For Primary Health Care Providers
Crisis Services
If your patient is in need of crisis intervention, please refer to the Crisis Services page for information on the 24-hour crisis line, Mobile Crisis Services, and the Crisis Stabilization Unit.
Community Mental Health
The Community Mental Health program is for non-urgent referrals. Individuals can self-refer to the Community Mental Health program or be referred by their primary health care provider (via letter or referral form – see below). Central Intake can be reached phone at 204-785-7752 or 1-866-757-6205 if you have any questions about the program. Referrals can be tasked on the Interlake-Eastern RHA’s EMR to the Mental Health Intake role or faxed to 204-785-4870.
To learn more about, Child & Adolescent Community Mental Health, and Mental Health Services for the Elderly, head to those webpages.
Psychiatric Consultation
RACE and eConsult
There are now two available services for rapid access to psychiatric advice – RACE and eConsult – that primary health care providers may use to improve the management of their patients leading to educed need for consultation and improved outcomes of those waiting for in person consultation.
The goal of RACE and e Consult is to improve care for patients with psychiatric conditions through:
- Access to early psychiatric advice
- Advice on treatment adjustments
- Reduction in low-priority office referrals
RACE and eConsult do not provide:
- Appointment booking, arranging transfer, or admission to hospital
- Arranging for laboratory or diagnostic investigations
- Consultation for patients currently admitted to a hospital or personal care home (RACE only)
- Consultation for acute crisis situations
RACE: Rapid Access to Consultative Expertise
Atelephone service that provides access to a psychiatry consultant for advice by calling one central number. This service is available to physicians, physician assistants working with a family physician, nurse practitioners, and pediatricians who have an ongoing relationship with their patients. Callers are directed to choose one of four consultation options: Adult, Child and Adolescent, Geriatric Psychiatry and Substance Use Disorders. Calls are answered in priority sequence, usually within 2 hours, with a maximum turnaround of 48 hours.
To contact RACE, please call: 204-940-2573 (Open: Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4 pm)
eConsult Manitoba
A secure web-based consultation platform that connects registered primary health care providers (family physicians, nurse practitioners and their delegates) with specialists to exchange written advice for cases that may not require an in-person assessment of the patient. In addition to psychiatry, eConsult Manitoba also provides access to a wide range of other specialists.
Most eConsults are responded to within 2-3 days, with a guaranteed response within one week.
eConsults are commonly used for medication and monitoring advice, resource information, and referral guidance.
To use eConsult, one time registration is required. Contact [email protected] for more info and to set up an account.
Direct Access to Psychiatric Consultation for Older Adults
For a direct one-time only psychiatric consultation for older adults, please complete the Mental Health Services for the Elderly MHSE Referral Form and check off Direct Geriatric Psychiatry Consultation at the top of the form. Referrals for this program must come the individual’s primary health care provider. All referrals are reviewed by Central Intake and the geriatric psychiatrist. Some referrals may have a Community Mental Health Worker meet with the individual first prior to the psychiatric consultation.
Primary Care Direct Access to Psychiatry Consultation Program
The Primary Care Direct Access to Psychiatry Consultation Program will give primary health care providers and residents of the Interlake-Eastern RHA timely access to one-time psychiatric consultation.
Individuals are referred to the Interlake-Eastern RHA Primary Care Direct Access to Psychiatry Consultation Program by their primary health care provider (physician or nurse practitioner) only.
Criteria for referrals to the Primary Care Direct Access to Psychiatry Consultation program are:
- Referrals must be submitted on the program’s referral form by the individual’s primary health care provider.
- Referrals are for diagnostic clarification or treatment recommendations.
- Individuals must be 18 years of age and over.
- Individuals must live within the Interlake-Eastern RHA catchment area.
- Referrals are for a one-time only psychiatry consultation.
- Referrals cannot be for 3rd party assessments.
- Referrals cannot be for ongoing treatment (counselling/psychotherapy).
- Referrals are not for drop in services.
- Referrals are not for second opinions.
- Individuals referred cannot be involved with the Community Mental Health Program, including the Shared Care Program (please speak with the individual’s Community Mental Health Worker about the possibility of a psychiatric consultation).
- Individuals referred cannot be involved with the Brief Treatment program with the Selkirk and Area My Health Team or Ashern/Hodgson Area My Health Team (please speak with the individual’s Brief Treatment Counsellor about the possibility of a psychiatric consultation.
- Referrals do not require urgent assessment.
- Referrals related to medication recommendations are, where appropriate, to be directed to the Rapid Access to Consultative Expertise (RACE) program.
Appointments will be offered virtually (i.e. video conference) or in-person. Once the psychiatric consultation occurs, the primary health care provider will receive a copy of the consultation report.
Completed referral forms can be tasked to the Mental Health Intake role on the Interlake-Eastern RHA’s electronic medical record or by faxing it to 204-785-4870.
Psychiatric Consultation within the Community Mental Health Program
If a primary health care provider has someone on their caseload that is involved with Community Mental Health Worker (CMHW) through the Community Mental Health Program, please consult with the CMHW about the possibility of a psychiatric assessment.
