Digestive Care & Endoscopy

Wait times

Triage category Standard wait time Average wait time*

Gastroenterology (GI)

Urgent 10 days 21.3 days
Semi-Urgent 70 days 269.4 days
Non-Urgent 300 days #N/A
  View chart [PDF - 20KB]

Hepatology (Liver Clinic)

Urgent 10 days 90.8 days
Semi-Urgent 70 days 885.5 days
Non-Urgent 300 days #N/A
  View chart [PDF - 20KB]

#N/A - shown if less than six encounters

* Includes data up to December 31, 2023

Triage criteria and referral process for physicians

Gastroenterology

Emergent
Criteria (not all inclusive)
  • Acute GI bleed – hemodynamically unstable
  • Hepatology – Encephalopathy

Process
1) PHONE 902-473-2220 "Gastroenterologist on call for Halifax Infirmary Site"

Urgent
Criteria (not all inclusive)
  • UGI Bleed, dysphagia
  • Dyspepsia with alarm symptoms
  • Acute jaundice, pancreatitis
  • Rectal bleeding with alarm symptoms
  • Bloody diarrhea, flare in IBD
  • Weight loss
  • Acute hepatitis
  • Possible carcinoma on x-ray

Process
1)
 FAX referral to 902-473-4406

Semi-Urgent
Criteria (not all inclusive)
  • IBD with chronic problems
  • Recurrent abdominal pain
  • Dyspepsia
  • GERD
  • Chronic elevation of liver tests

Process
1) FAX or MAIL referral

Non-Urgent
Criteria (not all inclusive)
  • Chronic abdominal pain
  • Chronic diarrhea / constipation
  • IBS
  • Colon cancer screening
  • Barrett’s screening
  • Second opinions

Process
1) FAX or MAIL referral

 

Hepatology

Emergent
Criteria (not all inclusive)
  • Acute liver injury with increased INR and billirubin decompensation associated with encephalopathy
  • Bacterial peritonitis
  • Variceal bleeding

Process
1) Direct the patient to the nearest emergency room.
2) Contact local gastroenterologist or internist as patient will usually need admission.
3) PHONE 902-473-2220 “Gastroenterologist on call for Halifax Infirmary site"

Urgent
Criteria (not all inclusive)
  • Other signs of decompensation including recent onset of ascites, mild encephalopathy or jaundice

Process
1) Written requests only; FAX info to 902-473-4406

Semi-Urgent
Criteria (not all inclusive)
  • Liver mass, second opinion from other specialist

Process
1) FAX or MAIL referral

Non-Urgent
Criteria (not all inclusive)
  • Chronic liver diseases (e.g. viral hepatitis, autoimmune disease, cholestatic and metabolic liver disease, fatty liver)

Process
1) FAX or MAIL referral

 

Contact information and forms

Fax 902-473-4406 GI and Hepatology referrals
902-473-5548 ERCP referrals
Mailing address Division of Digestive Care & Endoscopy
1276 South Park Street
9th Floor Victoria Bldg, VG Site
Halifax, NS B3H 2Y9
Gastroenterologists View list of physicians
Forms Digestive Care & Endoscopy (Gastroenterology) Referral Form [PDF - 180 kB]

 

Learn more about our division
visit-division-dce-277x153px

View the Division of Digestive Care & Endoscopy