After Hours Coverage

We'd like to clarify our protocols for after-hours care coverage. This system is in place to provide ongoing medical care for urgent but non-emergent issues that may arise outside of our regular office hours.

Please take note of the following guidelines:

1. *For urgent medical concerns after office hours:* Please call our on-call number [insert on-call number here]. This service is intended for issues that cannot wait until our next office hours and are urgent but not life-threatening.
2. *Nature of after-hours service:* The after-hours service is staffed by a rotating physician or nurse practitioner from our practice who, like you, value their personal time and will have a full patient schedule the next day. Please use this service sparingly and only for urgent issues. This is not the appropriate channel for routine concerns such as prescription refills, test result discussions, or booking appointments.
3. *Communication and Privacy during After-Hours Service:* Please understand that as the on-call physician or nurse practitioner cannot physically see or examine you, their assessment may be limited. There are inherent risks associated with this form of communication, including potential privacy breaches, loss of signal, or miscommunication. We assure you that our team will do their utmost to manage these risks effectively and provide you with the best possible advice.
4. *Purpose of the After-Hours Service:* This service is designed to help avoid unnecessary ER visits by addressing urgent but non-emergent issues that arise after our office hours.
5. *Alternative for non-emergent issues:* If your issue is urgent, but not a medical emergency warranting an ER visit, consider visiting the Richmond Urgent and Primary Care Clinic. Their service runs from 5pm to 9pm on weekdays, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays, and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
6. *For Emergencies:* If your health concern is an emergency, requires immediate attention, call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room immediately.
7. *For general health advice:* If you need general health advice or have non-urgent questions, please call 811. This provincial health advice The line is staffed with health professionals ready to assist you.

Please remember:

  • For emergencies, dial 911.
  • For urgent after-hours issues related to your care at our clinic, call our on-call service at 604-285-2263 .
  • For general health advice and non-urgent questions, dial 811.
  • For urgent issues that can't wait until our next business day but don't warrant an ER visit, consider the Richmond Urgent and Primary Care Clinic.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in using these resources appropriately. This will ensure we can provide the best possible care for all our patients.

Thank you for entrusting your care to us at Terra Nova Medical Clinics.
Sincerely,
Terra Nova Medical