Diabetes Centre - Endocrinology & Metabolism Program   at
Richmond Road Diagnostic and Treatment Centre
Connect Care Specialty: Endocrinology
Connect Care Department: CGY RRDTC DIABETES EDUCATORS
Estimated time to routine appointment: Within 3 months
Alberta Health Services - Calgary Zone
SERVICE DESCRIPTION
Offers diabetes education and counselling for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.Services provided:
  • diabetes education / counselling with nurses, dietitians, or a pharmacist (topics include an overview of the disease, complications, medications, exercise, and nutrition)
  • medication adjustment
  • insulin pump therapy
  • for information on the Alberta Insulin Pump Therapy Program (IPTP), visit the Diabetes Insulin Pump Therapy website
  • pregnant with diabetes: refer to Diabetes in Pregnancy Clinic (DIP) at the hospital in which they’ll deliver
  • referral to Diabetes Centre Calgary serves as indication to enact the Provincial Diabetes Medication Adjustment Protocol (HCS-296-01)
Offers diabetes education and counselling for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.Services provided:
  • diabetes education / counselling with nurses, dietitians, or a pharmacist (topics include an overview of the disease, complications, medications, exercise, and nutrition)
  • medication adjustment
  • insulin pump therapy
  • for information on the Alberta Insulin Pump Therapy Program (IPTP), visit the Diabetes Insulin Pump Therapy website
  • pregnant with diabetes: refer to Diabetes in Pregnancy Clinic (DIP) at the hospital in which they’ll deliver
  • referral to Diabetes Centre Calgary serves as indication to enact the Provincial Diabetes Medication Adjustment Protocol (HCS-296-01)
ROUTINE REFERRAL PROCESS
All referrals are triaged according to triage guidelines. Education and medication management is provided to adults with diabetes who meet the criteria within triage guidelines. Please review Eligibility requirements, Additional service details and Referral guidelines below before making a referral.
Referral can be submitted via:
  • Non-Connect Care Users: Complete the referral form and send it to the service using the contact information in this profile.
  • Connect Care Users: Use the Ambulatory Referral Order to the respective specialty in Connect Care.
All referrals are triaged according to clinical urgency.
Patients referred to the Diabetes Centre Calgary are not routinely seen by an Endocrinologist, unless deemed clinically necessary.
All referrals are triaged according to triage guidelines. Education and medication management is provided to adults with diabetes who meet the criteria within triage guidelines. Please review Eligibility requirements, Additional service details and Referral guidelines below before making a referral.
Referral can be submitted via:
  • Non-Connect Care Users: Complete the referral form and send it to the service using the contact information in this profile.
  • Connect Care Users: Use the Ambulatory Referral Order to the respective specialty in Connect Care.
All referrals are triaged according to clinical urgency.
Patients referred to the Diabetes Centre Calgary are not routinely seen by an Endocrinologist, unless deemed clinically necessary.
URGENT REFERRAL PROCESS
Complete the referral form and fax to (403) 476-9626. All referrals are triaged according to clinical urgency.
Patients referred to the Diabetes Centre Calgary are not routinely seen by an Endocrinologist, unless deemed clinically necessary.
Complete the referral form and fax to (403) 476-9626. All referrals are triaged according to clinical urgency.
Patients referred to the Diabetes Centre Calgary are not routinely seen by an Endocrinologist, unless deemed clinically necessary.
EMERGENCY REFERRAL PROCESS
Emergency patients should proceed directly to Emergency or call RAAPID South: 1-800-661-1700 or 403-944-4486.
Emergency patients should proceed directly to Emergency or call RAAPID South: 1-800-661-1700 or 403-944-4486.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
All diabetes referrals from Acute Care (Urgent Care, Emergency Department, and Inpatient Units)
  • Referrals meeting criteria below are triaged to see a DCC Educator
  • Referrals not meeting criteria below are triaged to an Inpatient Diabetes Nurse Navigator
Those with TYPE 1 Diabetes.
Those with TYPE 2 Diabetes with any of the following:
  1. +++ Metabolically compromised requiring insulin.
  2. Requiring insulin start or addition of bolus insulin or newly started on insulin in hospital regardless of current glycemic levels.
  3. New or previously transplanted patient on 2 or more antihyperglycemic agents other than insulin with an A1C > 8.5%
  4. Currently on, or have trialed 3 or more antihyperglycemic medications other than insulin with an A1C > 8.5%
  5. Requiring insulin or other antihyperglycemic medication adjustments secondary to steroid initiation or steroid dose changes regardless of current diabetes therapy and glycemic levels. 
  6. On insulin with any of the following:
    • Recent severe hypoglycemia or hypoglycemia unawareness
    • Readings < 4 mmol/L more than 3 x per week
    • A1C > 8.5%
 
