How to send a referral
Referrals are accepted by fax to 905 625 5650. 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. Mark the referral URGENT and give the reason in one line, so that it can be placed correctly. See urgent triage.
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.
Questions about a referral already sent go to 905 625 5600. Please call rather than resending the fax: a repeat fax of the same referral creates a duplicate record and slows triage for everyone.
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 | Clinical studies may be open. See current studies; families can contact the research team directly. |
| Vitiligo | Narrowband UVB on site. |
| Hair, scalp and nail disorders | Assessment and biopsy. |
| Plastic surgery | A separate surgical service. Mark the referral for plastic surgery. See referring for plastic surgery. |
Before you refer
- Cosmetic concerns without a medical indication. Not covered by OHIP and not seen under a referral. Where there is a medical question, state it and refer.
- 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.
Plastic surgery referrals
DermCare also has a plastic surgery service, provided by two surgeons who are Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada. Plastic surgery referrals use the same fax, 905 625 5650. Mark the referral for plastic surgery, on the referral form or at the top of your own letter, so that it is triaged to the surgeons rather than to dermatology. Include the reason for referral, the history, relevant comorbidities, current medications including anticoagulants, and an image where the problem is visible. The patient is booked for a consultation with one of the surgeons, and a consultation report comes back to your office. Details on referring for plastic surgery and the plastic surgery 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.