Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

Refer a Patient

For our most current wait times by specialty and location, see our Access Dashboard.

View Seattle Children’s Access Dashboard

How to Refer a Patient

If you are unsure about whether to refer your patient, please call our Clinical Intake Nurses at 206-987-2080, option 1.  To locate or expedite a referral, call Clinical Intake Coordinators at 206-987-2080, option 2.

Appointment availability

Updated July 2023

We welcome new patients. A referral is encouraged but not required.  Wait times are currently between 2 to 4 weeks in the Puget Sound region and 7 to 12 weeks in Eastern Washington. 

Referral requirements

Please submit a referral that is complete. This helps us schedule your patient’s appointment in a timely manner and ensure their first visit is smooth and productive.     

Please include:

  • Service/specialty clinic requested
  • Reason for referral: what is the clinical question for the specialist?
  • If the referral is urgent (see within 4 weeks) or routine (next available)
  • ICD-10 diagnosis – required
  • Visit type:
    • New patient consult, transfer of care, second opinion, or return visit/ongoing care
  • ALL relevant clinical documents
    • Clinic notes
    • Medication history
    • Growth charts/curves
    • Lab reports
    • Imaging and diagnostic reports  (Images can be uploaded to PowerShare), including location where imaging was completed.
    • Previous specialty evaluations
  • Patient’s full name, DOB, sex, address, guardian contact information and insurance
  • Referring provider’s name, phone, fax and the referral coordinator’s email address so that we may contact you if additional information is needed
  • Preferred clinic location (Seattle, Bellevue, Everett, Federal Way, Olympia, Wenatchee, Tri-Cities)
  • If an interpreter is needed
  • Any known barriers to performing a successful telehealth (video) visit with the family

Please note:

  • Algorithms are available to support your patient care for some conditions and help you know when to refer; see our “Resources for Providers”
  • Telemedicine appointments for certain conditions: We offer telemedicine visits for the following diagnoses (new patients only):
    • Idiopathic scoliosis (requirements: x-rays in the system, over age 16)
    • Clavicle fractures (requirements: x-rays in the system, fracture is immobilized)
    • Curly toes
    • Trigger thumb (under age 2)
    • In-toeing and out-toeing

Submit a referral

New Appointment Request Form (NARF) (PDF) (DOC)

Step-by-step guide to submitting a referral

New Patient Referral FAQ

  • No pre-referral work-up is required for most conditions. If you have already done a work-up, please fax the information to 206-985-3121 with the NARF.
  • If imaging studies (CT, MRI, X-rays) have been done, please upload to PowerShare or mail a disc to:

Seattle Children’s Orthopedics
OA.920.1
PO Box 5371
Seattle WA 98145-5005

Please call our Clinical Intake Nurses if you need assistance: 206-987-2080, option 1.

We’re committed to partnering with you

We are always available to answer questions and support your care of your patients.

  • Diagnosis and treatment options: call 206-987-7777 (Provider-to-Provider Line)
  • Referring or transporting a patient to our Emergency Department or Urgent Care: call 206-987-8899 or toll free 866-987-8899 (ED Communications Center)
  • Questions about scheduling and referrals, including locating or expediting a referral: call 206-987-2080 (Clinical Intake Nurses) 

Learn more about managing your patients at Seattle Children’s, including viewing your patient's records.

Meet the Orthopedics and Sports Medicine team.   

We see patients in Seattle, Everett, Bellevue, Federal Way, Olympia, Wenatchee and Tri-Cities. See our regional clinic locations.

What Your Patients Can Expect

  • Once we receive your referral, your patient will be in our queue to review and schedule. Many services have a long wait for appointments.
  • Families may call 206-987-2109 to ask to be added to a cancellation list.
  • We review openings and the patient referral queue daily.
  • As openings become available, we call families to schedule based on provider availability and the patient’s condition and acuity.

 Resources and research for families. 

Resources for Providers

To suggest additional resources from Seattle Children’s that would be useful to primary care providers, please email physician.relations@seattlechildrens.org.