How to refer
We are looking forward to helping you in the management of your patients with skin diseases. For our most recent updates and waiting times, please follow us on Twitter @dermualberta. Detailed information is available on the Alberta Referral Directory. Our referral fax number is 780-407-3003.
Eligibility
Our activities focus on patients that are more complex where specialized or multidisciplinary care is needed. Examples are skin cancers (non-melanoma skin cancers, malignant melanoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, cutaneous lymphomas), blistering diseases, autoimmune diseases (lupus, dermatomyositis), eczema, psoriasis or generalized rashes. The following patient categories are usually rejected with a suggestion of referral to a community dermatologist where they are better served:
- Cosmetic Concerns (including removal of skin tags or small, benign lesions)
- Leg Ulcers / Pressure Sores (consider referral to a wound clinic)
- Warts (Unless Immunosuppressed)
- Ingrown Toenails, Onychomycosis
- Lice
Please note: our Patch Test Clinic and Hair Disease Clinic accept referrals from dermatologists only.
Small children (<4 years of age) should be referred to Pediatric Dermatology (Dr. Loretta Fiorillo)
Teledermatology (doctor-to-doctor advice)
In many instances, relevant diagnosis and advice can be obtained form one of our staff dermatologists. We are currently able to provide advice either by telephone or via Zoom. ….READ MORE
Referral forms and guidelines
Multidisciplinary Clinics
- Hematology-Dermatology And Cutaneous Lymphoma Clinic (Dr. R Gniadecki, Dr. M Taparia (Hematology), Dr. K Chu (Radiation Oncology), Dr. J Deschennes (Hematopathology), Dr. W Chen (Hematopathology)).
- Melanoma Clinic (Dr. T Salopek).
- Pigmented Lesion Clinic (Dr. E Chow).
- Rheumatology-Dermatology Clinic (autoimmune skin diseases: lupus, scleroderma, dermatomyositis, psoriasis with arthritis, vasculitis) (Dr. R Gniadecki, Dr. E Yacyshyn (Rheumatology), Dr. M Osman (Rheumatology, capillaroscopy)).
- Patch Test Clinic (Dr. J Elliott).
- Occupational Dermatology and Hand Eczema (Dr M Dytoc).
- Vulvar Dermatology (Dr. M Dytoc).
- Skin Health Clinic (psychodermatological diseases) (Dr. M Dytoc).
- Hair Diseases (Dr. E Chow).
Urgent and after-hours patient care
For urgent consults please contact the Dermatologist on call at 780-407-8822 if conditions for urgent and emergent situations listed in the Dermatology On-Call Referral Guidelines are met.
- Acute, generalized rashes: exanthems, rashes with fever, rashes with blisters or ulcerations on the skin or mucosa.
- Acute, widespread rashes which preclude effective medical treatment or impacts length of patient’s hospital stay.
- Conditions which may result in irreversible complications if not managed promptly (i.e. vasculitis, GVHD, severe infections).
Semi-urgent cases (e.g. melanoma, other skin cancers, widespread rashes not requiring care within 24 h) should not be referred via the on-call dermatologists but via normal channels, indicating the semi-urgent referral on the form.
Request for practical advice
- Wherever possible, referring physicians should send an image in a private, encrypted form to effectively triage and manage the patient.
- If the patient has previously been seen by a dermatologist and is presenting with the same or related condition, please ask the patient to continue to follow-up with their dermatologist to ensure continuity of care.
- For non-urgent cases consider teledermatology doctor-to-doctor consult.