Hip and knee wait times eased

In a bid to improve access, our Holland Musculoskeletal Program and the Toronto Central LHIN have established one referral form and a central fax for patients with arthritis in the hips or knees or pain in those areas.

Please send all hip and knee referral forms to Central Intake: fax 416-599-4577, toll free: 1-877-411-4577.

Referrals are all then reviewed by Central Intake and triaged.

When referring a patient, you may request:

• The next appointment within any hospital in the Toronto Central LHIN
• The first available appointment at the Holland Centre
• An appointment with a specific surgeon (At times, we may need to redirect referrals according to wait times, and based on complexity and appropriateness.)

The Holland Centre team developed this award-winning model of care, which offers quick access to assessment by an advanced practice physiotherapist, education, referral to self-management programs or treatments, and consultation with an orthopaedic surgeon if necessary.

Through this Central Intake and Assessment Centre and team approach, we have experienced dramatic improvements with respect to surgical wait times, patient access to quality care and satisfaction.

Frequently Asked Questions from the Toronto Central LHIN:

What is Central Intake and Referral?

Located at the Holland Centre, Central Intake is available as a single point of referral to access appointments for patients with hip or knee arthritis at all Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network hospitals (six hospitals). The referrals are triaged by urgency within two business days. The Central Intake system was set up to reduce the hip and knee replacement wait times. You can request a specific surgeon, a specific hospital or indicate you want the next available appointment at any Toronto Central LHIN hospital. We aim to schedule an Assessment Centre appointment within four weeks of referral.

What is an Advanced Practice Physiotherapist (APP)?

An APP is a physiotherapist who is specially trained to be a clinical expert. With our team approach, APPs now triage and prioritize all referrals to the Holland Centre and are the first point of contact for patients referred with hip or knee pain - a role that was traditionally fulfilled by an orthopaedic surgeon.

What is the Assessment Centre?

At your Assessment Centre appointment, an APP will conduct a comprehensive physical examination, which includes a six-minute walk test, a discussion about pain and symptoms, and the examination of x-rays. The APP will discuss exercises the patient can do to assist in the management of arthritis as well as treatment options, including non-surgical treatments. The APPs refer patients on to a surgeon based on specific criteria that includes urgency.

What happens at a surgeon appointment?

If a patient and their APP determine that surgical treatment is the best option, an appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon will be scheduled. At this consult, the surgeon will discuss the risks and benefits of surgery as well as your expectations for a surgical intervention and outcome.

What happens after the surgery?

Our APPs perform post-operative follow-up examinations for patients with hip or knee replacements in consultation with the orthopaedic surgeons. The follow-up will include education on recovery and participation in physical activity.

Holland Orthopaedic & Arthritic Centre
43 Wellesley Street East
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M4Y 1H1
Telephone: 416-967-8617
Central Intake fax: 416-599-4577
Toll-free fax: 1-877-411-4577