Department of Medicine Faculty of Medicine

Respirology

Respirology wait times

Triage category	Standard wait time	Average wait time*
Respirology Urgent	7 days	9.5 days
Respirology Semi-Urgent	42 days	45.1 days
Respirology Non-Urgent	70 days	319.8 days

Sleep Clinic Urgent	14 days	39.9 days
Sleep Clinic Semi-Urgent	84 days	179.4 days
Sleep Clinic Non-Urgent	365 days	358.8 days

Respirology - View as chart [PDF - 20 kB]

Sleep Clinic - View as chart [PDF - 20 kB]

* Posted October 30, 2018

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

Respirology

Sleep Clinic & Laboratory

Respirology

Triage category	Triage criteria (not all inclusive)	Referral process	Facilitators
Respirology Urgent	Suspicious for lung cancer, PCP, TB Initiation of home oxygen Unstable asthma / COPD Recurrent ER visits for respiratory symptoms Hemoptysis	FAX referral marked URGENT to 902-473-6202 AND / OR PHONE 902-473-2220 “Respirologist on Call”	Recent chest x-ray results Recent investigations, as available (i.e. Spirometry results)
Respirology Semi-Urgent	Asthma / COPD – severe Interstitial lung disease – not yet diagnosed Pulmonary hypertension Progressive neuromuscular disease	Fax or mail referral	Recent chest x-ray results Spirometry results Recent consultation reports Recent blood work/investigations
Respirology Non-Urgent	Asthma / COPD – stable Long standing cough Pulmonary rehabilitation	Fax or mail referral	Recent chest x-ray results Spirometry results Recent consultation reports Recent blood work/investigations

Sleep Clinic & Laboratory

Triage category	Triage criteria (not all inclusive)	Referral process	Facilitators
Sleep Clinic & Laboratory Urgent	Nocturnal hypoventilation disorders with impending respiratory failure Severe daytime sleepiness leading to an urgent public safety issue	Fax or mail referral	Any previous sleep study or home study reports Documentation of pulmonary function and/or arterial blood gases that document impending respiratory failure Recent consultation reports
Sleep Clinic & Laboratory Semi-Urgent	Severe sleep apnea in the setting of significant medical illness – i.e. congestive heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, poorly controlled hypertension, recent stroke, etc. Sleep disorders with severe daytime symptoms	Fax or mail referral	Documentation of current medical illness Wall Motion Study report or 2D ECHO report if relevant (i.e. pulmonary hypertension or CHF) Recent consultation reports
Sleep Clinic & Laboratory Non-Urgent	All other sleep apnea Periodic limb movements and restless leg syndrome Narcolepsy – if criteria is not met for urgent & semi-urgent categories Other adult sleep disorders – REM behaviour disorder, unusual parasomnias, etc. Insomnia – referrals of patient with known psychiatric diagnoses are discouraged, with request for patients to be assessed by their psychiatrist	Fax or mail referral	The patient must complete sleep questionnaire before the referral will be processed.

Contact information & forms

	Respirology
Fax	902-473-6202
Mailing address	Division of Respirology 1796 Summer Street Suite 4449 Halifax Infirmary Halifax, NS B3H 4K4
	Sleep Clinic & Laboratory
Phone	902-473-6222
Fax	902-473-7158
Mailing address	Sleep Clinic & Laboratory 5909 Veterans' Memorial Lane Suite 4022 Abbie J. Lane Building Halifax, NS B3H 2E2

Respirologists	View list of physicians

Forms	Request for Outpatient Pulmonary Function Tests [PDF - 30 kB]

Learn more about our division: View the Division of Respirology

Department of Medicine
Dalhousie University & Nova Scotia Health Authority
QEII Health Sciences Centre, VG Site
Suite 442 Bethune Building
1276 South Park Street
Halifax, NS B3H 2Y9
902-473-2379