Health Card
You must present your valid health card each time you come to the office. Patients who do not present a valid health card may be asked to pay for their visit.
Parking
There is a charge for parking in the Hospital lot next to the clinic. You will need loonies or toonies to pay. We do NOT have change in the office. Nearby street parking is also available but is subject to the restrictions and parking rules enforced by the Town of Perth.
Preparing for the Visit With Your Provider
To make the best use of your appointment time with your physician or other team members, please consider:
- Have tests done that have been ordered a few days before your appointment so that results are available to be discussed.
- Ask your doctor if you need a test before the next visit and obtain the requisition. Our staff can fax this to your lab if requested. You can also come and pick up your requisition at the front desk.
- Make sure you have the right time and date for your appointment. If you need to reschedule, please call us. The sooner you call, the sooner we can make your spot available to someone else who needs it.
- Consider making a list of the questions you want to ask your doctor. Most appointments are booked for 15 minutes, so be prepared to discuss your most important question first, as there may not be enough time to discuss your whole list.
- Bring all your medication bottles or your current medication list from your pharmacist.
- Bringing any logbook or record that you keep, such as blood pressure, blood sugar, weight, or food diary.
Appointments
Appointments can be booked by calling +1 (613) 264-2686. We are rolling out online appointment booking, which can be accessed through this link: ONLINE APPT BOOKING. For now, Dr. Cunniffe and Dr. Popiel are available this way, and other physicians will be added soon. Office hours are from Monday to Thursday from 9:00 am to Noon and 1-4 pm, and Friday from 9:00 am to Noon.
Please arrive about 10 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. This allows time for check-in and preliminary information gathering such as blood pressure, weight, urine tests, etc. Your physician may be unable to see you if you arrive late. Our physicians will do their best to be on time for you, but we may be delayed by the unexpected. There are many reasons that a visit can take more time than was booked. We strive to care, listen and treat as best we can; some days, it can be a challenge to do that well and keep on schedule.
Urgent Appointments
Our physicians usually have a few “same-day appointments” for simple, acute issues. If you wish to schedule a same-day appointment, please call first thing in the morning, as these appointments usually fill up quickly.
Cancelling Appointments
Please try to give up 24h notice when cancelling your appointment. If you need to cancel an appointment on the day on which it is scheduled, please contact our office as soon as possible, so we can give someone else that spot.
Missed Appointments/ Last Minute Cancellations
Not showing up for appointments (NO SHOW) and last-minute cancellations limit our ability to provide care and increase wait times for appointments. It means a delay or lost opportunity for another patient. You may be charged a “NO SHOW” fee.
Prescriptions and Refills
Please use your medications exactly as prescribed for the best results. If you suspect that something in your medications is causing an adverse reaction, please tell us. Your pharmacist may also be able to help you understand more about your medication.
Managing your medication is both safer and easier if you keep all your prescriptions with one pharmacy.
We ask you to bring your medications with you to each visit to ensure that there is no confusion in your drug therapy. This is especially important if your specialist has prescribed or changed your medication. Please do not forget to inform us of alternative treatments you may be receiving (e.g., herbal or homeopathic medications).
Please note that we generally recommend against seeking prescription renewals by phone or fax from your pharmacy, as this prevents necessary reassessments and can result in unsafe prescription renewals and non-OHIP-covered costs for patients.