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WHAT'S NEW
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Is there a doctor near your house?
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A handy health care guide to help you find a physician or nurse anywhere in Canada
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By Patricia Robertson
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Are you a health care orphan? According to a November 2004 Decima Research Poll, 16 per cent of Canadians are "orphan patients." They're without the services of a family doctor. This is due to a family doctor shortage where, according to medical journal Canadian Family Physician, only 20 per cent of physicians in Canada accept new patients.
We've compiled a handy guide to help you find health care fast. You'll find website and phone line information for every province.
Got a nagging health question? Many provinces offer telehealth services, a nurse-staffed phone line where nurses assess, advise and provide health information -- but they don't diagnose or prescribe medication. For those services, patients without a family doctor can go to a walk-in clinic.
THE WEST
Residents of the western provinces have many consumer health services at their disposal. All four western provinces offer websites and hotlines where you can locate a physician who accepts new patients. They also have telehealth services.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
FIND A DOCTOR
B.C. residents, call: 800-461-3008
Online: www.cpsbc/cps/physician_directory/search
CALL A NURSE
Provincial telehealth: 866-215-4700
ALBERTA
FIND A DOCTOR
In Calgary, call: 403-943-LINK
Online: www.Calgaryhealthregion.ca/doctor
In Edmonton, call: 403-408-5465
Online: www.Capitalhealth.ca
CALL A NURSE
Provincial telehealth: 866-408-5465
SASKATCHEWAN
FIND A DOCTOR
In Saskatoon, call: 306-655-8217
Online: www.Saskatoonhealthregion.ca/your_health/doctors_ap.htm
In Regina, call: 306-766-7792
Online: www.rqhealth.ca
CALL A NURSE
Provincial telehealth: 877-800-0002
MANITOBA
FIND A DOCTOR
On the phone: Family Doctor Connection Hotline 866-690-8260
Online: www.gov.mb.ca/health/guide/2/physician.html
CALL A NURSE
Provincial telehealth: 888-315-9257
CENTRAL CANADA
Ontario and Quebec offer a range of health services. Ontario coordinates a doctor search program online, managed by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. Quebec asks its residents to call the health department in their region to track down a doctor who accepts new patients. Residents of both provinces have access to telehealth services.
ONTARIO
FIND A DOCTOR
Ontario residents call 800-268-7096 ext. 306
Online: www.cpso.on.ca (Look under "Doctor Search")
CALL A NURSE
Provincial telehealth: 866-797-0000
QUEBEC
FIND A DOCTOR
Online: www.msss.gouv.qc.ca/reseau/regies.html
Go to the Government of Quebec site and scroll over to the left margin for "REGIONS." Click on REGIONS and select the area where you live for access to health information and contact numbers.
CALL A NURSE
Montreal residents have access to telehealth services at 514-488-9163. If you reside elsewhere in the province, you can call the same number and the nurses will refer you to the correct number for your city or town.
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