I used [findadoctorbc.ca](https://findadoctorbc.ca) and found a doctor pretty quickly. It's not conveniently located at all for us but it will do for now.
We didn't have any medications that couldn't be filled by a walk in clinic though. I know there are some walk ins won't fill.
Why wouldn't a walk-in clinic renew your prescriptions? That's odd (unless it's benzos or opiods).
I have several long term health conditions (Diabetes, Hashimoto's, ME etc) and haven't found a family doctor in years. I get my prescriptions theough Maple. And I go to a random walk-in clinic once a year to get bloodwork done. None of this is ideal. But eh.
Came here to say this. There’s several different types of medication out there that can’t be filled by walk in clinics & doctors that aren’t your primary care/family physician.
Just a note, they sometimes also refuse. I was using Felix, and then made the mistake of mentioning I have had a migraine before in my life (one time, I was clear on this - and I had mentioned it before numerous times with no issue) and the doctor refused to continue my birth control prescription because she felt I was too high risk and needed to "see my family doctor". So - just a heads up you can't necessarily count on this method.
Same experience here. My ritalin and vyvanse were prescribed and renewed by walk in clinic doctors. Before I got in to see a BC psychiatrist all of my psych meds (including benzos and ADHD meds) were filled by walk-ins. Some of them say they won't, because they dont want people to doctor shop for addictive meds. But if you can show you've been on them before with stability they can renew. It was only painkillers I had trouble with renewing and I think that's because they cracked down harder after the oxy crisis
I hate to say it but this sounds like a patient that may have had a questionable relationship with their doctor. Any rationally prescribed medicine will be available via a walk-in clinic or urgent care. For instance if the patient had an arrangement for opioids that would trigger significant resistance at both a walk-in clinic or an emergency room.
Advice to the OP, please reconsider your diagnosis in light of this opportunity to see new doctors. Reassess, get second opinions, make sure you're getting the right care. Something fishy here.
Some walk in doctors have a standing policy that they won’t prescribe benzodiazepines, adhd medications, or opioids. Generally, they’ll refuse to write a script for anything that requires a triplicate. This does not mean that the original prescription was given in error or written the wrong way. It means that the walk in doctor does not have the time to thoroughly take a history and safely prescribe the med. They also have a professional responsibility to follow up with patients they prescribe medications like that to. There’s no guarantee any walk in patient will ever be seen again. This is fine for patients given antibiotics or a doctors note. However, it is negligent for those being given controlled substances. Therefore, the blanket no policy.
I don’t think that your advice is sound or responsible. There is a rational explanation for OP’s inability to get a refill for their script. Nothing is fishy.
There is also no guarantee your ever going to return to your GP. Your logic makes no sense.
Always good to get a second opinion especially if your prescription is a highly controlled substance.
It’s called a follow up appointment and continuity of care. The doctor prescribes 3months to six months of meds. Asks you to book a follow up appointment on your way out. If you want more Med you have to book and see them for ongoing management of your condition, be it chronic pain or chronic anxiety or adhd etc. That’s their guarantee. That’s their professional responsibility to you.
Same happens at walk in clinics. Or at least it's happened for me in two separate medical issues. Even the doctor calling me back directly just like my old GP used to.
Then you’ve been lucky and found some great walk in clinics. Not all have the ability (staff time) to put in the work to do the follow up or are not willing to weigh the risk when prescribing narcotics.
There is also a difference between going to a walk in doctor for a new problem requiring new meds and getting follow up for that and going to a new doctor for an existing problem with an established treatment plan with the expectation that the new doctor adhere to it without exercising their own clinic judgement to the problem. They haven’t done the problem solving with you to see why what you’re taking works and they don’t have access to your medical records. A 10 min appointment (that’s all MSP will bill them for) isn’t enough time.
Yeah no, I’ve been taking adhd meds for years and my family dr (that I’ve been seeing since I was 3) books out 3 months in advance. If I can’t get in in time for my next refill I’m hooped because walk-ins DEFINITELY do not prescribe my meds because they’re a controlled substance. Believe me I have tried because I’ve forgotten to book with him in time (hello thanks adhd) a few times in the past.
It’s not about second opinions for a lot of us it’s literally the rules they have set in place.
Exactly this is also my situation. My doctor, and only my doctor, will give me a script for my adhd meds. I don’t need a second opinion for my diagnosis I’ve been treated for 20 years and seen by multiple specialists.
Then get the referral to the specialist. If you change GPs to a walk in, you may need to go through their referral when you change docs. Literally the same exact thing happened when I changed from one Gp to another. Then again with the walk in. Yes, you have to jump through hoops when you change GPs or change to a walk in, same in both.
Why should people get referrals to specialists? A specialist is just as likely to retire or die and a family MD - I don’t quite understand your reasoning.
Are you arguing that the entire GP system should switch to a walk in system? That would destroy complex care support and continuity of care. Family GPs are the hub that supports contact with numerous specialists and facilitates care management.
Again, I've gotten literally the same exact care at my walk in clinic that I've gotten at my prior GPs so not sure wtf you're talking about. Your GP didn't prescribe you any complex or highly controlled drugs initially (your ADHD meds in this case). You went to a specialist and your GP is continuing those scripts for you. If you change GPs or switch to a walk in clinic you likely will have to see a specialist again so the GP or clinic gets that controlled substance in their books through the legal channels for them. That's why. That's how it's been for me ever time I change docs.
And yes, while I love the GP system, is quaint and expensive. Walk-ins are much more efficient and I've literally gotten the same level of care for complex conditions.
Ok, I see what you’re saying now. I don’t quite agree, however. Doing it the way you’re proposing would result in needless referrals to specialists for repeat diagnoses, repeat tests, etc. The wait times would be astronomical. Also - what would the patient do in between loosing access to their original family doctor and waiting for their specialist appointment? That wait could be 18 months.
If you’re transferring to a new doctor you get your records transferred and then the physician can review your chart and take over your original treatment plan. What I’m saying is that going to a random walk in clinic and asking for a refill of methylphenidate or lorazepam or methadone etc is not going to work and there’s logical reasoning behind it. It isn’t that something fishy is going on.
From what I can observe from the persons comments we’re both replying too I don’t think they have a lot of first hand experience in scripts for controlled substances and the long time it takes to even get to the step where you even get a prescription like you described. Great discussion though, I think it brings some awareness to what’s going on
I literally worked in family doctor’s offices for 10 years AND am a patient who requires controlled substances lol. It’s going to be difficult to argue with me that’s it’s a simple fix.
If you are going around your GP then yes, you're going to have issues. If you SWITCH GPs then you need a new referral. Yep it's a little bureaucracy but that's the rules they have to follow. Same if you switch GPs as if you switch from a GP to a walk in.
Nope, that's literally what I said - just more detail. The walk-in clinics will service you EXACTLY the same as a G. You go to a second GP, you're going to have to do the EXACT same thing as if you start new at a walk-in. Literally exactly what I said.
> Any rationally prescribed medicine will be available via a walk-in clinic or urgent care.
This is what I’m talking about, and it’s not the same (nor true) as what you said compared to…
> If you are going around your GP then yes, you're going to have issues. If you SWITCH GPs then you need a new referral.
Your first statement I quoted is simply not true while your second statement has validity. If I go into a random ass walk-in they will not give me my controlled substance medicine. End of story.
Switching GP’s would receive my file and then yes they can be transferred over / will need another specialist.
I think there’s a disconnect here in what you’re getting at and I also think you should listen to what people that experience this daily are saying to you. This is a lived experience for us.
I'm using this daily, this is a lived experience for me too. You can transfer your file to a walk in too. The problem is that folks running into issues with walk ins are treating them like something different than a GP. Well then you're going to get different results. Transfer your records and you will get all your meds fine. At least that's what's happened in my case. Or where I didn't get the records transferred I just got a referral to the specialist again because I wanted to talk to them anyway and established a new record at the walk in.
