click on any current Healthcare Service@Location whether it has referral info (Green) or not (Brown).
  2. The healthcare service location opens in the Edit Referral Info screen populated with the current common referral info.
  3. Save it. 
  4. All locations will be updated with the common referral information, including all the locations that don't have referral info yet (Brown). The non-current referrals (Red) will also be updated.
Case 2:  All Healthcare Healthcare Service@Locations for a healthcare service are set to a non-current status and replaced by new ones. In this case there is no current additional referral info to copy from, so the only alternative is to pick up the non-current common referral process (Red). Follow the steps described in the section Individual Referral Process above to copy/paste the non-current common referral info to the current healthcare service locations.
Generally we want to replicate current common referral info to new or replaced healthcare service locations. We only resort to copying non-current common referral info if there is no other option.

Remember: Some fields can be location specific with the common referral process:
Parking Instructions, Directions, Parking Map, Wait Time, Referral Phone or Referral Fax.
To update these items you have to edit each Healthcare Service@Location separately.

ADDITONAL NOTES:
  • The info icon after the All Locations drop down will be visible to ARD Administrators.
  • The system doesn't allow you to copy referral information from one non-current Healthcare Service@Location to another.

 

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