Referral and transfer procedure to Canuck Place
Referral and transfer procedure to Canuck Place
If you are a healthcare provider looking for a referral or transfer to Canuck Place, please find detailed instructions below.
Introducing Canuck Place
Action
You determine that a child under your care may be appropriate for the Canuck Place program
Information
Children accepted to Canuck Place have progressive life-threatening conditions evidenced by either diagnosis or suspected rapid trajectories. A specific diagnosis is not necessary & children with repeated hospitalizations, loss of milestones, increasing health challenges and/or increasing severity of symptoms may be accepted. *You may want to call Canuck Place before talking with the family to make sure that the child meets their admission criteria. The intake team meets once a week (Tuesdays) & may need to collect more medical information & make a decision as a group.
Action
Talk to the patient/family about Canuck Place and showcase a virtual tour of Canuck Place.
Information
Offer it as an option for them for respite, transition, pain & symptom management, or end-of-life care.
Action
Ask for permission to contact Canuck Place to make a referral. Anyone can make a referral (family, physician, nurse, social worker, etc.) The family must be aware and interested in the referral.
Information
“Acceptance” refers to admission to the program, which may include an inpatient stay or use of programs and facilities while the child is at home.
Making the referral
Action
Call the intake coordinator at Canuck Place: 604-742-3476
Information
If the referral is urgent, ask for the MD on call, clinical nurse specialist or charge nurse.
Be prepared to answer the following questions:
- What is the child’s name, age, diagnosis, prognosis?
- Who is caring for the child (parents, guardian)?
- What is the medical history (briefly)?
- What is the care involved?
- What medications, equipment and supplies are needed?
- What is the priority bed category or how urgent is the admission? (refer to CP guidelines: priority for bed utilization)
When can the patient/family come to CP for a tour and to meet the caregivers there?
Information
- The intake coordinator will discuss the admission with you and tell you what is available for an inpatient stay and for their groups, services, and programs.
- If this is a non-urgent request, the referral will be reviewed at their intake meeting and the intake coordinator will call you back to further discuss prognosis, goals of care and specific care needs, equipment and supplies needed, DNR status, etc. They will contact the family directly and try to arrange a tour first.
- If this an urgent referral, the intake nurse will discuss:
- Prognosis
- Goals of care and special care needs
- Equipment and supplies
- DNR status
- Particular issues around transfer of the patient (ie: how/when the child will be arriving)
- The possibility of the family going to CP for a tour and to meet the caregivers there.
Making the Transfer When the Child is an Inpatient
DAY(S) BEFORE TRANSFER:
Discuss possible transfer with intake coordinator or, if they are not available, the clinical nurse specialist at 604-742-3478.
Action
Determine what day/time the transfer will take place.
Information
Check with the intake co-ordinator re bed availability, date, and time of transfer. Check with family to confirm this is when they want to go.
Medications
- Discontinue all medications the child will not need.
- Write medications as outpatient prescriptions –enough for about 1 week.
- Fill prescriptions in the outpatient pharmacy. If it is after hours, ask the inpatient pharmacy to send enough medications to see the patient through until the outpatient pharmacy is open.
Equipment and supplies
Make a list of all equipment and supplies the child will need.
- Has the child been referred to the at home program?
- Has the child been referred to the BC palliative care benefits?
- Has a list of supplies needed at home been started?
The intake coordinator will have to ensure that these are available.
Transportation
Action
Determine how the child/family will travel.
Information
If transportation is via ambulance, one must be booked as far in advance as possible.
Documentation
Write a transfer/discharge summary to include:
- Brief summary of child’s medical history
- Detailed account of current medical problems
- Pertinent physical findings
Results of recent investigations that may be relevant.
Prepare transfer package:
- Transfer/discharge summary
- List of medications
- List of equipment and supplies
- Copy of kardex and current care plans
- Copy palliative care checklist
- Copy of pertinent psychosocial assessments/interventions
Unit clerk will photocopy and make up transfer package. Family can take it with them when they go.
Action
Fax MAR and kardex to Canuck Place: 604-742-3490
Action
Call to give report to receiving nurse at Canuck Place: 604-742-3475 (ask for the nurse taking the patient). Update the information
Action
Send any additional documentation to Canuck Place via family.
If the child is an outpatient
Action
Discuss referral with the home care nurse and community-based physician
Action
Send information as above.
Action
You will be notified of admission status.
Information
Intake co-ordinator will contact the family directly and will let you know status.