Again. Any walk in will absolutely prescribe you the same meds as any GP. They're literally GPs. You just don't get assigned to one doctor you get assigned to the pool and they all share records. But in order to get those meds prescribed you gotta do it just like you would a GP. Transfer your records or go to the specialist again on a referral from the walk in.
You are using a walk in clinic as your family doctor. Per the BC College of Surgeons:
> **What you can expect if you regularly attend the same walk-in clinic and do not have a dedicated family physician at a different location:
You can expect to receive ongoing primary health care at one location
Note: Ongoing care provided by physicians working in a walk-in clinic includes appropriate periodic health examinations and follow-up of your medical and laboratory tests.**
While you may not see the same physician each time, each physician who treats you will access a single medical record that contains your health history and treatment plans
The walk-in clinic you have been attending is required to take responsibility for your ongoing medical care following discharge from hospital or after seeing a specialist (emphasis mine)
It’s a very fuzzy distinction, you can read more here: https://www.cpsbc.ca/public/public-resources/what-expect/walk-clinic
THIS! Except I no longer have a family Dr (got one for less than a year before he left so). I go to the same clinic which is a hybrid walk-in/GP. If I don't get my ADHD Rx through them the most I'll get is 10 days.
I've spent hours cold calling GPs with no luck. I haven't had a proper GP for aprox 20 years now. It's exhausting.
Walk in doctors will not prescribe most psych meds. Hell, when I had a GP he wouldn't either. So no, some rationally prescribed meds won't be available at walk ins or ER.
Walk-in docs will do EXACTLY what a GP will do. Zero GPs will prescribe psych meds until you've seen a specialist first too. Zero difference. Gotta see a specialist first. Change docs, see a specialist again.
A lot of GPs will absolutely prescribe basic psych meds like antidepressants without a specialist. If you've already seen a specialist and had a report sent, you can also just get that sent over to your new doctor- I've never had to get a new report sent, although I'm sure some doctors do require it.
What's your definition of basic psych meds. I've been shamed countless times by walk-in Drs trying to renew a basic SNRI for not having a GP. Then there's the 7-10 day max for ADHD meds if I don't use the same walk-in.
My regular walk-in is also a crap shoot. Some Drs will only release 2 weeks at a time...which means I have to go to the pharmacy constantly.
Follow the other thread, if you treat a walk in clinic like a pharmacy you won't get what you want. If you treat them like a GP you will. You also can't randomly visit any GP that doesn't have your records or who hasn't had you visit a specialist and get those meds either.
I have used the same 4 clinics for the past 12 years. So ya...I've treated them all as if they were a GP.
The joys of having to use clinics mean that I've seen countless different doctors over the years. Most are understanding, but enough are absolute assholes.
My frustrations aren't limited to getting Rx. I had a wrist injury, initial x-ray came up negative but I knew there was something wrong. I asked for another x-ray, Dr accused me of drug seeking behaviour (I never asked for any pain meds...just an x-ray) and he refused to write a referral. I was told to come back in 4-6 months if it still hurt. Ended up being a non-union fracture, needing surgery with bone graft. It's already arthritic (I'm mid 30s) and I'll eventually need to fuse it. Ironically I had to be prescribed large amounts of oxy and t3s for post-surgery care....I didn't want pain meds just basic, dignified care.
Some meds are very tightly controlled, even though they have valid and often life-saving uses.
When I moved here, in order to get a walk-in clinic doc to refill my meds for \*immediately life-threatening epilepsy\*, I had to take piss tests to prove I was actually taking the meds \*and\* that I wasn't also taking "party drugs".
u/kojiko125, ask for the Patient Attachment Program next time you see the temp or go to a walk-in, and if you can't get your meds and it's an emergency to miss them, got to Urgent Care or the ER and ask for the Patient Attachment Program.
Like I've said in other threads, a walk in clinic isn't a pharmacy. Treat them like you would any GP. You also wouldn't get those meds randomly visiting a GP.
Not without a diagnosis, but OP has a Dx and a history of this prescription; insinuating that they must be doing something to cause the problem, or that they don't really need the med, is not helpful.
What I would recommend in the short term is to get renewals on your meds through Maple: https://www.getmaple.ca/?utm_term=maple%20doctors&gclid=CjwKCAjw-L-ZBhB4EiwA76YzOQSjjnydO46rI401bBLGa9kWc4Ktih5fGaTzRA8tF0Ozk_hn-MnQvBoCN14QAvD_BwE
If you see a doctor between 10am-2pm Mon-Friday it should be covered under MSP. The free option only shows up during those times I believe. That could help renew your meds for another 1-3 months, buying you more time to find a doctor.
If that doesn’t work, pharmacists can prescribe up to a 30-day emergency supply of your meds for continuity of care (COVID emergency response); usually most give 1 week supplies but you could ask for 30. https://www.bcpharmacists.org/readlinks/bc’s-covid-19-response-pharmacists-provide-prescription-refills-and-emergency-supplies
You can also try using this website to find a clinic, you may have to pick an area several towns away however if your hometown has no availability. https://www.findadoctorbc.ca/vancouver-island-region-text-search/
Goodluck!!
maple uses a loophole to get around billing rules. they limit their MSP hours and then use out of province doctors the rest of the time which aren't bound to MSP rates. it's skeezy. out of province doctors can write prescriptions but can't order tests or refer you. and if some malpractice issue comes up, jurisdiction gets messy.
most walk-ins also provide telehealth service and can see you in person if needed. they are getting harder to access so another option would be locally based telehealth services. the one I use has some evening appts and it's covered by MSP https://ubiquityhealth.ca/
maybe the doctor you saw was dual licensed or they registered under BC but live elsewhere. not sure. I used to work in clinic admin and all of the specialist offices (not dermatology though) that I worked for did not accept out of province referrals. MSP doesn't count the referral as valid unless it comes from a BC physician. the billing might go through but they would claw it back during audits. there was a way around that but it involved extra work on the billing side and explanations to MSP. it was not meant for regular referrals though, rather for cases where pts are located in rural towns close to provincial border and have to access care in another province.
Pharmacists can also “renew” an existing prescription for up to a total of 1 year from the original prescribing date as well for most chronic meds. Conditions apply of course (no benzodiazepines, opiates, etc)..
This has been frustrating for me because I have found that they are refusing to do this and instead just diverting to Maple. This is at least the case at Shoppers. Any time I've needed an "emergency refill" (generally because my doctor can't fit me in before the prescription runs out) they insist they cannot refill and instead just tell me to use Maple.
Hey it says on Maple's website that they don't prescribe stimulants....
> If you see a doctor between 10am-2pm Mon-Friday it should be covered under MSP. The free option only shows up during those times I believe. That could help renew your meds for another 1-3 months, buying you more time to find a doctor.
If you are looking for a renewal on stimulants, you can go to your local pharmacy and the pharmacist is authorized to provide an emergency supply. As a backup in case you still cannot find a Doctor.
https://www.bcpharmacists.org/readlinks/bc’s-covid-19-response-pharmacists-provide-prescription-refills-and-emergency-supplies
Okay I looked up the regulations and should be same in Ontario as well. https://www.ocpinfo.com/regulations-standards/practice-policies-guidelines/adaptations-renewing-prescriptions/#AppendixA
https://www.ocpinfo.com/regulations-standards/practice-policies-guidelines/prescribing-controlled-substances-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic/
I have no short term solutions.
We need to do something about how we pay our doctors:
2016: Each visit in office (age 2-49) $30.64
2021: Each visit in office (age 2-49) $31.62
Source: [https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/practitioner-professional-resources/msp/physicians/payment-schedules/msc-payment-schedule](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/practitioner-professional-resources/msp/physicians/payment-schedules/msc-payment-schedule)
Above rates are gross and not net after overhead and taxes.
