It seems that everyone in Vancouver is looking for a family doctor or paediatrician. So many in the profession are retiring, and the population of the province is increasing, too. While walk-in clinics are always an option, no one wants to sit in a waiting room with a sick child. So, how do you go about finding a family doctor?
When I was pregnant with my first baby, I found out that I no longer had a family doctor, and that I would need to find a new one not only for myself but also my soon-to-be-born child. But I had no idea where to start looking.
If you find yourself needing a new doctor, be prepared: it may require a bit of work on your part to find one. Thankfully, there are several different ways to go about finding a family doctor in the Vancouver area.
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia is a website where all physicians who practice medicine in BC must be registered. The public can search for family physicians who are accepting new patients but note that the list isn’t updated in real time, so the list of docs accepting new patients may not be perfect.
The BC Doctor Directory is a privately held website connected to Health Media Today that aims to provide the latest news, advice, and opinions for Canadians. It is not associated with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC, but it does have a provincial doctor directory.
There are many new walk-in clinics opening around town as a result of the great need for physicians. Check with your local walk-in clinic—some of them allow the doctors there to take on patients and book appointments. Use the HealthLink BC site to find a walk-in clinic near you.
Let those around you know that you are looking for a new family doctor, and take to social media, too. It’s often a reference from a family member or friend that gets you into the doctor’s office and onto the radar of a doctor accepting new patients.
It will take some doing, but finding that continuity in your care is worth all the work and research.
Tagged under: Vancouver
Category: child-care
