Asthma (Respiratory Medicine) Referral Criteria

Who can refer

All internal/external providers.

Patient age

Under 17.5 years at the time of referral

Patient acceptance

Referrals sent to the SickKids Asthma Clinic will be reviewed and rejected if they don't meet our Clinical criteria.

If your patient has another significant respiratory disorder (eg, aspiration lung disease, bronchiectasis) in addition to asthma, please refer them to the General Chest Clinic.

Please consider sending your referral to a community pediatric respirologist or asthma clinic listed under the Community clinical resources for shorter wait times and easier access to care for patients that live in the area.

Clinical criteria

ICU admission for asthma
Ongoing asthma attacks (hospital admission, ED visits, courses of oral steroids), frequent asthma symptoms or abnormal lung function while on standard asthma medication taken daily for at least 3 consecutive months (Children <12yo: daily moderate dose inhaled steroids*; Children >=12yo: daily inhaled steroid + long-acting beta-agonist**) for at least 3 months
Consideration for biologic therapies
Second opinion from asthma community partners

*Children <12yo: Fluticasone propionate (Flovent/Aermony), Ciclesonide (Alvesco), Beclomethasone (QVAR), Mometasone (Asmanex) 200-250ug/day, Mometasone (Pulmicort) 400ug/day

**Children >=12yo: Fluticasone propionate/salmeterol (Advair) or Mometasone/formoterol (Zenhale), Mometasone/indacterol (Atectura) 200-250ug/day, Budesonide/formoterol (Symbicort) 400ug/day

Rejection criteria

Patients who have well-controlled asthma for ongoing followup (unless patient is on biologics for asthma)
Patients who have not been on at least 3 months of daily standard asthma medication (see above clinical criteria)

Notes

Days operational

Monday afternoons
Thursday afternoons

Community clinical resources

Interactive Map of Pediatric Respirologists: Pediatric Respirology Community Partners - Google My Maps

Dr. Sarah Kwon: Phone: 905-472-7534; Fax: 905-472-7535; Address: Markham Stouffville Hospital, 381 Church St, Markham, ON L6B 1A1
Dr. Joanna Massam and Dr. Tania Samanta: Phone: 416-756-6479; Fax: 416-756-6152; Address: Pediatric Clinic - North York General Hospital, 4001 Leslie Street, Toronto, ON M2K 1E1
Dr. Rahul Verma: Phone: 905-264-8311; Fax: 905-264-0801; Address: Rutherford Medical Clinic, 5283 Rutherford Road, Unit 3, Woodbridge, ON L4H 2T2

Dr. Andrew Zikic: Phone: 416-848-7665; Fax: 416-848-7664; Address: Kindercare Pediatrics Leaside, 25 Industrial Street, East York, ON. M4G 1Z2
Dr. Andrew Zikic and Dr. Costantine Petrou: Phone: 416-469-6590; Fax: 416-469-6591; Address: Michael Garron Hospital, 825 Coxwell Avenue, East York, ON M4C 3E7
Dr. Zoe Nugent: Phone: 705-740-8055; Fax: 705-740-8004; Address: Peterborough Regional Health Centre, 1 Hospital Drive, Peterborough, ON K9J 7C6
Dr. Andrew Zikic, Dr. Denis Gurwitz and Dr. Tauyee Hsieh: Phone: 416-291-7719; Fax: 416-287-3775; Address: Malvern Medical Clinic, 520 Ellesmere Rd-5th Floor, Scarborough, ON M1R 0B1

Dr. Neha Sharma and Dr. Tania Samanta: Phone: 416-242-1000 ext: 21400; Fax: 416-242-1095; Address: Asthma Clinic - Humber River Hospital, 1235 Wilson Avenue - 4th Floor, Toronto, ON M3M 0B2
Dr. Tania Samanta: Phone: 416-530-6625; Fax: 416-530-6294; Address: St. Joseph’s Asthma Clinic, 30 The Queensway, Toronto, ON M6R 1B5
Dr. Dennis Gurwitz: Phone: 416-281-1100; Fax: 416-281-1105; Address: 123 Eglinton Ave East - Suite 1605, Toronto, ON M4P 1J2
Dr. Joanna Massam: Phone: 416-531-3331; Fax: 416-531-1639; Address: Clairhust Pediatrics, 1466 Bathurst Street, Unit 201, Toronto, ON M5R 3S3

Dr. Peter Bikangaga: Phone: 905-494-2120 ext: 22552; Fax: 905-863-2468; Address: Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated Health and Wellness, 20 Lynch Street, Brampton, ON L6W 2Z8 (REFERRAL FORM)
Dr. Peter Bikangaga: Phone: 905-456-5656; Fax: 905-456-9572; Address: 157 Queen Street East, Suite 207, Brampton, ON L6W 3X4
Dr. Jason McConnery: Phone: 519-749-4300, ext: 2291; Fax: 519-741-0286; Address: Grand River Hospital, 835 King St W, Kitchener, ON N2G 1G3
Dr. Juliana Giraldo Salazar and Dr. Neha Sharma: Phone: 905-876-5056; Fax: 289-670-2176; Address: Treehouse Pediatrics, Unit 302 10 Bronte St S, Milton, ON L9T 9M2
Dr. Neha Sharma: Phone: 905-338-4691; Fax: 905-338-4631; Address: Pediatric Asthma Outpatient Clinic - Milton District Hospital, 725 Bronte St. S, Milton, ON L9T 9K1
Dr. Tara Allen: Phone: 905-813-4120; Fax: 905-813-4128; Address: Pediatric Medical Clinic - The Credit Valley Hospital, 2200 Eglinton Avenue West, Mississauga, ON L5M 2N1
Dr. Neha Sharma: Phone: 905-338-4691; Fax: 905-338-4631; Address: Pediatric Asthma Outpatient Clinic, 3001 Hospital Gate, Oakville, ON L6M 0L8
Dr. Jason McConnery: Phone: 519-578-3500 ext: 1; Fax: 519-741-0286; Address: Kidwell Pediatrics - Medical Centre 1, 430 The Boardwalk, Suite 304, Waterloo, ON N2T 0C1