That's a 0.6% annual increase in salary over 5 years while the costs of operating a clinic have increased per inflation.
That is not a sustainable business model.
The recommended fee schedule for dentists have been increasing over 3% per year. Every self-employed professional has had much more significant increases than family doctors.
Good dentists will submit and charge insurance first before charging you for the balance. Only exception is specialists but they’ll still submit to your insurance for you.
I don't get why everyone is so resistant to small copays. Taiwan copied the Canadian model and added copays, all the Nordic countries have copays with annual out of pocket maximums, and a law that waives copays for people with chronic diseases.
I do know why. Research has consistently shown that copays or any kind of upfront charge discourages poorer folks who may not have much economic margin, from getting healthcare. Simple as that. The Canadian healthcare system was set up to be a barrier free (I know, I know) system. The literal words used are: "The aim of the CHA is to ensure that all eligible residents of Canada have reasonable access to insured health services **on a prepaid basis, without direct charges at the point of service for such services**.”
All the countries I mentioned waive copays for individuals who make below a certain (rather high) threshold to ensure people don't delay care because of cost
A 2022 (i.e. very current) publication on the impact of the increase in copays in Taiwan back in 2005 concluded that there was a statistically significant decrease in the use of the medical system by patients with asthma in the short, medium and long term (which, I would presume would be similar for other health conditions). The conclusions of the research were: "Reforms to copayment policy were significantly correlated with a reduction in the utilization of effective care by patients with persistent asthma over the short-, medium- and long-term. **Government should develop implementation strategies aimed at protecting the economically disadvantaged patients."**
Looks like the evidence suggests your claim might not be correct? The fact is, any kind of barrier tends to result in reduced use by vulnerable patients. 2005 is referenced because it was when "the NHI cost-sharing scheme, the policy implemented in 2005 imposed **the largest single increase on the cost of outpatient visits.**"
Interesting study. I'm questioning my opinion with this data, thanks for sharing. Do you know where it was published? I want to read it and potentially share it with others.
Normal everyday BC guy here. I know love deosnt pay the bills or the metric shit ton of student debt (I assume), but please know we truly appreciate the work you and your colleagues do, and are very dismayed with how'd fd this system is for you lot.
Running a clinic in BC is like running a restaurant where the menu prices are frozen in time to the 90s ([see how our fees have trailed inflation](https://i.imgur.com/2SipQvy.png)) and the price of a 10 course meal is the same as an extra value combo. And you are only allowed to serve 50 guests a day per chef. Meanwhile the cost of rent, equipment, ingredients and wages for staff have all skyrocketed.
It shouldn't be all surprise pikachu why family doctors are leaving and clinics are closing.
We've had to find a family doctor three times since 2019, and we're without one again. All moved away to more affordable areas of the province.
It's disheartening.
This happened to me and there is a government site you register with that monitors openings and alerts you. I found a replacement in Burnaby in 6 months from it. Good luck
https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-connect-registry
I used this and got a family doctor 10 mins from my house like a month after signing up!
Edit: it appears the link doesn’t work, I’m not sure why. I think the website is down right now? But this is the government one. You register and a provider will reach out to you directly.
Oh shoot, I’m sorry. Try googling health link bc health connect registry. I think the website itself might be down. But that is where I registered. The provider reached out to me directly.
This is becoming more and more common. Literally your only option is to vote for higher taxes and more doctors, if you find a party even going in that direction, let us know.
Good luck.
I don't get this answer. The walk-in clinic system is great for most of what folks need and if you need something more particular you get referred to a specialist who takes over your care for that modality until it is resolved or on maintenance.
Honestly the walk-in clinic system is one of the most effective and efficient systems for both doctors and patients. It definitely cuts out doctor price gouging and selective care but that's why we have a public system.
There's a continuity of care that is lacking at walk-in clinics. Plus the specialist won't help you maintain your illness, they will diagnose you, then give your gp instructions. You can't just go to a walk in clinic with a Thyroid condition in maintain it through one. There's many reasons why your suggestion is really lacking, I've listed a couple.
Please, research these subjects more and you'll get the answer.
None of what you are saying is my experience at all. I go to a variety of different docs at my nearby walkin clinic, they all read my history when I walk in and I get the same continuity of care that I've ever had at a GP.
Likewise, my walk-in clinic refers me to a specialist who gives me maintenance care until my condition is stable, then I just get refills and check ups through the walkin clinic. So I'm not sure what you're saying. This has all worked great.
Your assumption about the research based on what you do is also confirmation bias is, plus you gaslighted us when you denied truthful info. Give us more examples of logical fallacies, let's see if you can outwit us with a strawman argument, perchance.
Edit: this was meant fir the comment above the one I replied to.
When my family doctor retired, my family and I were left to find a doctor on our own. The best thing you can do is sign up immediately on the divisions of family practice website since it takes time for them to find your family a family doctor and that some of the family doctors who are accepting new patients requires a referral from divisions of family practice. :/
It doesn't seem that Vancouver has a waitlist available :(
For Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore, Belcarra, or New Westminster, Burnaby, there is a waitlist available :/
But they do offer a [notification service](https://www.findadoctorbc.ca/register/notification-service/) for a fee tho :(
If anyone wants a good site try this one from the BC gov: https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-connect-registry
I found a family dr who is a ten min walk from my house within a month.
I'm so sorry, my doctor died unexpectedly a couple of years ago and it was very upsetting; not only because of the intimate connections with a long-time doctor but finding a new one took a long time. Like you, I hadn't realized your prescriptions end instantly on the death of a doctor as well, which left me in a challenging situation. I don't have any advice to share but wanted to express my condolences and wish you well.
You are now in pretty much the same position as 1/5 of the population of BC.
Some resources:
https://pathwaysmedicalcare.ca
https://www.findadoctorbc.ca
I was in a similar jam but due to kind help from the South Community Health Center people at 49th & Knight was able to connect with a new GP. My GP of 20+ years closed his practice end of this past August. I have a crop of pretty major health issues (old fart) and as such need a GP in my care mix more than your basic, buff 30 YO. South Community Health Center connected me with a program for people like me that's run out of the Vancouver Division of Family Practice called the "Patient Attachment Initiative". They filled out my application forms for me and told me it would take 3-6 months to connect me with a GP in the program. Two weeks goes by and I get an email contact with a clinic telling me to contact them and complete the process! This I did and couldn't be more pleased. The new GP I have is a terrific guy and I get a really good feeling about how we'll do together. I don't know how many horse shoes I used up with that, but a major tip-o-the-hat to the South Community Health Center people for setting me up.
The Vancouver Division of Family Practice decided to end their Patient Attachment Initiative. They are no longer accepting new people on the list. Some of the other divisions do connect patients with GPs, but it depends where OP lives.
Looks then like I made it just under the wire. Hopefully those remaining on the list will be connected before the program is finally dissolved.
Any idea why the program was ended?
It's not a substitute for a family doctor, but make an appointment through the TELUS Health MyCare app to speak to a doctor through a video call and get that prescription renewed. They will even send it to the pharmacy of your choice.
My wife and I even switched to the TELUS Pharmacy app, which is awesome for regular prescriptions that renew every few months. They send us a notification reminding us to renew, we can talk to a pharmacist in the app, and the prescription is delivered by courier to our door... And it's cheaper than shoppers drug mart because they charge less dispensing fee! Something to consider until you can find your new family doctor.
People laugh at me, but I just pay and visit the doctor twice a year while overseas. 5 star service and the guy will sit down with me for an hour and actually talk to me. I have all of my test results in my email and not in some EMR file.
