Patient Resources:
To book your appointment:
For Lifelabs: Visit - https://www.lifelabs.com/book-an-appointment/?myProvinceSel=bc&myProvince=on - to book an appointment online.
For VIHA Hospital Labs: Visit - https://www.islandhealth.ca/our-locations/medical-laboratory-locations - for contact information.
For West Coast Medical Imaging: Phone - 250-412-1780 - their central booking line.
For Madrona Imaging: Phone 250-753-4351- their central booking line.
For TB skin tests: Visit - https://www.islandhealth.ca/our-services/communicable-disease-prevention-control-services/tuberculosis-prevention-control-office
Medication & Disease Related Resources:
Learn about your disease and medications: www.rheuminfo.com - This is a Canadian source of information for patients free of pharmaceutical influence. It is endorsed by the Canadian Arthritis Society and contains useful information about rheumatic diseases and disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (our medications!).
Methotrexate Injection Teaching: A video demonstrating and explaining how to give subcutaneous methotrexate injections safely: https://rheuminfo.com/living-with-arthritis/learn-how-to-inject-subcutaneous-injections/
Exercise for healthy joints: Can’t access physiotherapy? Here you will find some instructions on how to do your own physiotherapy (please note that in-person physiotherapy is preferred): https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/exercising-with-arthritis/exercises-for-healthy-joints/
Victoria Arthritis Centre: If you have an complex osteoarthritis or an underlying rheumatic disease, you may qualify for free physiotherapy, occupational therapy, nursing education and social work services through the Victoria Arthritis Centre. Referrals should come for your family physician or rheumatologist: http://mpap.vch.ca/services/vancouver-island
Joint Health: This is a website that is reviewed by the Canadian Arthritis Society. It contains a wealth of information for patients and healthcare providers including podcasts: https://jointhealth.org.
Fibromyalgia & Chronic Disease: Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue are not inflammatory rheumatic diseases. While rheumatologists often see patients with these comorbid conditions, the role of the rheumatologist is to rule out and/or manage a comorbid underlying rheumatic disease. Rheumatologist do not manage fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue - management of these conditions is done best under the guidance of your family physician. Here is a link useful information in management of Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue: https://fibroguide.med.umich.edu/fibroguide.html.
Fair Pharmacare: Pharmacare assists patients in covering the cost of their medications and is based on tax information from the last two years. Make sure you have filed your taxes for the last two years: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverage/pharmacare-for-bc-residents/who-we-cover/fair-pharmacare-plan/register-for-fair-pharmacare.
COVID-19 Information:
Questions about the safety of the COVID-19 Vaccine - the following website, from Health Canada, answers commonly asked questions about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine and includes helpful videos: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/video/ask-experts-covid-19-vaccines.html.
Medications and the COVID-19 Vaccine - The following PDF provides guidance on how to manage your rheumatic medications when receiving your COVID-19 vaccination. This does not replace a conversation with your physician. Please follow the advise of your rheumatologist:
Rituximab and COVID-19 Vaccine - For patients on Rituximab, the timing of your COVID-19 vaccine with respect to your infusion is important as your vaccine may not be effective if given at the incorrect time. If you have not yet had your first or second COVID-19 vaccine and are scheduled for a Rituximab in the near future, please contact our office to have your rheumatologist expedite your COVID-19 vaccine with public health. This service is only available for patients on Rituximab, as dictated by the Ministry of Health.
Other Patient Resources:
Canadian Arthritis Society: https://arthritis.ca/
Arthritis Research Canada: A clinical research centre in Richmond, BC: https://www.arthritisresearch.ca/
Physician Resources:
Patient hands-outs, videos, and physician infusion tools: https://rheuminfo.com/
Gout Care Pathway for Family Physicians: https://www.specialistlink.ca/files/Gout_Pathway_May2019.pdf - Created by family physicians and rheumatologists at the University of Calgary/Alberta Health Services.
Peripheral Arthritis Care Pathway for Family Physicians: https://www.specialistlink.ca/files/FINAL_Peripheral_Arthritis_Enhance_Primary_Care_Pathway_-_May_2018_-_for_posting_on_SL.pdf - Created by family physicians and rheumatologists at the University of Calgary/Alberta Health Services.
Osteoarthritis Tool Kit: http://arthritisalliance.ca/images/OA_Tool_Final_July_24_2017_ENG.pdf - Created by Arthritis Alliance of Canada in collaboration with the Royal Collage of Family Physicians.
Canadian Fibromyalgia Treatment Guidelines: https://rheum.ca/resources/publications/canadian-fibromyalgia-guidelines/
Canadian Network for Research on Vasculitides: https://www.canvasc.ca/
Canadian Rheumatology Association: https://rheum.ca/
Disclaimer: Dr. Baldwin and Shaw are not responsible for the content of the above websites. Any medical treatments/interventions should be discussed with your rheumatologist, a specialist or your primary care physician.