Clinic Updates

For current patients




Please be sure to check around our website as
we have been working to update the site
to allow our patients access to more information
for the clinic.
We would love your feedback.




If you have not joined our patient portal - please email reception to have them send you a link to join the portal
we frequently send out our clinic updates to our patients through the portal.  We also recommend you check back to this page frequently for monthly updates.
 

End of Summer/Early Fall Update:

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Just wanted to take a few minutes to send an update from our office to all of our patients with a few changes and things for our clinic.

Firstly, we have been receiving several phone calls and messages regarding wanting to book flu shots.  We have recently been advised by the health unit that we will not be receiving our stock any earlier than October 29th.  Once we have a pick up date confirmed, we will begin booking for the beginning of November.  We will not be booking appointments for the flu shot until we have these dates confirmed.  If you are able to receive the flu shot elsewhere, please ensure you let our office know so we can update your file indicating you have received if this fall.  Please watch for another updated email later in October regarding flu shots.

 

We have updated our uninsured services list- it has been posted around the office for a little bit, but wanted to ensure you all were aware to check for it when you are in the office next.  It is a list of services that OHIP does not cover, so things do not come as a surprise.  Most of these services have been chargeable since we opened in 2020, but it is good to review, so there are no surprise invoices sent to you.  Our office does continue to offer our annual block fee, that allows you to pay a yearly fee to help keep the uninsured service fees to a minimum if you use a lot of those services.  For those of you who have used this in the past and wish to renew I will be updating the website to include all the information, if you wish to join the annual block fee the information is also there.  There is no obligation to do so, it is completely optional - and you can choose to use our services as a pay per service if that works best for you also.  I will ensure this week the website will have a copy of the updated uninsured services list as well so check in to review that list.

 

I wanted you to also know I am currently working on updating our website and phone lines to hopefully make everything easier to navigate and more user friendly going forward.  Over the coming weeks the message on the phone system will be changing so it will be important when calling in you listen to the recording as the menu items will likely be changing.  It will be a bit of a trial and error as we find the most effective layout for everyone.  Please be kind, and be patient with the office and with our staff.

 

On that note, I also would like to take a moment to mention that we also have had many negative comments from patients to our front administrators stating that they simply must never answer phones and can never get through to the office.  As most of you have noticed, our office has been blessed to have a wonderful administrative team with several skills that are utilized to help the office that may take them away from the desk at times also.  Our ladies not only answer hundreds of phone calls per day, they are continuously answering emails (even after hours!), checking pomelo portal messages, faxes, assisting with immunizations, patient vitals, and are always happy to greet you with a smile when you arrive to the front desk.  Please show them kindness.  I promise, that if you are struggling to get through on the phone lines, the girls are working hard - either on the other line - or assisting another patient in the clinic.  If your concern is non urgent please feel free to email, and we do find - that later in the day the phone lines are easier to get through rather than first thing in the morning when the call traffic is much heavier.  

 

I think some of you may have noticed that around our front desk that our administration team is expanding.  Nikki and I are still at the desk full time.  Joanne, has been with our clinic a few years, as most of you have likely messaged with her or seen her in our clinic - she helps us once a week.  Emily was with us over the summer helping to cover holidays, but she has now committed to staying on with Nikki and I as our Junior administrator.  As she learns the full role, you will now see that she will be emailing, or around the front desk more and more often with us as well.  So, Nikki, Emily, Joanne or myself are all happy to help you!  With that, when messaging especially as our office expands its important if your message is time sensitive that you ensure you send your messages to "reception" inbox, as with the extra staff it does not allow some flexibility for us to allow have some days off as well.  If your message is directed to a specific person, it may not be checked until we return to the clinic.  Reception messages will be checked throughout our in office clinic days.

 

For Dr Dawson's patients - I am working on adding some things to the website that may help navigate the same day bookings, with adding in her schedule so you know when to go online to book, as well as instructions for booking online.  (we do have these instruction we can email you by request)  Dr Dawson will be staying with primarily same day booking, with only prebooking specific appointments, and offering the option of some prebooked appointments for patients finding difficultly with same day booking (but this is done well in advance)  *Same day bookings CANNOT be booked in advance*  We do offer prebooking if you prefer but runs about 5-6 weeks in advance.  Please remember things that are NOT appropriate for same day booking are: immunizations, children wellness appointments, physicals/annual wellness, pap tests, drivers medical forms, paperwork, Prenatal appointments, general skin checks, diabetic appointments (these appointments are prebooked and require you to contact reception to book)

 

Thank you for taking the time to read my long winded update!  I will be updating our website this week with our uninsured service list, block fee information and how to sign up or renew if you wish.