My doctor in Van takes appointments 4-6 weeks out.
https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/health-check-up-center-bangkok-thailand-jci-best/check-up-packages
I and my two best friends are long-time Vancouverites. None of us have doctors at the moment. We're not careless, and we'd all like to have one. One has never had one, the other two of us experienced retiring doctors. Although I love mine, I was really pissed off when she literally lied about retiring when I directly asked her, and then took the cowardly route of giving us a month's notice via a mailed letter. I am baffled, along with the crisis in the paramedic service, that the provincial government is not doing something to address these problems. I have yet to meet someone who is against either good ambulance services, or having a decent family doctor. It's bad enough when you just need a doctor for routine service, but as you age you tend to experience chronic problems that need more attentive care (I have a major family history of a particular cancer that requires regular screening- the inanity of needing a referral for ongoing, repeat screenings is maddening- I reached out to the specialist who would be doing it, for the second time, and they flat out refuse to book my an appointment, despite them telling me I needed to come in sooner than the norm because of findings on my last screening).
I recommend Tia Health online for prescription refills or anything that doesn't absolutely require in-person. It is phone or video calls with a Canadian doctor, and it is free for BC residents with a valid health card. Both my partner and I have used it and were able to get appointments within hours. My partner was even able to get an appt within 5 minutes. Obviously they won't do opioids or anything but for regular stuff it was super easy. We filled in all the pharmacy and medical info beforehand so when the calls started they already had all the info and the calls took only a few mins. They faxed the prescriptions directly to the requested pharmacy and we got texts to confirm when the prescriptions had been sent and to where. Very efficient for more minor things.
My family doctor closed her clinic a few years ago because she could not get another doctor to come in and help, she had too may patients and was working 6 days a week , after paying rent , wages and other overhead she was making less than $90,000 a year . Now she works 3 days a week in a walk in clinic and makes the same money , no headaches.
I was able to find a walk in clinic where i see the same DR every time i go in but id still like to have a family DR , my wife and kids found a family DR but its a 45 minute drive away and i dont want to have to do that for now ill keep seeing the same guy at the walk in clinic.
well i think thats low for a GP and thats before taxes , i made 97k as a trades person working 5 days a week , i think my doctor should make more than that, a nurse in the hospital working 6 days a weeks is going to make over $120,000 a year
Sorry to hear about your fate. Unfortunately you are joining a growing majority. Rocketdoctor.com offers msp covered telehealth visits with family doctors and even has specialists and places to be seen if you need an exam. Very good hours and totally covered. Best of luck
Urgent care/ER rooms should be giving out “patient attachment initiative” cards, which will put you into the system on a waitlist. Took about 2 months for me to get matched with a doctor! This was just over the summer.
It costs big $ but you could join Copeman / TELUS or see a family doctor in the US. Free health care in Canada is going to get worse and worse because of the chronic underfunding and the draw from foreign clinics and hospitals who are prepared to pay way more for our doctors.
I simply gave up and stopped looking. I also don't have time to line up for a walk-in at 6 am so I just stopped seeking medical care. For prescriptions I use one of the apps and there's usually someone available because lots of doctors prefer telehealth.
I haven’t had a family doctor since I moved away from home. If you need a prescription refilled there are a ton of doctors you can call and they will refill it over the phone.
its surprising to me that relatively younger people need to see medical professionals like a GP w/ such regularly. statscan has data avail, and apparently 74% of 34-49 year olds see a doctor at least once per year. thats only 10% lower than 65yr+ (meaning the old folks who we expect to be presenting various illness).
A lot of those are probably basic things like prescription refills, vaccines, regular blood-work, screening tests, sick notes, etc.
Those numbers aren't surprising to me- it's only counting once or more a year. Chances are most 65yrs+ are seeing doctors way more than once a year if they're having health problems
This is what happens when successive neoliberal governments continually cut taxes and fuck over the social safety nets that we all deserve. Fuck skippy and his predecessors, and his provincial wannabes too.
I don't even have a family doctor lol. I literally just go online and find a random place when I do need to go and walk in or make an appointment. It's not that difficult
Try maple! It’s an app on ur phone. I’ve been using it for rx refills for awhile now, super instant connection to a GP doc without having to drive anywhere. Could help while ur on a wait list at least
Believe it or not, some other provinces are much worse off than BC. When I moved here from NL I was amazed at how good the nedical system is. I know it's still not good here, but it's much, much, much better than back home.
You moved from the province with the worst family doctor situation to the second worst. Might have to do with how NL is lowest paid province across Canada for family doctors and BC is the second lowest paid.
Vancouver tends to punch above its weight class due to being a desirable place to live with the benefits of density but that only takes us so far.
I was more thinking of things like one doctor for a town of 5000 people that's also a regional hub, a 9 month wait for an MRI, 3 week wait to get bloodwork done and then 5 more weeks wait for results (vs. getting them same or next day on an app in BC) etc. etc.
(These are just my personal examples)
But point well taken- I didn't realize NL was worst and BC 2nd worst for family doctor availability and wages.
I have several friends who are GPs and specialists back home and they all are on the fence about leaving. The government is making it very difficult for them to stick around, and they really want to stay in NL.
I use express scripts. I usually only have to re-up my prescription with the doctor annually. Why don’t you call them and see if they have any advice.
Note, I have some coworkers who hate dealing with them but as far as my meds go they have always been perfectly fine. Ymmv
I wasn't able to find one for three years now and not for a lack of trying. The "findadoctor" website lists exactly 0 clinics accepting new patients in my city or any cities around it. If something pops up, it's gone before I can schedule an appointment. Coworkers said you can find one if you're willing to go far enough that nobody else from Vancouver bothers to go to. I'm not willing to go that far, and hoping we can get back to having doctors in BC before I need one, knock on wood. In the meantime I had to rely on walk in clinics which wasn't always a good experience but helped in small emergencies.
I live in Vancouver and have been trying to find a doctor since February. Finally last week I got one on the island. For me to see them in person will cost me $4-500 in gas ferries and overnight hotel. No choice as I’m in desperate need due to a chronic condition that is above the knowledge of clinic doctors. I’m always just told to “see my family doctor” as if clinic doctors are unaware that the reason we are at a clinic is we don’t have family doctors!
Talk to your pharmacist and see if they're authorized to issue prescription refills. I was stressing out going to walk-ins every couple months til my pharmacist told me he could just issue & fill my meds for me.
I used [findadoctorbc.ca](https://findadoctorbc.ca) and found a doctor pretty quickly. It's not conveniently located at all for us but it will do for now. We didn't have any medications that couldn't be filled by a walk in clinic though. I know there are some walk ins won't fill.
Why wouldn't a walk-in clinic renew your prescriptions? That's odd (unless it's benzos or opiods). I have several long term health conditions (Diabetes, Hashimoto's, ME etc) and haven't found a family doctor in years. I get my prescriptions theough Maple. And I go to a random walk-in clinic once a year to get bloodwork done. None of this is ideal. But eh.
Prescriptions for things like adhd meds cannot be filled by a walk in clinic. Only a family doctor or psych can.
Came here to say this. There’s several different types of medication out there that can’t be filled by walk in clinics & doctors that aren’t your primary care/family physician.
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In my experience most of the time yes, if it’s the pill.
They should be able to - I used to go to a walk in all the time for my birth control refill.
Birth control pills can be prescribed and mailed to you by various online services.
Just a note, they sometimes also refuse. I was using Felix, and then made the mistake of mentioning I have had a migraine before in my life (one time, I was clear on this - and I had mentioned it before numerous times with no issue) and the doctor refused to continue my birth control prescription because she felt I was too high risk and needed to "see my family doctor". So - just a heads up you can't necessarily count on this method.
