PEM’s September 2024 Newsletter
In this letter we cover:
PHONE LINES
NEW DOCTOR GROUP
URGENT ISSUES & AFTER HOURS CLINICS
NO WALK IN CLINICS
PEDIATRIC URGENT ISSUES
PHONE LINES Our phone lines went down Fri Aug 31 mid day. We have a temporary solution (it’s not perfect). If you can’t get through, please come into the office in person to book an appointment.
NEW DOCTOR GROUP We are so grateful to have joined another family health organisation (FHO) allowing us to provide urgent care to our patients when the MD in our office is ill or away. This group works differently than our previous group and we ask our patients to respect the protocols of the new group to keep all our practices sustainable. (see # 3 & #4 below)
URGENT ISSUES & AFTER HOURS CLINICS For urgent issues, please call our office to be booked in for a same day or next day appointment. The after hour clinics will be Mondays to Thursday evenings 5pm to 8pm and Saturday mornings for URGENT issues at rotating locations. Patients presenting with non urgent issues at the after hours clinic will not be seen and advised to see their own family doctor the next day. PEM after hours will now be Thursday evenings.
NO WALK IN CLINICS Using walk in clinics financially penalizes your physician. If you have a true emergency, go to the ER, otherwise please call our office for a same day or next day visit. Often we hear that it was easier or more convenient to go to walk in (eg: it was closer to work, it’s easier to walk in) and we understand this. However, to keep our practice sustainable and running, we ask our patients to choose between convenience or quality long term care.
PEDIATRIC URGENT ISSUES Children requiring urgent care can also book online at Just For Kids Clinic at St. Joseph’s Health Centre see one of our pediatric colleagues (the spots open at 7AM each day and fill up quickly). We receive detailed notes about the visit and are not be penalized financially for the visit.
MASKING iN OFFICE. Thank you to ALL our patients for continuing to bring and wear a MASK to each medical appointment. You have all helped us keep our most vulnerable patients safe from preventable illnesses.
- NEW REGULAR WEEKLY HOURS
- Mondays PHONES open 9 to 5, MD in office 9 to 1230
- Tuesdays PHONES open 9 to 5, MD in office variable
- Wednesdays PHONES open 9 to 5, MD in 9 to 1230
- Thursdays PHONES open 1 to 8, MD in office 1 to 8
- Fridays PHONES open 9 to 5, MD in office 9 to 1230
- Saturdays 9 to 12 rotating clinics (urgent issues only)
- Sundays CLOSED