PATIENT INFORMATION

 Your Health Comes First

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MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

Patients with serious medical emergencies (chest pain, breathing difficulties) should go to the nearest Emergency Department.  Our Clinic is not equipped to deal with medical emergencies.

For any medical concerns or urgent issues, please do not message the Clinic using email.  Please call the office to book an appointment with your physician.

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ZERO TOLERANCE

Harassment of or violence against any member of CARE4YOU Medical Centre staff or physician will not be tolerated or ignored. Our workplace has an obligation to keep our team safe from workplace violence and harassment, including verbal abuse and/or harassment.  We ask that all interactions with our team remain respectful, including when speaking over the phone.

​Any behaviour judged to be abusive, threatening, disruptive, aggressive or intimidating, infringing on the dignity or respect of a person, be it physically, verbally or in writing, could result in your physician or  Clinic Administration terminating your healthcare relationship with our Clinic if this behaviour significantly disrupts the practice or where a patient poses a risk of harm to the physician, staff, colleagues and/or other patients.

We thank you for your cooperation and look forward to a continuing respectful relationship and workplace.

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HEALTH CARDS

PLEASE BRING YOUR HEALTH CARD WITH YOU TO EVERY VISIT!

You will be asked by our Receptionists to present it when checking in at every visit.  It is your responsibility to carry a valid health card.

Your health care at the Clinic is paid for via your health card. It is the policy of the Ontario Ministry of Health that a VALID provincial health card (Ontario or otherwise) is required at every visit.

If you do not have your valid health card to present at your visit, you could be charged for the visit. If you present a valid card within 30 days of your visit, any amount you have paid will be reimbursed.  However, our admin fee will not be reimbursed.

 

Remember:  Keep your health card up to date to ensure access to health care and to prevent fraud. If your health card is lost, stolen or damaged, you should immediately call the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care info line at 1-800-664-8998.  If your address or name has changed, visit or call your local OHIP office or the Ministry of Health.

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UNINSURED SERVICES

THE ONTARIO GOVERNMENT COVERS THE COST OF PROVIDING MEDICALLY NECESSARY SERVICES TO PATIENTS THROUGH THE ONTARIO HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN (OHIP).

Certain services are not covered by OHIP and will have a fee attached to them (eg doctors notes, completion of forms, driver’s physicals, invalid health card, etc.). You will always be notified prior to receiving an uninsured service of the cost attached. These fees must be paid at the time of service. Payment can be made by cash.

Requests for transfer of medical information to Alternative Health Practitioners (e.g. naturopaths, chiropractors, osteopaths) are subject to a transfer fee, as set out in the Uninsured Services list.

Lab tests or imaging that may be requested by Alternative Health Practitioners will only be ordered by the physicians after assessment, and only if medically indicated.

Visits exclusively for travel medical advice are not covered by OHIP and subject to fees as set out in the Uninsured Services.

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SWITCHING OR TRANSFERRING TO ANOTHER FAMILY PHYSICIAN

Once you have seen a family physician in our office, it is our policy NOT to allow switches to other physicians of the clinic, for the following reasons:

- All of our physicians are fully qualified to provide primary care to patients of all ages and genders. All of our physicians practice in similar ways.

- Our physicians work in a collaborative team, and are therefore hesitant to contradict a colleague if a conflict arises between a patient’s request and their physician’s professional opinion or advice. Patients deserve an unbiased second opinion, which can only be obtained through a new physician in a different clinic.

- Taking on new patients requires a significant amount of administrative work to review health history as well as old medical records; allowing switching would increase this administrative work, and reduce physician availability for medical care.

- As our physicians work in a collaborative group practice, if you are unhappy with your current physician, there may be instances where you would have to see that physician again should you stay with another physician in the clinic; this has the potential to result in sub-optimal medical care.

This policy does not prevent patients from reasonable access to a physician; we are fortunate to be located in the GTA with a high density of health care providers, and patients may certainly seek care with a new physician at a different clinic.

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PRESCRIPTION RENEWALS

Prescriptions are usually reviewed during an appointment. Before each visit, please make sure to check the number of remaining renewals for your prescriptions. Your physician will endeavour to ensure that there are sufficient number of refills until your next visit for re-evaluation of your medical condition. Please monitor your prescriptions and contact the Clinic for an appointment renewal well in advance of prescriptions running out if you know you need to see your physicians before a renewal.

If you are running out of a prescribed medication (with no renewal), it is because your physician would like to review your health/ risks /benefits /effectiveness of the medications before you continue to use them.  Please make an appointment with your family physician before your medications run out.

If you run out without having made an appointment, our Walk-in Clinic will issue a ONE TIME SHORT SUPPLY renewal at the request of your pharmacy. Please allow up 48 hours for prescriptions to be sent to the pharmacy. 

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LEGAL & DISCLAIMER

We do not assume responsibility for the accuracy or appropriateness of the information contained at, or endorse the viewpoints expressed at such other websites.