Here's an overview of the workflow for admitting a patient
to Canadian hospitals, providing laboratory services, family doctor
connections, hospitalization, and handling insurance issues for newcomers. A
flowchart will follow.
Workflow for Newcomers: Patient Admission and Services in
Canada
1. Visiting a Family Doctor or Walk-In Clinic
- Purpose:
For general consultations, referrals, or minor health concerns.
- Steps:
- Find
a Family Doctor: Use resources like the Health Care Connect program
or provincial directories to register with a doctor.
- Walk-In
Clinics: If no family doctor is available, newcomers can visit a
walk-in clinic without an appointment.
- Referrals:
If specialized care is needed, the family doctor provides a referral to a
specialist.
2. Hospital Admission (Emergency or Referral)
- Emergency
Department:
- Visit
the nearest hospital emergency room (ER) for urgent or life-threatening
issues.
- Triage
staff assess the severity and prioritize care.
- Referral
for Non-Emergencies:
- Patients
needing specific tests or hospital-based treatments get referrals from
their family doctor or specialist.
3. Laboratory Services
- Tests
and Diagnostics:
- Most
provinces cover laboratory tests deemed medically necessary under public
health insurance.
- The
family doctor or specialist provides requisitions for lab tests.
- Visit
a designated lab (e.g., LifeLabs or Dynacare). Results are sent to the
referring doctor.
4. Insurance Considerations
- Public
Health Insurance:
- Register
for provincial health coverage (e.g., OHIP in Ontario or MSP in British
Columbia).
- Coverage
begins after a waiting period (varies by province). Some provinces have
no waiting period.
- Private
Health Insurance:
- For
services not covered by public health insurance (e.g., dental, vision,
prescriptions).
- Obtain
insurance through employers or purchase independently.
- International
Students and Visitors: Private insurance is mandatory until eligible
for public coverage.
5. Hospitalization
- Admission
Process:
- If
admitted through ER, patients are assigned a ward based on their
condition.
- Specialists
and hospital staff manage care.
- Discharge:
- Patients
receive discharge instructions and follow-up appointments with their
family doctor or specialist.
- Billing
may apply if coverage is unavailable.