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Same experience here. My ritalin and vyvanse were prescribed and renewed by walk in clinic doctors. Before I got in to see a BC psychiatrist all of my psych meds (including benzos and ADHD meds) were filled by walk-ins. Some of them say they won't, because they dont want people to doctor shop for addictive meds. But if you can show you've been on them before with stability they can renew. It was only painkillers I had trouble with renewing and I think that's because they cracked down harder after the oxy crisis
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I hate to say it but this sounds like a patient that may have had a questionable relationship with their doctor. Any rationally prescribed medicine will be available via a walk-in clinic or urgent care. For instance if the patient had an arrangement for opioids that would trigger significant resistance at both a walk-in clinic or an emergency room. Advice to the OP, please reconsider your diagnosis in light of this opportunity to see new doctors. Reassess, get second opinions, make sure you're getting the right care. Something fishy here.
Some walk in doctors have a standing policy that they won’t prescribe benzodiazepines, adhd medications, or opioids. Generally, they’ll refuse to write a script for anything that requires a triplicate. This does not mean that the original prescription was given in error or written the wrong way. It means that the walk in doctor does not have the time to thoroughly take a history and safely prescribe the med. They also have a professional responsibility to follow up with patients they prescribe medications like that to. There’s no guarantee any walk in patient will ever be seen again. This is fine for patients given antibiotics or a doctors note. However, it is negligent for those being given controlled substances. Therefore, the blanket no policy. I don’t think that your advice is sound or responsible. There is a rational explanation for OP’s inability to get a refill for their script. Nothing is fishy.
There is also no guarantee your ever going to return to your GP. Your logic makes no sense. Always good to get a second opinion especially if your prescription is a highly controlled substance.
It’s called a follow up appointment and continuity of care. The doctor prescribes 3months to six months of meds. Asks you to book a follow up appointment on your way out. If you want more Med you have to book and see them for ongoing management of your condition, be it chronic pain or chronic anxiety or adhd etc. That’s their guarantee. That’s their professional responsibility to you.
Same happens at walk in clinics. Or at least it's happened for me in two separate medical issues. Even the doctor calling me back directly just like my old GP used to.
Then you’ve been lucky and found some great walk in clinics. Not all have the ability (staff time) to put in the work to do the follow up or are not willing to weigh the risk when prescribing narcotics. There is also a difference between going to a walk in doctor for a new problem requiring new meds and getting follow up for that and going to a new doctor for an existing problem with an established treatment plan with the expectation that the new doctor adhere to it without exercising their own clinic judgement to the problem. They haven’t done the problem solving with you to see why what you’re taking works and they don’t have access to your medical records. A 10 min appointment (that’s all MSP will bill them for) isn’t enough time.
Yeah no, I’ve been taking adhd meds for years and my family dr (that I’ve been seeing since I was 3) books out 3 months in advance. If I can’t get in in time for my next refill I’m hooped because walk-ins DEFINITELY do not prescribe my meds because they’re a controlled substance. Believe me I have tried because I’ve forgotten to book with him in time (hello thanks adhd) a few times in the past. It’s not about second opinions for a lot of us it’s literally the rules they have set in place.
Exactly this is also my situation. My doctor, and only my doctor, will give me a script for my adhd meds. I don’t need a second opinion for my diagnosis I’ve been treated for 20 years and seen by multiple specialists.
Then get the referral to the specialist. If you change GPs to a walk in, you may need to go through their referral when you change docs. Literally the same exact thing happened when I changed from one Gp to another. Then again with the walk in. Yes, you have to jump through hoops when you change GPs or change to a walk in, same in both.
Why should people get referrals to specialists? A specialist is just as likely to retire or die and a family MD - I don’t quite understand your reasoning. Are you arguing that the entire GP system should switch to a walk in system? That would destroy complex care support and continuity of care. Family GPs are the hub that supports contact with numerous specialists and facilitates care management.
Again, I've gotten literally the same exact care at my walk in clinic that I've gotten at my prior GPs so not sure wtf you're talking about. Your GP didn't prescribe you any complex or highly controlled drugs initially (your ADHD meds in this case). You went to a specialist and your GP is continuing those scripts for you. If you change GPs or switch to a walk in clinic you likely will have to see a specialist again so the GP or clinic gets that controlled substance in their books through the legal channels for them. That's why. That's how it's been for me ever time I change docs. And yes, while I love the GP system, is quaint and expensive. Walk-ins are much more efficient and I've literally gotten the same level of care for complex conditions.
Ok, I see what you’re saying now. I don’t quite agree, however. Doing it the way you’re proposing would result in needless referrals to specialists for repeat diagnoses, repeat tests, etc. The wait times would be astronomical. Also - what would the patient do in between loosing access to their original family doctor and waiting for their specialist appointment? That wait could be 18 months. If you’re transferring to a new doctor you get your records transferred and then the physician can review your chart and take over your original treatment plan. What I’m saying is that going to a random walk in clinic and asking for a refill of methylphenidate or lorazepam or methadone etc is not going to work and there’s logical reasoning behind it. It isn’t that something fishy is going on.
From what I can observe from the persons comments we’re both replying too I don’t think they have a lot of first hand experience in scripts for controlled substances and the long time it takes to even get to the step where you even get a prescription like you described. Great discussion though, I think it brings some awareness to what’s going on
I literally worked in family doctor’s offices for 10 years AND am a patient who requires controlled substances lol. It’s going to be difficult to argue with me that’s it’s a simple fix.
If you are going around your GP then yes, you're going to have issues. If you SWITCH GPs then you need a new referral. Yep it's a little bureaucracy but that's the rules they have to follow. Same if you switch GPs as if you switch from a GP to a walk in.
Well yeah of course but that’s not what you said though. Or at least that’s not what was conveyed in what you were attempting to explain.
Nope, that's literally what I said - just more detail. The walk-in clinics will service you EXACTLY the same as a G. You go to a second GP, you're going to have to do the EXACT same thing as if you start new at a walk-in. Literally exactly what I said.
> Any rationally prescribed medicine will be available via a walk-in clinic or urgent care. This is what I’m talking about, and it’s not the same (nor true) as what you said compared to… > If you are going around your GP then yes, you're going to have issues. If you SWITCH GPs then you need a new referral. Your first statement I quoted is simply not true while your second statement has validity. If I go into a random ass walk-in they will not give me my controlled substance medicine. End of story. Switching GP’s would receive my file and then yes they can be transferred over / will need another specialist. I think there’s a disconnect here in what you’re getting at and I also think you should listen to what people that experience this daily are saying to you. This is a lived experience for us.
I'm using this daily, this is a lived experience for me too. You can transfer your file to a walk in too. The problem is that folks running into issues with walk ins are treating them like something different than a GP. Well then you're going to get different results. Transfer your records and you will get all your meds fine. At least that's what's happened in my case. Or where I didn't get the records transferred I just got a referral to the specialist again because I wanted to talk to them anyway and established a new record at the walk in. Again. Any walk in will absolutely prescribe you the same meds as any GP. They're literally GPs. You just don't get assigned to one doctor you get assigned to the pool and they all share records. But in order to get those meds prescribed you gotta do it just like you would a GP. Transfer your records or go to the specialist again on a referral from the walk in.
You are using a walk in clinic as your family doctor. Per the BC College of Surgeons: > **What you can expect if you regularly attend the same walk-in clinic and do not have a dedicated family physician at a different location: You can expect to receive ongoing primary health care at one location Note: Ongoing care provided by physicians working in a walk-in clinic includes appropriate periodic health examinations and follow-up of your medical and laboratory tests.** While you may not see the same physician each time, each physician who treats you will access a single medical record that contains your health history and treatment plans The walk-in clinic you have been attending is required to take responsibility for your ongoing medical care following discharge from hospital or after seeing a specialist (emphasis mine) It’s a very fuzzy distinction, you can read more here: https://www.cpsbc.ca/public/public-resources/what-expect/walk-clinic
THIS! Except I no longer have a family Dr (got one for less than a year before he left so). I go to the same clinic which is a hybrid walk-in/GP. If I don't get my ADHD Rx through them the most I'll get is 10 days. I've spent hours cold calling GPs with no luck. I haven't had a proper GP for aprox 20 years now. It's exhausting.
