How to send a referral
Referrals are accepted by fax to 905 625 5650. DermCare is not currently listed on the Ocean eReferral network, so fax is the referral channel. Referrals are not accepted by email.
Send the referral
Fax the completed form, or your own referral letter, with the patient's demographics, health card number and the reason for referral.
The referral is triaged
Every referral is reviewed by a dermatologist. Suspected melanoma and rapidly changing lesions are booked ahead of routine cases. The full list of urgent categories is being finalised with Dr. Ejaz.
The patient is contacted
Our office calls the patient directly to book. Please let patients know to expect a call from a 905 number, and to tell us if their contact details change.
You receive the consultation report
A written report goes to the referring physician, and separately to the primary care provider where these differ, after the visit. Follow up reports are sent when the plan changes.
Acknowledgement of receipt and target times from referral to appointment are being confirmed with the clinic and will be published here once settled. In the meantime, questions about a referral already sent go to 905 625 5600.
What a complete referral includes
Incomplete referrals are the most common reason for delay. A complete referral lets us triage accurately and book the right length of appointment.
- Patient name, date of birth, health card number and version code
- Two working phone numbers for the patient, and an email address if they have one
- Reason for referral and the presenting complaint, with duration
- Site, size and any change in a lesion, with an image attached where available
- Treatments already tried and the response
- Relevant history: prior skin cancer, immunosuppression, pregnancy, current medications
- Urgency flag, and why
- Referring physician name, billing number, fax and phone
Images help
A clear image of the lesion or rash, attached to the referral, lets the triaging dermatologist judge urgency directly. It does not need to be dermoscopic. A phone picture in daylight is enough.
Referral criteria: what we accept
DermCare is a medical dermatology practice with defined areas of depth. A referral is appropriate where an adult patient has a skin, hair or nail problem that needs specialist assessment, and a clinical question can be stated. Areas of particular capacity include:
| Area | Notes for referrers |
|---|---|
| Skin cancer and suspicious lesions | Mark suspected melanoma urgent, and please refer without biopsy. |
| Psoriasis | Phototherapy on site. Systemic and biologic therapy where indicated. |
| Eczema and atopic dermatitis | Phototherapy available for suitable cases. |
| Hidradenitis suppurativa | An active clinical study is recruiting. See current studies. |
| Vitiligo | Narrowband UVB on site. |
| Hair, scalp and nail disorders | Assessment and biopsy. |
What we do not accept
Sending a patient for one of the following means a return fax and a delay for them, so it is worth checking before you refer.
- Contact allergy patch testing. Not performed at DermCare. Please refer to a centre that offers it.
- Mole mapping and total body imaging. Not performed at DermCare. An individual lesion of concern is a referral we do accept.
- Paediatric dermatology. Not offered at DermCare. Please refer children to a paediatric dermatology service.
- Cosmetic concerns without a medical indication. Not covered by OHIP and not seen under a referral.
- An acutely unwell patient. An outpatient clinic is the wrong setting. See urgent triage for the presentations that belong in an emergency department.
Phototherapy referrals
Phototherapy is ordered by a dermatologist after assessment. Please refer the patient for the underlying condition rather than for phototherapy directly, and note in the referral if you think it is likely to help. Details on phototherapy referrals and the phototherapy service.
Questions about an existing referral
Call 905 625 5600 and ask for the referral desk. Please have the patient's name and date of birth and the date the referral was sent.