Department of Medicine

Faculty of Medicine

Respirology

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

Wait times

Triage category	Standard wait time	Average wait time*
Respirology
Urgent	7 days	14.6 days
Semi-Urgent	42 days	31.5 days
Non-Urgent	70 days	168.3 days
	View chart [PDF - 20 kB]
Sleep Clinic
Urgent	14 days	32.8 days
Semi-Urgent	84 days	119.6 days
Non-Urgent	365 days	311.9 days
	View chart [PDF - 20 kB]

#N/A - shown if less than six encounters

* As of April 30, 2022

Triage criteria and referral process for physicians

Respirology
Urgent	Criteria (not all inclusive) Suspicious for lung cancer, PCP, TB Initiation of home oxygen Unstable asthma / COPD Recurrent ER visits for respiratory symptoms Hemoptysis Process 1) FAX referral marked URGENT to 902-473-6202 AND / OR 2) PHONE 902-473-2220 “Respirologist on Call” Recent chest x-ray results Recent investigations, as available (i.e. Spirometry results)
Semi-Urgent	Criteria (not all inclusive) Asthma / COPD – severe Interstitial lung disease – not yet diagnosed Pulmonary hypertension Progressive neuromuscular disease Process 1) FAX or MAIL referral Recent chest x-ray results Spirometry results Recent consultation reports Recent blood work/investigations
Non-Urgent	Criteria (not all inclusive) Asthma / COPD – stable Long standing cough Pulmonary rehabilitation Process 1) FAX or MAIL referral Recent chest x-ray results Spirometry results Recent consultation reports Recent blood work/investigations

Respirology

Urgent

Criteria (not all inclusive)

Suspicious for lung cancer, PCP, TB
Initiation of home oxygen
Unstable asthma / COPD
Recurrent ER visits for respiratory symptoms
Hemoptysis

Process

1) FAX referral marked URGENT to 902-473-6202
AND / OR
2) PHONE 902-473-2220 “Respirologist on Call”

Recent chest x-ray results
Recent investigations, as available (i.e. Spirometry results)

Semi-Urgent

Criteria (not all inclusive)

Asthma / COPD – severe
Interstitial lung disease – not yet diagnosed
Pulmonary hypertension
Progressive neuromuscular disease

Process

1) FAX or MAIL referral

Recent chest x-ray results
Spirometry results
Recent consultation reports
Recent blood work/investigations

Non-Urgent

Criteria (not all inclusive)

Asthma / COPD – stable
Long standing cough
Pulmonary rehabilitation

Process

1) FAX or MAIL referral

Recent chest x-ray results
Spirometry results
Recent consultation reports
Recent blood work/investigations

Sleep Clinic & Laboratory
Urgent	Criteria (not all inclusive) Nocturnal hypoventilation disorders with impending respiratory failure Severe daytime sleepiness leading to an urgent public safety issue Process 1) 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
Semi-Urgent	Criteria (not all inclusive) 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 Process 1) 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
Non-Urgent	Criteria (not all inclusive) 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 Process 1) FAX or MAIL referral The patient must complete sleep questionnaire before the referral will be processed.

Sleep Clinic & Laboratory

Urgent

Criteria (not all inclusive)

Nocturnal hypoventilation disorders with impending respiratory failure
Severe daytime sleepiness leading to an urgent public safety issue

Process
1) 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

Semi-Urgent

Criteria (not all inclusive)

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

Process
1) 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

Non-Urgent

Criteria (not all inclusive)

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

Process
1) FAX or MAIL referral

The patient must complete sleep questionnaire before the referral will be processed.

Contact information and forms
	Respirology
Fax	902-473-6202
Mailing address	Division of Respirology 1796 Summer Street Suite 4449 Halifax Infirmary Halifax, NS B3H 4K4
Respirologists	View list of physicians
Forms	Request for Outpatient Pulmonary Function Tests [PDF - 30 kB]
	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

Learn more about our division: View the Division of Respirology

Dalhousie University

Department of Medicine

Respirology

Updates

Wait times

Respirology

Sleep Clinic

Triage criteria and referral process for physicians

Respirology

Sleep Clinic & Laboratory

Contact information and forms