Shoulder Care
Pathway

What to Expect from Your Appointment

Your physician has sent a referral, via FAST, to the Edmonton Bone and Joint Centre to have your shoulder assessed. The purpose of this assessment appointment is for the assessment team (physical therapist and assessment physician) to determine the nature of your shoulder problem and the best plan for management. Topics they will discuss with you will include:

• Your medical history (medical conditions/surgeries you may have had)
• The history of your shoulder problem, including treatments you have had for this problem (injections, physical therapy, procedures)
• Any physical therapy treatments you have undergone/are undergoing (where you went for your treatment, for how long, what exercises you were given)

This information, as well as any imaging you may have had done, will be used by the assessment physician to decide on a management plan and will discuss this with you. A letter explaining this management plan will be sent to your referring doctor or physical therapist.

If conservative management has failed or you have sustained an injury that requires surgical intervention, the assessment physician will refer you for a surgical consult. There is a waitlist to see a surgeon and wait times can vary from a few months up to a year. For most patients, surgery is not necessary. Most patients get better with conservative treatment such as physical therapy, injections, or condition-specific procedures.

Preparing for Your Appointment

Have all the information you need ready and available, including:

• A list of the medications you are currently taking (their names and doses)
• A list of the treatments you have had for your hip/knee problem (injections, procedures, physical therapy)
• The name of your physical therapy clinic, how long you went for and what exercises you were given as part of your treatment (if applicable)

Some assessment physicians conduct their appointments over the phone. For more information on how to prepare for your virtual appointment, please see our Guide to Virtual Appointments