Orthopaedic Assessment Clinic (OAC) opened at the Halifax Infirmary Site October 2008. The OAC clinic is a new way for surgeons along with an interdisciplinary team at Capital Health to work together to reduce the wait lists and wait times for orthopaedic care.

We are located at the Halifax Infirmary and inclusive of surgeons practicing at this site. Please continue to follow the same process for referrals to Dr. Venugopal, Dr. Legay and Dr. O'Brien at the Dartmouth General Hospital - referrals for these surgeons are to be faxed to their individual offices.

The OAC focuses initially on patients requiring arthroplasty and/or revisions only.  The OAC is also the central intake for all patient referrals that require an orthopaedic assessment/consultation. Not all patients seen in this clinic will need surgery.

Process

• Non-urgent referrals are to be made directly to the OAC and not individual orthopaedic surgeons
• Walk-in consultation are referred by family physicians
• Patient assessment is done by a case manager before the patient sees a surgeons
• Referrals are streamlined to maintain acceptable wait times for surgery
• If surgery is not required other treatment options are available
• Patients medically & physical fit will receive surgery if required
• Patients not medically & physical fit will work with a health team before surgery