Pregnant with Diabetes: Direct the referral to diabetes in pregnancy clinic at the hospital in which the patient will deliver.
All diabetes referrals from Acute Care (Urgent Care, Emergency Department, and Inpatient Units)
  • Referrals meeting criteria below are triaged to see a DCC Educator
  • Referrals not meeting criteria below are triaged to an Inpatient Diabetes Nurse Navigator
Those with TYPE 1 Diabetes.
Those with TYPE 2 Diabetes with any of the following:
  1. +++ Metabolically compromised requiring insulin.
  2. Requiring insulin start or addition of bolus insulin or newly started on insulin in hospital regardless of current glycemic levels.
  3. New or previously transplanted patient on 2 or more antihyperglycemic agents other than insulin with an A1C > 8.5%
  4. Currently on, or have trialed 3 or more antihyperglycemic medications other than insulin with an A1C > 8.5%
  5. Requiring insulin or other antihyperglycemic medication adjustments secondary to steroid initiation or steroid dose changes regardless of current diabetes therapy and glycemic levels. 
  6. On insulin with any of the following:
    • Recent severe hypoglycemia or hypoglycemia unawareness
    • Readings < 4 mmol/L more than 3 x per week
    • A1C > 8.5%
 
Pregnant with Diabetes: Direct the referral to diabetes in pregnancy clinic at the hospital in which the patient will deliver.
ADDITIONAL SERVICE DETAILS
Patients seen at the Diabetes Centre Calgary will receive assessment, education, and management* to achieve targets as suggested by you, or if not specified, then national Clinical Practice Guideline targets will be assumed.

*Assistance with management includes:
- Diabetes Educator may adjust medications or make recommendations according to guidelines. 
- Referring physician will be contacted if medication has been adjusted substantially or atleast every 2 months during theraputic adjustment time.
- Periodic lab glucose values to validate patient blood glucose testing equipment and technique.
- Hemoglobin A1C every three months if not done by referring physician.
- Adult Insulin Pump Program (For Type 1 Diabetes only & referral must be made by an Endocrinologist).
Patients seen at the Diabetes Centre Calgary will receive assessment, education, and management* to achieve targets as suggested by you, or if not specified, then national Clinical Practice Guideline targets will be assumed.

*Assistance with management includes:
- Diabetes Educator may adjust medications or make recommendations according to guidelines. 
- Referring physician will be contacted if medication has been adjusted substantially or atleast every 2 months during theraputic adjustment time.
- Periodic lab glucose values to validate patient blood glucose testing equipment and technique.
- Hemoglobin A1C every three months if not done by referring physician.
- Adult Insulin Pump Program (For Type 1 Diabetes only & referral must be made by an Endocrinologist).
COMMUNICATION PROCESS
  • Communication of referral receipt to referral source will occur within 7 calendar days.
  • Communication of appointment details or wait list status to patient and referral source will occur within 14 calendar days.
  • Communication of initial appointment outcomes to referral source will occur within 30 calendar days.
 
