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Infectious Diseases

Infectious Diseases wait times

Triage category Standard wait time Average wait time*
Emergent Immediate No data
Urgent 3 days 3.0 days
Semi-Urgent 1 14 days 5.6 days
Semi-Urgent 2 56 days 32.3 days
Non-Urgent 1 84 days 71.1 days
Non-Urgent 2 140 days 71.5 days

View as a chart [PDF - 20 kB]

* Posted January 31, 2019

 

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

Triage category Triage criteria
(not all inclusive)		 Referral process Facilitators
Emergent
  • Meningitis
  • Malaria
  • Call 902-473-2220
  • Ask for "ID Physician on call"
  
Urgent
  • Acute febrile illness NYD
  • Acute febrile illness with focus
  • Fever in traveller
  • FAX referral marked URGENT
  • Provide direct number to contact referring physician
  • Requested blood work (see below)
Semi-Urgent 1
  • Pulmonary TB
  • Fax or mail referral
  • Provide direct number to contact referring physician
  • Requested blood work (see below)
Semi-Urgent 2
  • Chronic fever NYD (> 4 weeks)
  • HIV
  • Infected foot ulcer
  • Latent TB in immune compromised host
  • Recurrent C. difficile
  • Fax or mail referral
  • Provide direct number to contact referring physician
  • Requested blood work (see below)
Non-Urgent 1
  • Mycobacterium avium infection
  • Post-Lyme symptoms
  • Recurrent cellulitis
  • Fax or mail referral
  • Provide direct number to contact referring physician
  • Requested blood work (see below)
Non-Urgent 2
  • Chronic HBV
  • Chronic HCV
  • Chronic diarrhea
  • Immigrant screening
  • Latent TB in immune competent host
  • Recurrent HSV/VZV
  • Recurrent UTI
  • Fax or mail referral
  • Provide direct number to contact referring physician
  • Requested blood work (see below)

 

Contact information

  Office
Phone 902-473-5553
Fax 902-473-7394
Mailing address Division of Infectious Diseases
5820 University Avenue
Room 5014 Dickson Building
Halifax, NS B3H 1V7
ID physicians View list of physicians

 

Requested blood work for referral to Infectious Diseases

Category Requested laboratory tests
Malaria Malaria smear; CBC & diff; lytes, BUN, Cr, alk phos, glucose
Acute febrile illness NYD CBC & diff; ALT, AST, total bili, alk phos, GGT, BUN, Cr, CK; urinalysis; aerobic blood C/S x 2; CXR
Acute febrile illness with focus CBC & diff; ALT, AST, total bili, alk phos, GGT, BUN, Cr, CK; urinalysis; aerobic blood C/S x 2; CXR; cultures from focus where appropriate
Fever in traveler CBC & diff; ALT, AST, total bili, alk phos, GGT, BUN, Cr, CK; urinalysis, aerobic blood C/S x 2; CXR, malaria smear OD x 2; HBsAg; Stool for C/S x 1
Chronic fever NYD (>4 weeks) CBC & diff; ALT, AST, total bili, alk phos, GGT, BUN, Cr, CK; urinalysis; aerobic blood C/S x 2; CXR; take temp BID until appt & bring temp record to appt
Chronic HBV HBsAg; HBeAg; ±HIV; HCV; total HAV Ab (not IgM); CBC & diff; INR/PTT; ALT, AST, total bili., alk phos, total protein, albumin
Chronic HCV HCV serology; HBsAg & Ab; HAV total Ab; CBC & diff; INR/PTT; ALT, AST, total bili., alk phos, total protein, albumin
HIV CD4; HIV viral load; CBC & diff, blood chemistries; HBsAg & Ab; HCV; toxoIgG; RPR
Chronic diarrhea Stool O&P x 3 (different days); stool C/S x 1
Recurrent UTI Recent urinalysis + urine C/S
Recurrent HSV Nil
Latent TB (positive PPD) CXR – PA + lateral
Post acute infection fatigue CBC & diff; ALT, AST, total bili, alk phos, GGT, BUN, Cr, CK; urinalysis

 

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