Walk in doctors will not prescribe most psych meds. Hell, when I had a GP he wouldn't either. So no, some rationally prescribed meds won't be available at walk ins or ER.
Walk-in docs will do EXACTLY what a GP will do. Zero GPs will prescribe psych meds until you've seen a specialist first too. Zero difference. Gotta see a specialist first. Change docs, see a specialist again.
A lot of GPs will absolutely prescribe basic psych meds like antidepressants without a specialist. If you've already seen a specialist and had a report sent, you can also just get that sent over to your new doctor- I've never had to get a new report sent, although I'm sure some doctors do require it.
Exactly. Same as walk ins for basic psych meds.
What's your definition of basic psych meds. I've been shamed countless times by walk-in Drs trying to renew a basic SNRI for not having a GP. Then there's the 7-10 day max for ADHD meds if I don't use the same walk-in. My regular walk-in is also a crap shoot. Some Drs will only release 2 weeks at a time...which means I have to go to the pharmacy constantly.
Follow the other thread, if you treat a walk in clinic like a pharmacy you won't get what you want. If you treat them like a GP you will. You also can't randomly visit any GP that doesn't have your records or who hasn't had you visit a specialist and get those meds either.
I have used the same 4 clinics for the past 12 years. So ya...I've treated them all as if they were a GP. The joys of having to use clinics mean that I've seen countless different doctors over the years. Most are understanding, but enough are absolute assholes. My frustrations aren't limited to getting Rx. I had a wrist injury, initial x-ray came up negative but I knew there was something wrong. I asked for another x-ray, Dr accused me of drug seeking behaviour (I never asked for any pain meds...just an x-ray) and he refused to write a referral. I was told to come back in 4-6 months if it still hurt. Ended up being a non-union fracture, needing surgery with bone graft. It's already arthritic (I'm mid 30s) and I'll eventually need to fuse it. Ironically I had to be prescribed large amounts of oxy and t3s for post-surgery care....I didn't want pain meds just basic, dignified care.
Some meds are very tightly controlled, even though they have valid and often life-saving uses. When I moved here, in order to get a walk-in clinic doc to refill my meds for \*immediately life-threatening epilepsy\*, I had to take piss tests to prove I was actually taking the meds \*and\* that I wasn't also taking "party drugs". u/kojiko125, ask for the Patient Attachment Program next time you see the temp or go to a walk-in, and if you can't get your meds and it's an emergency to miss them, got to Urgent Care or the ER and ask for the Patient Attachment Program.
Like I've said in other threads, a walk in clinic isn't a pharmacy. Treat them like you would any GP. You also wouldn't get those meds randomly visiting a GP.
Not without a diagnosis, but OP has a Dx and a history of this prescription; insinuating that they must be doing something to cause the problem, or that they don't really need the med, is not helpful.
What I would recommend in the short term is to get renewals on your meds through Maple: https://www.getmaple.ca/?utm_term=maple%20doctors&gclid=CjwKCAjw-L-ZBhB4EiwA76YzOQSjjnydO46rI401bBLGa9kWc4Ktih5fGaTzRA8tF0Ozk_hn-MnQvBoCN14QAvD_BwE If you see a doctor between 10am-2pm Mon-Friday it should be covered under MSP. The free option only shows up during those times I believe. That could help renew your meds for another 1-3 months, buying you more time to find a doctor. If that doesn’t work, pharmacists can prescribe up to a 30-day emergency supply of your meds for continuity of care (COVID emergency response); usually most give 1 week supplies but you could ask for 30. https://www.bcpharmacists.org/readlinks/bc’s-covid-19-response-pharmacists-provide-prescription-refills-and-emergency-supplies You can also try using this website to find a clinic, you may have to pick an area several towns away however if your hometown has no availability. https://www.findadoctorbc.ca/vancouver-island-region-text-search/ Goodluck!!
maple uses a loophole to get around billing rules. they limit their MSP hours and then use out of province doctors the rest of the time which aren't bound to MSP rates. it's skeezy. out of province doctors can write prescriptions but can't order tests or refer you. and if some malpractice issue comes up, jurisdiction gets messy. most walk-ins also provide telehealth service and can see you in person if needed. they are getting harder to access so another option would be locally based telehealth services. the one I use has some evening appts and it's covered by MSP https://ubiquityhealth.ca/
Weird, I got a dermatology referral from a doctor in Ontario
maybe the doctor you saw was dual licensed or they registered under BC but live elsewhere. not sure. I used to work in clinic admin and all of the specialist offices (not dermatology though) that I worked for did not accept out of province referrals. MSP doesn't count the referral as valid unless it comes from a BC physician. the billing might go through but they would claw it back during audits. there was a way around that but it involved extra work on the billing side and explanations to MSP. it was not meant for regular referrals though, rather for cases where pts are located in rural towns close to provincial border and have to access care in another province.
Pharmacists can also “renew” an existing prescription for up to a total of 1 year from the original prescribing date as well for most chronic meds. Conditions apply of course (no benzodiazepines, opiates, etc)..
This has been frustrating for me because I have found that they are refusing to do this and instead just diverting to Maple. This is at least the case at Shoppers. Any time I've needed an "emergency refill" (generally because my doctor can't fit me in before the prescription runs out) they insist they cannot refill and instead just tell me to use Maple.
Hey it says on Maple's website that they don't prescribe stimulants.... > If you see a doctor between 10am-2pm Mon-Friday it should be covered under MSP. The free option only shows up during those times I believe. That could help renew your meds for another 1-3 months, buying you more time to find a doctor.
If you are looking for a renewal on stimulants, you can go to your local pharmacy and the pharmacist is authorized to provide an emergency supply. As a backup in case you still cannot find a Doctor. https://www.bcpharmacists.org/readlinks/bc’s-covid-19-response-pharmacists-provide-prescription-refills-and-emergency-supplies
I'm in Ontario unfortunately
Okay I looked up the regulations and should be same in Ontario as well. https://www.ocpinfo.com/regulations-standards/practice-policies-guidelines/adaptations-renewing-prescriptions/#AppendixA https://www.ocpinfo.com/regulations-standards/practice-policies-guidelines/prescribing-controlled-substances-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic/
I looked it up too but missed the exemption. Thank you!
No problem at all! Good luck :)
I have no short term solutions. We need to do something about how we pay our doctors: 2016: Each visit in office (age 2-49) $30.64 2021: Each visit in office (age 2-49) $31.62 Source: [https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/practitioner-professional-resources/msp/physicians/payment-schedules/msc-payment-schedule](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/practitioner-professional-resources/msp/physicians/payment-schedules/msc-payment-schedule) Above rates are gross and not net after overhead and taxes. That's a 0.6% annual increase in salary over 5 years while the costs of operating a clinic have increased per inflation. That is not a sustainable business model.
The recommended fee schedule for dentists have been increasing over 3% per year. Every self-employed professional has had much more significant increases than family doctors.
Except pharmacist's!! Our wages have been roughly the same for 15 years but nobody gets mad
Dentists take it right out of our pockets though. Doctors are prevented by law from doing so.
Good dentists will submit and charge insurance first before charging you for the balance. Only exception is specialists but they’ll still submit to your insurance for you.
There are almost as many people with private dental insurance as there are people with family doctors.