PHONE
403-955-8118 (Information)
403-955-8135 (Reception)
FAX
403-476-9626
REFERRAL FORM
Diabetes Centre Educator Referral Form
Ensure referring physician's Prac ID is listed on the referral
Diabetes Centre Educator Referral Form
Ensure referring physician's Prac ID is listed on the referral
LINKED SPECIALISTS
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
Timing
Additional Details
Diabetes management
Medication List (dose, frequency, route)
 
Within 1 month

Past medical history
 
Within 1 month

Hemoglobin A1c measurement
 
Within 1 month

Diabetes type
 
Indicate if Type 1, Type 2, or unknown

Date of diagnosis
 
of diabetes

Must specify reason for referral
 
Within 1 month

Initiation of first time insulin therapy
Medication List (dose, frequency, route)
 
Within 1 month

Past medical history
 
Within 1 month

Hemoglobin A1c measurement
 
Within 1 month

Diabetes type
 
Indicate if Type 1, Type 2, or unknown

Date of diagnosis
 
of diabetes

Specific insulin orders must be provided by referral source
 
Within 1 month

Insulin pump
Medication List (dose, frequency, route)
 
Within 1 month

Past medical history
 
Within 1 month

Hemoglobin A1c measurement
 
Within 1 month

Diabetes type
 
Indicate if Type 1, Type 2, or unknown

Date of diagnosis
 
of diabetes
Approved site for Provincial Insulin Pump Therapy program

Medication management
Medication List (dose, frequency, route)
 
Within 1 month

Past medical history
 
Within 1 month

Hemoglobin A1c measurement
 
Within 1 month

Diabetes type
 
Indicate if Type 1, Type 2, or unknown

Date of diagnosis
 
of diabetes
May include education about carbohydrate counting, insulin to carbohydrate ratio etc.
PATIENT APPOINTMENT INFORMATION
 
MISSED APPOINTMENT GUIDELINES
Contact the clinic 48 hours prior to your appointment to either cancel or reschedule your appointment.
 
In the event of 2 missed appointments your referral will be cancelled and your doctor will have to refer you to us again. 
Contact the clinic 48 hours prior to your appointment to either cancel or reschedule your appointment.
 
In the event of 2 missed appointments your referral will be cancelled and your doctor will have to refer you to us again. 
 
HOURS OF OPERATION
Monday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Tuesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Wednesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Thursday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Friday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
   
 
ADDRESS
2nd Floor
1820 Richmond Road SW
Calgary Alberta
T2T 5C7
PATIENT APPOINTMENT INSTRUCTIONS
  • Bring your Alberta health care card and a piece of government issued photo ID.
  • Check in at reception 15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time.
  • You may bring a family member or significant other during your consultation.
  • Please make sure to have someone with you if you are unable to communicate in English.
  • Bring your Alberta health care card and a piece of government issued photo ID.
  • Check in at reception 15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time.
  • You may bring a family member or significant other during your consultation.
  • Please make sure to have someone with you if you are unable to communicate in English.
 
DIRECTIONS
RRDTC site information
From the main entrance or public parking lot: proceed down the main hallway to the elevators.  Take elevator or stairs to 2nd floor.  Follow signs to the Diabetes Centre Calgary.
RRDTC site information
From the main entrance or public parking lot: proceed down the main hallway to the elevators.  Take elevator or stairs to 2nd floor.  Follow signs to the Diabetes Centre Calgary.
 
PHONE
403-955-8118 (Information)
403-955-8135 (Reception)
 
PARKING INSTRUCTIONS

Parking is available in the public parkade, located off Richmond Road.   
Rates apply 24 hours per day, and are in effect for all public parkers, including those with provincially issued placards for persons with disabilities.
Paystations accept Canadian coins or credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express). Paystations provide no change. 

Parking is available in the public parkade, located off Richmond Road.   
Rates apply 24 hours per day, and are in effect for all public parkers, including those with provincially issued placards for persons with disabilities.
Paystations accept Canadian coins or credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express). Paystations provide no change. 

 
VIRTUAL APPOINTMENT INFORMATION
 
PARKING MAP
 
WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY
Yes

This facility is wheelchair accessible and has an elevator on site.


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.

 

V5.0