What to bring to each and every appointment
- your health card (e.g. OHIP) – ministry requirement
- your current medications (or a complete and accurate list) - including prescription drugs (with dosage and frequency), over-the-counter medications, vitamins, supplements, herbal and homeopathic remedies
- name and dosage of recent medications prescribed by other physicians (e.g. antibiotics)
Lab Results
Lab results will not be given or discussed on the phone. Results will be discussed in a follow-up visit. For specific medical conditions, the staff will call you with a test result and instructions for treatment (e.g. INR results and changes in blood-thinner dose).
Medication Refills
There will be a charge for any medications renewed over the phone. So please keep track of your medication supply and book an appointment to refill your medications at least 1 week before you run out. Your doctor will prescribe enough medications to last you until a follow-up visit is warranted. Your condition will change over time, and regular assessments, which may include lab tests, are required to adjust your treatment plan to optimize your health.
Referrals and Investigations
It can take up to 1 week to arrange referrals to specialists and special investigations. If you have not heard about an appointment after 1-2 weeks, please call our office to check on the status of the referral.
Timeliness
We respect your time and will try to remain on schedule. Being on-time requires the office’s cooperation as well as yours. If you have a number of concerns please prioritize them with the most pressing concern first. Please limit the number of issues to a maximum of 2 per visit. This will ensure that we can devote sufficient attention to all of your concerns, without unnecessary time-pressures. You are welcome to make any number of follow-up visits for the rest of your concerns.
If you arrive late for your appointment we can only spend the remainder of the visit on your concerns. If you miss it all together we will bill you for the lost appointment and re-book it for you.
Missed Appointments
OHIP does not compensate for the time and expenses we incur due to missed appointments. You will be billed for your missed appointment. We will gladly book another appointment for you once you have paid this in full.
If you need to cancel an appointment, please notify us as soon as possible so we can fit another patient into your slot. Cancellations after your appointment time will incur a missed appointment fee. Complete physical and counselling appointments require 24 hours notice of cancellation.
Uninsured Services
There are some services that OHIP does not cover. OHIP considers these to be not medically necessary and are therefore uninsured. Please click on the link below for option of signing up to our uninsured services program.
Seeing Other Physicians: ER, Walk-in Clinincs, etc.
There may be times when you have an urgent concern and need to see a physician after hours. Please do not roster or sign up with the after-hour clinic or physicians unless you wish to permanently switch your primary healthcare provider. To ensure continuity of your care, ask that your reports and results be copied to your regular doctor. Bring new medications to your next appointment. Do not see your doctor on the same day that you see another doctor for the same problem, unless you are prepared to pay for the visit (OHIP will not pay).
Scent Free and Smoke Free Environment
People at the office have respiratory conditions that make their airways sensitive to strong odours and irritants. Please refrain from wearing strong perfumes / colognes when visiting the office, and refrain from smoking prior to your appointment.