Department of Medicine Faculty of Medicine

Digestive Care & Endoscopy

Digestive Care & Endoscopy wait times

Triage category	Standard wait time	Average wait time*
GI Emergent	3 days	No data
GI Urgent	10 days	17.3 days
GI Semi-Urgent	70 days	200.5 days
GI Non-Urgent	300 days	624.7 days**

Hepatology Emergent	Same day	No data
Hepatology Urgent	10 days	N/A
Hepatology Semi-Urgent	70 days	175.8 days
Hepatology Non-Urgent	300 days	391.1 days

GI - View as chart [PDF - 20 kB]

Hepatology - View as chart [PDF - 20 kB]

* Posted January 31, 2019
** Family physician referrals vary from NSHA. Tertiary referrals come from other provinces. Waiting is capped at 6 months. Beyond that selected referrals are returned to referring physicians.

Updates

Our fiscal year runs from April 1 to March 31. Average wait time information is updated based on the following schedule:

Quarter	Time frame	Posted
Q1	Apr 1 – Jun 30	Jul 31
Q2	Jul 1 – Sep 30	Oct 31
Q3	Oct 1 – Dec 31	Jan 31
Q4	Jan 1 – Mar 31	Apr 30

Triage criteria and referral process for physicians

Digestive Care & Endoscopy (Gastroenterology; GI)

Hepatology / Liver Services

Digestive Care & Endoscopy

Triage category	Triage criteria (not all inclusive)	Referral process
GI Emergent	Acute GI bleed – hemodynamically unstable Hepatology – Encephalopathy	PHONE 902-473-2220 "GI physician on call for HI site"
GI Urgent	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	Written requests only Fax info 902-473-4406
GI Semi-Urgent	IBD with chronic problems Recurrent abdominal pain Dyspepsia GERD Chronic elevation of liver tests	Fax or mail referral
GI Non-Urgent	Chronic abdominal pain Chronic diarrhea / constipation IBS Colon cancer screening Barrett’s screening Second opinions	Fax or mail referral

Hepatology / Liver Services

Triage Category	Triage Criteria (not all inclusive)	Referral Process
Hepatology Emergent	Acute liver injury with increased INR and billirubin decompensation associated with encephalopathy, bacterial peritonitis, variceal bleeding	Direct the patient to the nearest emergency room. Contact local gastroenterologist or internist as patient will usually need admission. PHONE 902-473-2220 “GI physician on call for HI site"
Hepatology Urgent	Other signs of decompensation including recent onset of ascites, mild encephalopathy or jaundice	Written requests only Fax info 902-473-2783
Hepatology Semi-Urgent	Liver mass, second opinion from other specialist	Fax or mail referral
Hepatology Non-Urgent	Chronic liver diseases (e.g. viral hepatitis, autoimmune disease, cholestatic and metabolic liver disease, fatty liver)	Fax or mail referral

Contact information and forms

	Digestive Care & Endoscopy
Fax	902-473-4406 902-473-5548 ERCP referrals only
Mailing address	Division of Digestive Care & Endoscopy 1276 South Park Street 9th Floor Victoria Bldg, VG Site Halifax, NS B3H 2Y9
	Hepatology Services
Fax	902-473-2783
Mailing address	Hepatology Services 1276 South Park Street 6th 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: View the Division of Digestive Care & Endoscopy

Dalhousie University