Musculoskeletal (MSK) Central Intake
The Erie St. Clair LHIN has launched System Coordinated Access, Musculoskeletal (MSK) Central Intake to further its commitment to enhancing the patient experience while improving processes for health care partners.
MSK Central Intake is part of a provincial initiative, and aligned with Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care directions, aimed at improving the referral process for primary care providers and their patients with hip/knee arthritis who might benefit from consultation for joint replacement surgery.
Primary Care Providers will send a standardized referral form (below) to the Central Intake office, located at the Erie St. Clair LHIN. From there, the referral is directed to the appropriate surgeon or hospital.
This model benefits:
- Primary Care Practitioners – who will be able to support their patients through an accessible, consistent patient care pathway and receive assessment outcomes with recommendations
- Specialists – who will receive triaged referrals which allows for more predictable practice and improved wait list management
- Patients – who will be assessed sooner (within four weeks of referral) with outcome measures and a plan of care, regardless if they are in need of surgery or not
As part of this new referral process, patients and their physicians can choose if they want to be scheduled for surgery based on the next available surgeon, a specific hospital, or a specific surgeon.
Request for Orthopaedic Consultation Form (Electronic fillable)
Request for Orthopaedic Consultation Form (Handwritten)