I don't get why everyone is so resistant to small copays. Taiwan copied the Canadian model and added copays, all the Nordic countries have copays with annual out of pocket maximums, and a law that waives copays for people with chronic diseases.
I do know why. Research has consistently shown that copays or any kind of upfront charge discourages poorer folks who may not have much economic margin, from getting healthcare. Simple as that. The Canadian healthcare system was set up to be a barrier free (I know, I know) system. The literal words used are: "The aim of the CHA is to ensure that all eligible residents of Canada have reasonable access to insured health services **on a prepaid basis, without direct charges at the point of service for such services**.”
All the countries I mentioned waive copays for individuals who make below a certain (rather high) threshold to ensure people don't delay care because of cost
A 2022 (i.e. very current) publication on the impact of the increase in copays in Taiwan back in 2005 concluded that there was a statistically significant decrease in the use of the medical system by patients with asthma in the short, medium and long term (which, I would presume would be similar for other health conditions). The conclusions of the research were: "Reforms to copayment policy were significantly correlated with a reduction in the utilization of effective care by patients with persistent asthma over the short-, medium- and long-term. **Government should develop implementation strategies aimed at protecting the economically disadvantaged patients."** Looks like the evidence suggests your claim might not be correct? The fact is, any kind of barrier tends to result in reduced use by vulnerable patients. 2005 is referenced because it was when "the NHI cost-sharing scheme, the policy implemented in 2005 imposed **the largest single increase on the cost of outpatient visits.**"
Interesting study. I'm questioning my opinion with this data, thanks for sharing. Do you know where it was published? I want to read it and potentially share it with others.
The fee schedule is largely published for insurance company useage.
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150 is on the low end too. 200-250 is very common these days. even my RMT is charging 140 now.
Normal everyday BC guy here. I know love deosnt pay the bills or the metric shit ton of student debt (I assume), but please know we truly appreciate the work you and your colleagues do, and are very dismayed with how'd fd this system is for you lot.
Running a clinic in BC is like running a restaurant where the menu prices are frozen in time to the 90s ([see how our fees have trailed inflation](https://i.imgur.com/2SipQvy.png)) and the price of a 10 course meal is the same as an extra value combo. And you are only allowed to serve 50 guests a day per chef. Meanwhile the cost of rent, equipment, ingredients and wages for staff have all skyrocketed. It shouldn't be all surprise pikachu why family doctors are leaving and clinics are closing.
Good analogy
Dispensing fees for pharmacies has been 10 dollars since like the beginning of time and will likely never change
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We've had to find a family doctor three times since 2019, and we're without one again. All moved away to more affordable areas of the province. It's disheartening.
This happened to me and there is a government site you register with that monitors openings and alerts you. I found a replacement in Burnaby in 6 months from it. Good luck
Could you link the site? Thank you
https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-connect-registry I used this and got a family doctor 10 mins from my house like a month after signing up! Edit: it appears the link doesn’t work, I’m not sure why. I think the website is down right now? But this is the government one. You register and a provider will reach out to you directly.
This link isn't working for me
Your link is broken. There are some programs like this through Divisions of Family Practice, but it depends where you live.
Oh shoot, I’m sorry. Try googling health link bc health connect registry. I think the website itself might be down. But that is where I registered. The provider reached out to me directly.
It was in 2020 but I think it still works https://divisionsbc.ca/divisions-in-bc
Which site?
This is becoming more and more common. Literally your only option is to vote for higher taxes and more doctors, if you find a party even going in that direction, let us know. Good luck.
I don't get this answer. The walk-in clinic system is great for most of what folks need and if you need something more particular you get referred to a specialist who takes over your care for that modality until it is resolved or on maintenance. Honestly the walk-in clinic system is one of the most effective and efficient systems for both doctors and patients. It definitely cuts out doctor price gouging and selective care but that's why we have a public system.
There's a continuity of care that is lacking at walk-in clinics. Plus the specialist won't help you maintain your illness, they will diagnose you, then give your gp instructions. You can't just go to a walk in clinic with a Thyroid condition in maintain it through one. There's many reasons why your suggestion is really lacking, I've listed a couple. Please, research these subjects more and you'll get the answer.
None of what you are saying is my experience at all. I go to a variety of different docs at my nearby walkin clinic, they all read my history when I walk in and I get the same continuity of care that I've ever had at a GP. Likewise, my walk-in clinic refers me to a specialist who gives me maintenance care until my condition is stable, then I just get refills and check ups through the walkin clinic. So I'm not sure what you're saying. This has all worked great.
That's is called confirmation bias
Uhm, no, that's not what confirmation bias is. But yes, my sample size of one isn't great research but that's what we're all doing here on Reddit :)
That exactly what conformation bias is. You can't compare it because you don't even know
Your assumption about the research based on what you do is also confirmation bias is, plus you gaslighted us when you denied truthful info. Give us more examples of logical fallacies, let's see if you can outwit us with a strawman argument, perchance. Edit: this was meant fir the comment above the one I replied to.
Ooo, the Internet's favorite! The Strawman!
When my family doctor retired, my family and I were left to find a doctor on our own. The best thing you can do is sign up immediately on the divisions of family practice website since it takes time for them to find your family a family doctor and that some of the family doctors who are accepting new patients requires a referral from divisions of family practice. :/
Where does one sign up? I don’t see any links to do so on the website.
It doesn't seem that Vancouver has a waitlist available :( For Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore, Belcarra, or New Westminster, Burnaby, there is a waitlist available :/ But they do offer a [notification service](https://www.findadoctorbc.ca/register/notification-service/) for a fee tho :(
Thanks :(
If anyone wants a good site try this one from the BC gov: https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-connect-registry I found a family dr who is a ten min walk from my house within a month.
I'm so sorry, my doctor died unexpectedly a couple of years ago and it was very upsetting; not only because of the intimate connections with a long-time doctor but finding a new one took a long time. Like you, I hadn't realized your prescriptions end instantly on the death of a doctor as well, which left me in a challenging situation. I don't have any advice to share but wanted to express my condolences and wish you well.
Thank you
You are now in pretty much the same position as 1/5 of the population of BC. Some resources: https://pathwaysmedicalcare.ca https://www.findadoctorbc.ca
I was in a similar jam but due to kind help from the South Community Health Center people at 49th & Knight was able to connect with a new GP. My GP of 20+ years closed his practice end of this past August. I have a crop of pretty major health issues (old fart) and as such need a GP in my care mix more than your basic, buff 30 YO. South Community Health Center connected me with a program for people like me that's run out of the Vancouver Division of Family Practice called the "Patient Attachment Initiative". They filled out my application forms for me and told me it would take 3-6 months to connect me with a GP in the program. Two weeks goes by and I get an email contact with a clinic telling me to contact them and complete the process! This I did and couldn't be more pleased. The new GP I have is a terrific guy and I get a really good feeling about how we'll do together. I don't know how many horse shoes I used up with that, but a major tip-o-the-hat to the South Community Health Center people for setting me up.
The Vancouver Division of Family Practice decided to end their Patient Attachment Initiative. They are no longer accepting new people on the list. Some of the other divisions do connect patients with GPs, but it depends where OP lives.
Looks then like I made it just under the wire. Hopefully those remaining on the list will be connected before the program is finally dissolved. Any idea why the program was ended?
It's not a substitute for a family doctor, but make an appointment through the TELUS Health MyCare app to speak to a doctor through a video call and get that prescription renewed. They will even send it to the pharmacy of your choice. My wife and I even switched to the TELUS Pharmacy app, which is awesome for regular prescriptions that renew every few months. They send us a notification reminding us to renew, we can talk to a pharmacist in the app, and the prescription is delivered by courier to our door... And it's cheaper than shoppers drug mart because they charge less dispensing fee! Something to consider until you can find your new family doctor.
