1. Consent to care and access to records
You allow your family doctor to access your medical records at other hospitals, clinics and offices. You also allow your doctor to do the exams, tests and referrals they judge necessary for your care, following the standards of the medical profession.
You agree to follow your doctor’s instructions and to arrive on time for your appointments.
2. Booking an appointment
Please email or call your clinic to book. Tell the staff if you are booking a physical or need a form completed, so we can prepare and keep your wait short.
Most visits are 15 minutes. This usually allows time for one major or two minor health issues. If we cannot address all your concerns in one visit, you may need a follow-up appointment so that each one gets the attention it deserves.
3. Fees
OHIP covers most, but not all, medical services. You pay for uninsured services, such as:
- forms for school, work or insurance, and driver’s physicals
- medical notes and letters
- cosmetic procedures, TB skin testing, some vaccinations, travel medicine and dietitian services
- faxing a prescription without a visit, and full or partial file transfers
- missed appointment fees (see section 5)
See all fees for uninsured services and the optional block fee.
4. After-hours urgent care
Our after-hours clinic is for patients enrolled with a family doctor at Rideau MD – Charlotte Street, Donald Street Health Centre or Montreal Road Medical Centre.
- By appointment only. Walk-in patients are not accepted.
- Hours: Monday to Thursday, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon. Closed on Fridays, Sundays and statutory holidays.
- How to book: by email, Monday to Thursday after 1 p.m. For Saturday, email on Friday evening or Saturday morning.
- Urgent needs only. Emails are triaged, and spots are limited each day. When all spots are taken, the after-hours email closes for that day.
Examples of urgent needs
- Cough, sore throat, fever or flu symptoms
- Pink eye or earache
- Urinary tract infection
- Sudden rash
- Minor cuts and burns
- Abdominal pain
- Sudden vomiting and diarrhea
- Any sudden pain in the body
Book with your doctor instead
- Complete physical or check-up
- Non-urgent prescription renewals
- Pap test
- Requests for test requisitions
- Medical forms
See after-hours care and how to book. In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
5. Cancellations and missed appointments
Please cancel at least 24 hours before your appointment. If you miss an appointment without cancelling at least 24 hours ahead, you will usually be charged:
| Appointment type | Missed appointment fee |
|---|---|
| Regular appointment | $50 |
| Annual check-up | $100 |
| IUD insertion or removal | $100 |
| Consultation | $100 |
If you arrive more than 10 minutes late, the appointment counts as missed.
6. Zero tolerance
We do not accept abusive behaviour, coarse language, violence or threats toward any staff member or physician. A patient whose behaviour puts anyone’s safety at risk may be asked to leave and may be banned from the clinic.
7. Walk-in clinics and other family doctors
When you visit a walk-in clinic or another family doctor (this does not apply to specialists), the Ministry of Health deducts the cost of that visit from your family doctor. The Ministry reports these visits to your doctor, and using outside services may lead to you being removed (de-rostered) from your doctor’s practice.
Please book with your own family doctor. For urgent needs outside clinic hours, use our after-hours clinic.
8. Ending the patient–physician relationship
If the agreement is not respected, or if you withdraw your consent, your file may be closed with 30 days’ notice.
Your clinic will give you the full agreement to read and sign. Ask your clinic if you would like a copy.