PHYSCIALS/APPOINTMENTS: Please arrive 5-10 minutes in advance so staff can prepare you. When patients are late, this accumulates throughout the day.  I strive to stay on time but get delayed on occasion with emergencies. Please inform our staff of the exact visit reason to enable appropriate booking time.

OBSTETRICAL: Provide accurate date of last menstrual period for the first visit & a urine sample each time.

IUD INSERTION: Pick up the provided prescription for IUD and medications in advance to ensure availability.  Call to book an appointment the day your menstrual cycle begins. Follow the prescription instructions given at your counselling appointment.

ENDOMETRIAL BIOPSY: Follow the prescription instructions given at your counselling appointment.

PRIVATE MEDICALS (Insurance/Driver's Licence): Please bring & complete patient sections of all necessary forms.

BIOPSIES/EXCISIONS: Remove all makeup & creams on the skin.  Wear loose, comfortable clothing.

TOENAIL REMOVAL: Remove nail polish & bring roomy (open toe) footwear.

REFERRAL TO SPECIALISTS

Things to bring to the appointment:

-Health card, personal identification

-Information on any other personal medical coverage plans that you have

-Any health records, test results, or X-rays that you've been asked to bring

-The name and phone number of who to contact in an emergency

-Instructions on how to get to the office

-A list of all medications you're currently taking, including prescription and non-prescription medications, as well as any vitamins, supplements, herbal and homeopathic remedies

-A list of other health professionals you've recently consulted, why you went to see them, and what they told you

Before you arrive, be sure you know:

-Which doctor you will be seeing

-Why you will be seeing them

-What time you should arrive and any admission procedures you will go through

-What will happen and what to expect during your visit

-What the effects of any tests or procedures might be

-How long your visit will take

-If you will be able to drive home

-If there are certain things you should avoid

-If there are certain things you should do

To fully understand your condition there are certain things you may want to ask your doctor, such as:

-What caused this condition?

-What are my treatment options?

-Which option is best for me, and why?

-How will this affect my lifestyle, what will I need to change?

-What am I doing right?

-What am I doing wrong?

DIAGNOSTIC TESTS

X-Ray/Bone Density/Mammogram/Nuclear Medicine:  Wear comfortable, loose, clothing.

Fluoroscopy (Upper GI Series): Fast (no food or drink) after midnight of the evening before your test.

Fluoroscopy (Barium Enema): Use the Roy Vac kit on the day before your test beginning at noon;

Fluoroscopy (IVP): Take 2 tablets of Ducolax the evening before your test.  Fast (no food or drink) from midnight of the evening before your test.

CT Scan: Fast (no food or drink) for two hours before your test.

Pelvic Ultrasound:  Drink 32 oz of water 1 hour before testing to ensure a full bladder.  Do not empty your bladder as if it is not full your test may be cancelled.

Abdominal Ultrasound: Fast (no food or drink) from midnight the evening before your test for morning appointments.  For afternoon appointments you must fast (no food or drink) for 6 hours prior to your test.

Other Ultrasounds: No preparation is necessary.

Cardiac Stress Testing:

-Bring exercise clothing (t-shirt, shorts or sweat pants and running shoes) for the stress test. Please note that a short-sleeved shirt is required to accommodate the blood pressure cuff

-Continue taking all of your medications with the exception of beta blockers (e.g. Atenolol, Metoprolol, Carvedolol, Bispropolol) for high blood pressure. Do NOT take a beta blocker the morning of your stress test, but bring it with you so you can take it once the test has been completed.

-You may eat a light meal 1 ½ to 2 hours before your test. Try to get a good night’s sleep before the test.

-Do NOT exercise the day of the test since it may prevent you from performing at your best during the test.

-Do NOT drink caffeinated or alcoholic beverages for at least four hours before the test

-Do NOT smoke up to two hours before the test.

-Do NOT use any body creams since the electrodes will not adhere properly to your skin.

If you have a cold, flu or you are not feeling well, cancel your appointment since the test results will not be reliable. If you have had any recent or chronic knee, foot, hip or back injuries, call the office to discuss this with us.