Patient FAQs

TESTING

Footbridge-Referral-10-25-2021

A referral is needed to obtain a consultation with a physician at Footbridge.  This can be obtained through visiting your family doctor or a walk-in-clinic.  Once the referral is received, it will be reviewed and triaged by one of our physicians.  Your referring doctor will be notified we have received your referral.  Your referral will be added to the wait list.  A Footbridge team member will contact you directly with your appointment date and time.

If you are experiencing musculoskeletal pain, and do not know where to start, we suggest booking an appointment with a Footbridge physiotherapist (a referral is not needed), who can provide an assessment and facilitate an appointment with a physician or pedorthist if required.

Consultations with all physicians at Footbridge are covered by all provincial MSP and for all residents in Canada (excluding Quebec).

Consultations with a Footbridge Physiotherapist are often covered by extended health, and – in some cases – by provincial MSP.  Please contact your insurance provider for more information about your coverage.

Pedorthic assessments are not covered by MSP, but are often covered by extended health plans.

Footbridge is located in downtown Vancouver, between Gastown and Chinatown.  Further information about directions can be found here.

Footbridge has a limited number of complimentary spots available, which are first come, first served (Spots 215 – 219).  Other spots are available and cost $1.75/hour.

Underground parking is accessible via the lane off Abbott Street, between Keefer Place and Pender Street.  The parkade is marked with a red and white sign: “Impark Public Parking”.  Alternative parking lots are available on the nearby side streets or underground off the Keefer Place traffic circle.

All incoming referrals are actively reviewed and managed by our centralized triage system.  Each referral is reviewed by one of our physicians and triaged to the first available, most appropriate physician, in order to get you on the path to health in the quickest manner possible.  As a result, your referral may be directed to a different doctor; if you would prefer to see a certain physician, please call our office.

All physician appointments at Footbridge are booked via email.  Patients receive an email approximately four weeks prior to the scheduled appointment time with the appointment details (including date, time, and the physician).  Upon receiving the email/appointment notification, patients must confirm the appointment within 48 hours, or the appointment will be cancelled.

There are two ways to confirm and/or change a physician appointment:

1.  THROUGH OUR SECURE ONLINE PORTAL: appointments can be confirmed or a different appointment requested by clicking on the link in the email.  Patients will be asked to answer some questions to confirm identity. you can confirm or request a different appointment day/time by clicking on the link in the email that you receive.  You will be asked to answer some questions to confirm your identity once in the portal you can either confirm that you will attend your assigned appointment date/time, or request a different date/time.
2. BY CALLING OUR CENTRE: you can call us to confirm or change the appointment date/time.  Our phone number is:  778-945-6756.  Please ask to speak with extension 112.

Footbridge doctors operate at three different hospitals.

If your physician was:

• Dr. Jordan Leith – your surgery will either be at ASC or UBC Hospital
• Drs. Stothers, Penner, Younger, Wing, Velkjovic, Sadr – your surgery will take place at St. Paul’s Hospital

Currently, the approximate wait-times for surgery are as follows:

• Inpatient foot and ankle procedures: 9-12 months
• Daycare foot and ankle procedures: 6-12 months
• Hip & Knee Replacements: 10 – 12 months
• Sport Knee (ACL etc.): 4-8 months

Yes.  Patients on our cancellation list have expressed that they are able to have surgery with less than two weeks’ notice.  If you would like to be added to our surgical cancellation list, please contact our office: 778-945-6756 XT 117.

Patients who choose to have surgery with the “next available” surgeon will be booked in with the first available, most appropriate surgeon.  Since patients are not on a wait list for a specific surgeon, wait times for surgery are generally much shorter.  Patients who select this option will be required to come in for a pre-op appointment with the surgeon who will be performing the surgery at least six weeks prior to the scheduled surgery. 

Footbridge receives the surgery schedules 2-4 months in advance.  Therefore, patients are notified approximately 2-4 months before surgery.  When we have a surgical date available, we will contact you, and detail all of the steps needed to prepare for your operation.

Please call and advise our office of any dates that you will be away or unavailable for surgery while on our surgical wait list.  

Your Footbridge Patient Care Team will inform you what equipment will be needed for surgery when you hear from us to confirm a surgery date.  The equipment required may include:  walker boot, mobility aid, home care, etc.

If you have lost the list that was emailed to you (through our secure server), please call us: 778-945-6756 XT 117.

Equipment can be purchased at Footbridge or at most medical supply stores.  Some items can be rented through Red Cross Health Equipment Loan Program.

Some patients may require a consultation with the anesthesiologist or nurse prior to surgery.  If this is needed, St. Paul’s Hospital pre-admission clinic will contact you to book approximately 1-2 weeks before the date of your surgery.

You can expect a call from Footbridge* the day before your scheduled surgery.

We will provide you with the following:

• Time to arrive at the hospital,
• Where to check in,
• Eating and drinking protocol

*Patients of Dr. Leith having surgery at ASC or UBC Hospital, will receive a call from the hospital directly with this information.  

After you have had your operation, the surgeon (or fellow) will visit you to answer questions.  You will also be provided with all information you need for post-operative care.