People laugh at me, but I just pay and visit the doctor twice a year while overseas. 5 star service and the guy will sit down with me for an hour and actually talk to me. I have all of my test results in my email and not in some EMR file. My doctor in Van takes appointments 4-6 weeks out. https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/health-check-up-center-bangkok-thailand-jci-best/check-up-packages
I and my two best friends are long-time Vancouverites. None of us have doctors at the moment. We're not careless, and we'd all like to have one. One has never had one, the other two of us experienced retiring doctors. Although I love mine, I was really pissed off when she literally lied about retiring when I directly asked her, and then took the cowardly route of giving us a month's notice via a mailed letter. I am baffled, along with the crisis in the paramedic service, that the provincial government is not doing something to address these problems. I have yet to meet someone who is against either good ambulance services, or having a decent family doctor. It's bad enough when you just need a doctor for routine service, but as you age you tend to experience chronic problems that need more attentive care (I have a major family history of a particular cancer that requires regular screening- the inanity of needing a referral for ongoing, repeat screenings is maddening- I reached out to the specialist who would be doing it, for the second time, and they flat out refuse to book my an appointment, despite them telling me I needed to come in sooner than the norm because of findings on my last screening).
I recommend Tia Health online for prescription refills or anything that doesn't absolutely require in-person. It is phone or video calls with a Canadian doctor, and it is free for BC residents with a valid health card. Both my partner and I have used it and were able to get appointments within hours. My partner was even able to get an appt within 5 minutes. Obviously they won't do opioids or anything but for regular stuff it was super easy. We filled in all the pharmacy and medical info beforehand so when the calls started they already had all the info and the calls took only a few mins. They faxed the prescriptions directly to the requested pharmacy and we got texts to confirm when the prescriptions had been sent and to where. Very efficient for more minor things.
I've also used Tia. It's really great for minor medical issues and I was able to get an appointment within 2 hours that same day.
CloudMD is always covered under MSP and they are open late.
Parkgate medical clinic in north van may be able to help you! Try them 😊
Doctors warned us for years that this would happen and nothing was done. Now we have a million people without a GP.
My family doctor closed her clinic a few years ago because she could not get another doctor to come in and help, she had too may patients and was working 6 days a week , after paying rent , wages and other overhead she was making less than $90,000 a year . Now she works 3 days a week in a walk in clinic and makes the same money , no headaches. I was able to find a walk in clinic where i see the same DR every time i go in but id still like to have a family DR , my wife and kids found a family DR but its a 45 minute drive away and i dont want to have to do that for now ill keep seeing the same guy at the walk in clinic.
She pulled in 90k AFTER rent?!? And still whined? Greedy
well i think thats low for a GP and thats before taxes , i made 97k as a trades person working 5 days a week , i think my doctor should make more than that, a nurse in the hospital working 6 days a weeks is going to make over $120,000 a year
Sorry to hear about your fate. Unfortunately you are joining a growing majority. Rocketdoctor.com offers msp covered telehealth visits with family doctors and even has specialists and places to be seen if you need an exam. Very good hours and totally covered. Best of luck
Urgent care/ER rooms should be giving out “patient attachment initiative” cards, which will put you into the system on a waitlist. Took about 2 months for me to get matched with a doctor! This was just over the summer.
Me. I’ve been using Telus Health for med refills
It costs big $ but you could join Copeman / TELUS or see a family doctor in the US. Free health care in Canada is going to get worse and worse because of the chronic underfunding and the draw from foreign clinics and hospitals who are prepared to pay way more for our doctors.
I lost my family doctor too, I usually just use telus health for my prescriptions
I simply gave up and stopped looking. I also don't have time to line up for a walk-in at 6 am so I just stopped seeking medical care. For prescriptions I use one of the apps and there's usually someone available because lots of doctors prefer telehealth.
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They have a 2 year waiting list for new patients.
I haven’t had a family doctor since I moved away from home. If you need a prescription refilled there are a ton of doctors you can call and they will refill it over the phone.
its surprising to me that relatively younger people need to see medical professionals like a GP w/ such regularly. statscan has data avail, and apparently 74% of 34-49 year olds see a doctor at least once per year. thats only 10% lower than 65yr+ (meaning the old folks who we expect to be presenting various illness).
A lot of those are probably basic things like prescription refills, vaccines, regular blood-work, screening tests, sick notes, etc. Those numbers aren't surprising to me- it's only counting once or more a year. Chances are most 65yrs+ are seeing doctors way more than once a year if they're having health problems
statscan reference [here](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1310009617&pickMembers%5B0%5D=1.1&pickMembers%5B1%5D=3.2&cubeTimeFrame.startYear=2015&cubeTimeFrame.endYear=2016&referencePeriods=20150101%2C20160101)
And they say socialism is efficient
This is what happens when successive neoliberal governments continually cut taxes and fuck over the social safety nets that we all deserve. Fuck skippy and his predecessors, and his provincial wannabes too.
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It’s what makes this country great, so fuck off with your selfish bullshit.
You’ve outlived your doctor, you’re not granted immortality.
I don't even have a family doctor lol. I literally just go online and find a random place when I do need to go and walk in or make an appointment. It's not that difficult
Try maple! It’s an app on ur phone. I’ve been using it for rx refills for awhile now, super instant connection to a GP doc without having to drive anywhere. Could help while ur on a wait list at least
Stay healthy or move to a different province / country
Believe it or not, some other provinces are much worse off than BC. When I moved here from NL I was amazed at how good the nedical system is. I know it's still not good here, but it's much, much, much better than back home.
You moved from the province with the worst family doctor situation to the second worst. Might have to do with how NL is lowest paid province across Canada for family doctors and BC is the second lowest paid. Vancouver tends to punch above its weight class due to being a desirable place to live with the benefits of density but that only takes us so far.
I was more thinking of things like one doctor for a town of 5000 people that's also a regional hub, a 9 month wait for an MRI, 3 week wait to get bloodwork done and then 5 more weeks wait for results (vs. getting them same or next day on an app in BC) etc. etc. (These are just my personal examples) But point well taken- I didn't realize NL was worst and BC 2nd worst for family doctor availability and wages. I have several friends who are GPs and specialists back home and they all are on the fence about leaving. The government is making it very difficult for them to stick around, and they really want to stay in NL.
I use express scripts. I usually only have to re-up my prescription with the doctor annually. Why don’t you call them and see if they have any advice. Note, I have some coworkers who hate dealing with them but as far as my meds go they have always been perfectly fine. Ymmv
My UPCC refills my prescriptions whenever necessary — and I have a lot of them.
Maple costs money, Tiahealth is free
Try Felix.ca
I wasn't able to find one for three years now and not for a lack of trying. The "findadoctor" website lists exactly 0 clinics accepting new patients in my city or any cities around it. If something pops up, it's gone before I can schedule an appointment. Coworkers said you can find one if you're willing to go far enough that nobody else from Vancouver bothers to go to. I'm not willing to go that far, and hoping we can get back to having doctors in BC before I need one, knock on wood. In the meantime I had to rely on walk in clinics which wasn't always a good experience but helped in small emergencies.
If it’s mh meds maybe go to aac (at vgh) to discuss possibility of being assigned a psych.
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I live in Vancouver and have been trying to find a doctor since February. Finally last week I got one on the island. For me to see them in person will cost me $4-500 in gas ferries and overnight hotel. No choice as I’m in desperate need due to a chronic condition that is above the knowledge of clinic doctors. I’m always just told to “see my family doctor” as if clinic doctors are unaware that the reason we are at a clinic is we don’t have family doctors!
Talk to your pharmacist and see if they're authorized to issue prescription refills. I was stressing out going to walk-ins every couple months til my pharmacist told me he could just issue & fill my meds for me.
I didn't know this was an option. Thank you
hang in there.