Tootlepootle

Just in case anyone around Coquitlam is looking for a Family Doctor, the Vivacare clinic in Port Coquitlam are taking new patients. The doctor is a young guy, seems very pleasant and the locum who is on a long term placement is lovely (and gorgeous). Might be of interest!

withabix

They are allegedly easier to find 'north of the river'.

Will find out soon....

Tootlepootle

When do you move?

withabix

Just under a month

Tootlepootle

oooohh!

scrubbedexpat091

Congrats on finding a doctor.

I am trying to find a doctor where I live, I have one, but he is impossible to get an appointment with, just have to wait until a new doctor comes to town...lol

plasticcanuck

I must be lucky with my GP. If I call at 9am for an appointment I may get in that day but certainly in the morning of the following day. Perhaps he controls his patient flow/numbers well. He's very good BTW.

Tootlepootle

i was quite impressed with the place as a walk in, they would let you make appointments. Hopefully this means we can have some continuity of care as my husband is a haemophiliac!

Tirytory

And there was me assuming you were single ogling the doctors

scrubbedexpat091

Mine is just semi-retired and has limited office hours.

Rosie Lee

Is this a family surgery, or a walk in?
Proper family GP's taking new patients are like goldust!

Tootlepootle

Window Shopping!

Tootlepootle

It is a walk in clinic primarily, but the main doctor has his own list.

scrubbedexpat091

Sounds like the same set up the walk in I used in Vancouver, it was a walk in but most of the GP's would take on patients in need for a GP, that was how I ended up with a GP there, took several visits before a GP accepted me as an appointment patient, but was worth it.

scilly

We have used the Family Practice Clinic at the university for 15 years.

It is staffed by residents doing their 2 year Residency to become Family Doctors, but they are under the supervision of practising Family Doctors PLUS there is always a pharmacist in the "back room" joining in discussions re medications. Medical students usually get only 1 or 2 terms of instruction in pharmacy, so this helps them understand possible drug interactions, over-prescribing etc.

Each appointment does take longer because the Resident comes in to see you, discusses your problem, does any examination necessary, suggests treatment / medication, etc, then goes into the "back" to go through the file with the clinic doctor on duty and the pharmacist. Then he / she returns to the examination room, and gives you the prescription which has been signed by the clinic doctor (until the Resident gets his / her own MSP billing number).

The clinic doctor on duty supervises any examination other than ordinary bp, heart, etc until they are convinced that the Resident is competent. They also come in to supervise (?chaperone) any internal examinations of female patients.

I've had some excellent doctors there, the rest have been good. Not had a bad one.

The downside is that you see a new doctor every 2 years as they finish and move on.


If I wanted to, I could register with one of the clinic doctors (there are at least 6 listed) and see them at the clinic instead, even if their own practices are not taking new patients.

I have needed emergency treatment only twice ............ and I got in the same day to see the clinic doctor on duty, once within 2 hours of phoning in.


If you are in a city with a university that has a medical school, it might be worth checking to see if they have such a clinic, and seeing if you can sign on with them