The Specialists Clinic is home to a variety of visiting physician specialists who provide consultative and surgical expertise. They also act as a resource for local physicians.

Specialists Clinic Overview

The need for specialty services in the Yukon is assessed by the Specialist Committee which is composed of Yukon Government, Yukon Hospital Corporation and local Physician representatives. Upon their recommendation for a specialty service, contracts are drawn up between the Yukon Government and usually two individual physician specialists who are willing to travel to the Yukon to provide care. Each contract is unique in regards to frequency and length of clinic visits. The physical space, equipment, and supporting staff for the Specialists Clinic are provided by the Yukon Hospital Corporation. Under the direction of the Specialst Clinic Manager staff are assigned to work with multiple visiting physician specialists.

Services Offered:

All patients require a referral from their family doctor. Most visiting physician specialists triage (sort) these referrals based on the information provided by the family doctor. Referrals are then placed on the wait list as urgent, time sensitive, or routine based on their triage score. All urgent patients are seen first. Therefore it is difficult to provide an exact length of time patients can expect to remain on the wait list. Clinics are arranged a month prior to the visiting physician specialist's slated visit and booked patients are notified by mail. These patients must confirm by phone at least a week prior or their appointments will be allocated to others on the wait list.

Directions to the Specialists Clinic

Enter Main Doors, immediately take first hallway to left. Look for the REGISTER HERE sign and check beside the 3 glass doors on the right and the door on the left for the appropriate specialist name. Proceed to that entry point to register with the Administrative Assistant. Usual business hours are 8 – 4, however this varies depending on individual visiting physician specialist clinic times.

What you need to know about Surgical Bookings

All patients with potential surgical conditions must be referred by the family doctor. A consultative appointment will be booked and patients will be assessed by the visiting physician surgeon to determine if surgery is actually required. The surgeon will determine the priority of the case and have the patients name added to their individual wait list.

A letter will be sent to that patient about one month in advance of their booked surgical date accompanied by an information package about their surgery. It is essential that the patient confirms their appointment at the Specialists Clinic quoting the booking number from the Surgical Booking Patient Information form. If this has not occurred one week prior to the scheduled date, the surgical time will be offered to another patient on the list. Patients need to follow the instructions regarding Anaesthetist and Pre-Op clinic appointments noted on the Surgical Booking Patient Information form. At the Pre-Op clinic, located near the main doors at Whitehorse General Hospital, patients will get further important information about their surgery. Attendance at these appointments is required; if patients do not show up for these appointments their surgery will be canceled.