Common Questions

Will the Duty Clinic Doctor give needles? (e.g. regular childhood vaccines such as measles, mumps and chicken pox vaccines)

No… Duty clinic is not for regular preventative care. The Duty clinic doctor might give a tetanus shot if you are seeing the Duty Clinic doctor for a new wound.

Can I go to Duty Clinic for my blood pressure, diabetes checks or pap smears?

NO… Duty clinic is reserved for patients with new and urgent problems. Please book with your regular family doctor for ongoing medical problems and preventative care

Do I go back to the Duty Clinic to make sure I’ve recovered from my illness?

No… You should book an appointment with your own doctor if you need to follow up on your visit to Duty clinic.

Will the Duty doctor refill regular medications?

No…In general patients should see their own doctor for their regular medications. Patients should book these appointments ahead of time.

How do I book to see my doctor for non-urgent problems or preventative care?

Call ahead… Patients are encouraged to pre-book regular, routine and preventative care visits in our regular clinics with their own doctor well in advance.

What can I come to the Duty Clinic for?

Duty clinic is for urgent medical problems, such as:

Coughs, colds, and flu-like symptoms (Fever/sore throat)
Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
New or worsening back, joint, or muscle aches and pains
Earaches
Mild headaches
Eye irritation and infections
Urinary problems
Asthma (mild to moderate)
Shortness of breath or wheezing
Bites and stings
Rashes, hives, and mild allergic reactions
Cuts, scrapes, bruises, and other minor wounds
Other minor conditions or minor injuries

Will my own doctor see me in Duty Clinic?

Probably not… there is one Duty doctor in the Duty Clinic who sees all the patients who come to the Duty Clinic.

Non-Insured Services

MSI does not cover a number of services that you may want or need. This includes completion of some forms, phone-in prescription refills, and certain medical treatments. You will be asked to pay for these services yourself. You will always be told the cost of the service before it is provided. If you cannot afford the cost, please tell your physician beforehand, as she/he may reduce or remove the charge.

Services After Hours

We provide a service after hours and on weekends. If you have an issue that needs attention after our clinic is closed that can’t wait until the next time the office is open, simply call our usual number. The answering service will put you in touch with a physician on call. If you think you will need to be seen please try to call before 8:00pm. In the event of emergencies, which require immediate medical attention, please call 911 or go straight to the Emergency Department. We are not able to provide full emergency care for life-threatening illness.

First Appointment at Clinic

Please remember to bring these to your first appointment at the clinic:

Health Card (Your health card is required at the time of registration for all your appointments at the clinic.)
Medication list
Any medical reports/chart if you have copies
The name and address of previous family physician so we can request a copy of your previous medical record
Until you have been seen for your intake appointment, you will need to go to a walk in clinic or your nearest Emergency Room for medical issues.

Walk-Ins without a Booked Appointment

We encourage you to book an appointment. If you walk in to the clinic without an appointment, and need attention right away, please tell our staff and they will do their best to fit you in that day. You may have to wait awhile until we can fit you in. Appointments for routine or non-urgent visits should be booked in advance.

Missed Appointments

If you miss an appointment without one half day’s notice you will be billed for the cost of the missed visit. Typically the charge is $30.00 per missed visit, but the cost may be more in some cases. This charge can be waived if you speak to your family physician about why you were unable to notify us in advance of your appointment (eg. because of some unforeseen or urgent matter)

You are required to pay for your no show appointment prior to attending your next Appointment.

Patients with three unpaid bills for missed appointments may be asked to find another doctor.

Appointments at the Clinic

We expect you to be on time for your appointment and to contact us if you will be late.

If you are going to miss or cancel an appointment please call us as soon as possible.

Rights and Responsibilities

You have the right to be treated with respect by everyone on our teams. If at any time you feel this is not the case, you should contact your physician or our clinic medical director.

We also require that you treat our staff with respect. Dalhousie Family Medicine Clinics and Capital Health are committed to achieving a vision of a world leading haven for patient centered health, healing, and learning by providing an environment where all patients are treated with dignity and respect.

Respectful behavior is a requirement of all staff and patients. Disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated.