Scheduling your appointment
To book an appointment with your doctor, you may book online or call our office at (604)535-2520. The MOA (Medical Office Assistant) may ask for some information in order to book your appointment appropriately. You can expect full confidentiality from all of our staff. If your doctor is unavailable, we will try to fit you in with another doctor at the office for same-day appointments.
The standard family doctor’s visit in BC (and most of North America) is 10 minutes. We book 10-15 minute appointment blocks for routine visits. While this may not seem like much time, if it is used wisely and efficiently, a great deal can be accomplished in that time. Please try to focus on your main problem. Tell the doctor about all of your symptoms and we will do our best to address your concerns safely and efficiently. If you have a list of problems, certainly bring it in and we can review and prioritize your concerns. However, multiple and/or complex problems often require subsequent visits; please be prepared to return for follow-up visits at your doctor’s discretion. It is always best to book appointments as health issues arise, rather than waiting for a few concerns to build up.
If your appointment is delayed or cancelled because the doctor had to attend to an emergency (as sometimes happens), please accept our sincere apologies. We will endeavour to rebook your appointment as soon as possible.
Upon Arrival to the office
Please check in at the front desk upon your arrival. If your contact details have changed, it is a good time to let our staff know so we can properly advise you of any specialist appointments, irregular results or scheduling changes to your appointments.
Missed Appointment policy
We ask that you give us 24 hours notice if you are not able to attend an appointment. This allows us enough time to offer that appointment to other patients. Patients who do not show up for scheduled appointment may be charged for the missed appointments. Office staff are not able to call or send reminders for routine appointments.
Requests for phone advice
Patient interview and examination are essential for us to provide quality medical care, therefore such requests are generally counterproductive. Office staff are not able to provide medical advice.
Physicians are not always able to take phone calls from patients. It is potentially unsafe to diagnose and treat over the phone; in addition, phone calls are disruptive to patients being seen in the office.
Test Results
All test results are reviewed by the Physicians. We will contact you if there are any problems with any of your diagnostic tests. Office staff are not able to provide your results over the phone. We do not call you if your results are normal, but please book an appointment if your symptoms persist or you would like to discuss the results with your doctor.
Prescription renewal policies
If you have no repeat prescriptions for a medication, let the doctor know during your office visit and he/she will renew it. If a detailed medication review is appropriate, then a dedicated follow-up visit will be scheduled. We do not renew prescriptions over the phone...
This office follows evidence-based guidelines for all prescriptions, including antibiotics, narcotics and medications for stress-related conditions. In all circumstances, patients using triplicate narcotic medications will be required to sign a treatment agreement contract with their physician.
Referral to Specialists
Before any referrals are arranged, you must see your family doctor for pre-consultation information gathering and investigations. This will facilitate a faster and more effective referral.
After-hours, Weekend and Holiday Coverage
The office is closed evenings, weekends and holidays. If you need medical attention after-hours, please call 811 for the BC Nurses’ Hotline or go to the nearest walk-in clinic. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911 or go to the Emergency Department at Peace Arch or Surrey Memorial Hospital.
Uninsured services
Fees for medical services that are not covered by the Provincial insurance plan (MSP) are the responsibility of the patient. The fees are assigned as per the recommendations of Doctors of BC (formerly BC Medical Association).
We realize and will always take into consideration that some patients may not be able to afford some uninsured services. Please don’t hesitate to inform us if these charges pose a financial hardship to you; we will generally attempt to take this into consideration.
The following services are not covered by MSP: Drivers Licence Medical exams, Employment/sports/camp medical exam forms, sick notes, missed appointments, transfer of charts and cosmetic procedures.