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I’m aware that it’s difficult for a new resident to find a family doctor in the Victoria area, but I’m curious about how one goes about getting important but non-urgent care from a specialist. For instance, if a painful hammer toe requires some minor joint surgery from a podiatrist or sinuses require turbinate reduction from an ENT. For these sorts of issues, do you go to a walk-in clinic and request a referral to a specialist? Is it possible to request a specialist appointment directly without a referral? What’s the typical timeline from initial walk-in clinic visit to the actual specialists medical procedure being completed?
I’m aware that it’s difficult for a new resident to find a family doctor in the Victoria area, but I’m curious about how one goes about getting important but non-urgent care from a specialist. For instance, if a painful hammer toe requires some minor joint surgery from a podiatrist or sinuses require turbinate reduction from an ENT. For these sorts of issues, do you go to a walk-in clinic and request a referral to a specialist? Is it possible to request a specialist appointment directly without a referral? What’s the typical timeline from initial walk-in clinic visit to the actual specialists medical procedure being completed?
It would be best if the patient first puts every effort into finding a family doctor who is accepting new patients. But if they can't find one yet then yes, they'd go to a walk-in clinic and see a doctor there. Explain the situation and get an examination and the clinic doctor's professional recommendations and/or referral to a specialist(s). While visiting the clinic the patient should also ask about a list or any recommendations of family physicians that are accepting new patients.
No, it's not possible in B.C. to request a specialist appointment without a referral from another health professional who has already consulted with and examined the patient. It is an absolute must and if I understand correctly that is the way it's done everywhere in North America, including in the USA where you live. The reason for that is so the specialist's time doesn't get wasted doing initial consultations/exams with patients who it turns out actually have nothing wrong with them or who are mistakenly self-diagnosing themselves with health problems they don't have or with problems that are not even in that specialist's particular field of expertise.
There's no way for anyone to say if there's a typical timeline to wait between a clinic visit to the completion of any specialists medical procedure. It's not even a reasonable expectation. Not all health problems or specialists or their procedures or wait times are equal plus a lot depends on what the health issue itself is as well as the availability of the particular type of specialist in any given location and the general population of the location. There are just too many things that need to be factored in to be able to reasonably expect a timeline such as you are asking for.
No, it's not possible in B.C. to request a specialist appointment without a referral from another health professional who has already consulted with and examined the patient. It is an absolute must and if I understand correctly that is the way it's done everywhere in North America, including in the USA where you live.
Not necessarily true. You can generalize about healthcare in Canada because it is virtually the same for everyone, but you can't generalize about healthcare in the US. My health insurance allows me to self-refer to any specialist for any reason. It would be foolish of me to do that without first checking to see if the specialist is in my insurance network, but I don't need to be referred by another doctor.
Not necessarily true. You can generalize about healthcare in Canada because it is virtually the same for everyone, but you can't generalize about healthcare in the US. My health insurance allows me to self-refer to any specialist for any reason. It would be foolish of me to do that without first checking to see if the specialist is in my insurance network, but I don't need to be referred by another doctor.
Okay, I'll take your word for it. Although I have to admit I think that is rather careless and indiscriminate on the part of American specialists to accept self-referrals. But I guess if there is a surfeit of specialists to go around as there is in America and a specialist has the time to spare and they're being paid for it to waste their time on some self-referring chronic hypochondriac who doesn't actually need their services then why should the specialist care as long as he's being paid for his wasted time?
Okay, I'll take your word for it. Although I have to admit I think that is rather careless and indiscriminate on the part of American specialists to accept self-referrals. But I guess if there is a surfeit of specialists to go around as there is in America and a specialist has the time to spare and they're being paid for it to waste their time on some self-referring chronic hypochondriac who doesn't actually need their services then why should the specialist care as long as he's being paid for his wasted time?
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No need to take my word for it; here's the relevant line from my explanation of benefits.
I'm far from a chronic hypochondriac, but it's been very helpful when I noticed a suspicious skin lesion and breast lump to go straight to the dermatologist and gynecologist without faffing around wasting time with a family doctor and waiting for a referral, And yes, it was skin cancer and it was breast cancer.
And as you will gather from that small photo and already knew anyway, we have an issue with paying for services which you don't have. It's foolish to pick a random specialist without checking to see if they are in your insurance network (which fortunately is easy to do). So there is a tradeoff for sure.
I only mentioned it because there was a bit of a tone to your response of "Why are you asking, idiot; you should know this already; it's the same where you live."
Thanks for the informative reply. Not particularly interested in making a comparison to my own personal current insurance, but yes many US plans do allow direct appointments with a specialist. Different plans have different rules, thus the question when I look at a place and a system that I’m not familiar with.
...... I only mentioned it because there was a bit of a tone to your response of "Why are you asking, idiot; you should know this already; it's the same where you live."
You got a tone of disrespect from this?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zoisite
No, it's not possible in B.C. to request a specialist appointment without a referral from another health professional who has already consulted with and examined the patient. It is an absolute must and if I understand correctly that is the way it's done everywhere in North America, including in the USA where you live.
Okay, if you say so then I'll accept that a sense of disrespect is what you got out of it and you are coming to defense on behalf of your countryman that you think I was treating like an idiot. I think that is commendable that you stand up for your countryman and I appreciate your honesty.
I don't think the OP is an idiot and no disrespect was intended to the OP as I was merely stating what my understanding is and I was trying to give the OP concise and honest answers to his questions.
But I'm not a mind reader and am in no position to try to foresee or give special consideration to accommodate the unknown prickly sensitivities of every stranger on the internet who may be reading it and reading other mysterious things between the lines into it that aren't intended. I guess there's no accounting for the tones that some people believe they're picking up from others online that will rub them the wrong way, sometimes no matter what is said or who it is said to. I want you to know that I have recognized from your responses during the past couple of years or so that all of my posts that you read do rub you the wrong way for your own reasons. I recognize that it is what it is but there's nothing I can do about what makes you prickly. That's on you. If I ever respond to any of your own posts in the future I'll keep it in mind that you have prickles.
In the meantime, I have answered the OP's questions, the OP can review the information and take it or leave it as he sees fit.
Thanks for the informative reply. Not particularly interested in making a comparison to my own personal current insurance, but yes many US plans do allow direct appointments with a specialist. Different plans have different rules, thus the question when I look at a place and a system that I’m not familiar with.
Okay, that makes sense.
I'm curious about why you were specifically asking about the city of Victoria instead of Canada in general? Are you planning on visiting Victoria in the future or perhaps thinking about moving there?
Curious about Victoria specifically, since I may consider moving there in the future and since I’ve read that their shortage of family doctors is a problem for newcomers. Bad enough if I have a lengthy wait at a walk-in clinic full of sick people every time my kids or I need medical attention, and lack of any real history with seeing a new doctor every time. But even worse if it prevents my access to a specialist when I need one. No one wants to visit the (insert any specialist doctor here), but when you need them, that access can be important.
Curious about Victoria specifically, since I may consider moving there in the future and since I’ve read that their shortage of family doctors is a problem for newcomers. Bad enough if I have a lengthy wait at a walk-in clinic full of sick people every time my kids or I need medical attention, and lack of any real history with seeing a new doctor every time. But even worse if it prevents my access to a specialist when I need one. No one wants to visit the (insert any specialist doctor here), but when you need them, that access can be important.
A lot of walk-in clinics take appointments as well.
Also there are online resources to help.
If you are moving within Canada make sure your old coverage carries on until you new BC MSP coverage can start.
If you are moving into Canada, you will have to buy private insurance to cover the gap.
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