A referral to the Division of Hematology can be initiated by a family doctor or by a specialist. Referring physicians should fax the following referral information to our Triage Physician when available:
- A letter of referral
- Patient’s history and demographics
- Patient’s pathology report
- A list of any prior surgeries
- All relevant clinical notes
- Diagnostic imaging reports
- Any other diagnostic reports
The role of the Triage Physician is to review all the information provided and determine the level of urgency of the referral. A scheduling clerk then assigns an appointment at the Doctor’s Clinic with the first available Attending Physician. The scheduling clerk will contact the Referring Physician’s office with the appointment date, time and location. Every effort is made to see new patients within 3-4 weeks with the exception of elective patients.
Referral forms by program can be found below.
Apheresis Program Referrals
Fax 604-875-5053
Phone 604-875-4863
General Hematology Referrals
Fax 604-675-3883
Phone 604-875-4863
Thrombosis Program Referrals
Fax 604-875-5071
Phone 604-675-2481
Non-Urgent Referrals
BMT Referral Form
BMT form
CAR-T Referral Form
CAR-T form
Phone 604-875-4863
Fax 604-875-4763
Urgent After-Hours Referrals
Urgent referrals should be considered for all patients who have a new diagnosis or suspected diagnosis of acute leukemia, lymphoblastic lymphoma or Burkitt's lymphoma. These referrals can be initiated by phone through the VGH switchboard at 604-875-4111 and asking for the BMT on-call physician.
Notes
Referring physicians should feel free to call the Program Office directly at 604-875-4863 if they want to discuss a patient or their urgent management.
The following guidelines should be considered by physicians when referring patients to the Leukemia/BMT Program:
-
- Patients suspected of having severe aplastic anemia who must receive blood products should receive CMV negative and irradiated blood products.
- All patients who have undergone stem cell transplantation should only receive irradiated blood products.
- If a bone marrow examination is done prior to referral to the Leukemia/BMT Program, samples should be taken for routine microscopy, flow cytometry, which is done at Vancouver General Hospital, and cytogenetic analysis and stem cell assays both of which are done at the BC Cancer Agency.
- Patients with multiple myeloma who may be candidates for autologous stem cell transplant should not receive melphalan based therapy until they have been assessed. Only if the patient is clearly not a candidate for transplant should melphalan containing regimens be used. Discussion prior to institution of therapy in such patients is always welcomed. See the Multiple Myeloma Treatment Guidelines for further details.