GIM Clinic Policies

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 Welcome to the Guelph Internal Medicine Clinic (GIM Clinic). These policies are designed to help you understand how our clinic operates and what we ask of you as a patient. Please read carefully so we can provide you with the best care possible.

• After we receive your doctor's referral, our staff will contact you up to three times, using your preferred method (phone, email, or mail) to arrange your appointment.
• We will reach out at various times and on different days to increase our chances of connecting with you.
• Your appointment is confirmed only once we receive a response from you. Please reply promptly to confirm.
• If we cannot reach you after three attempts and you do not confirm your appointment within 24 hours of our last contact attempt, you will be discharged from our patient list.
• If you need care again, you may be re-referred to the clinic following our standard process.

• Once your appointment is confirmed, we will attempt to remind you of your appointment 24 hours prior, depending on the timing between the referral and the appointment.
• Reminders will include any special instructions (such as fasting, bringing a medication list, etc.).

• Please notify us at least one business day in advance if you are unable to attend your appointment. Failure to do so may result in a no-show fee, which typically ranges from $60 for second or later follow-ups to $310 for first comprehensive consultations (see the uninsured services fee table for updated prices).
• If you missed your appointment due to illness, an emergency, or financial difficulties, please let us know; fees may be waived at our discretion. 
• Please note that repeated no-shows (more than two in a year) will result in discharge from the clinic.

• Besides the reasons mentioned earlier, a doctor has the right to stop seeing patients and remove them from their practice if they feel that the trust and understanding between them has completely broken down.
• Causes for discharge from the clinic may include, but are not limited to: refusal to pay for uninsured services rendered, medication abuse or mis-use, frequently being late or missing appointments, refusal to follow-up as needed for your treatment, rude or abusive attitude or language towards clinic staff or other patients.
• We will inform your referring doctor when you are discharged and provide them with relevant details.
• Once discharged, you may be re-referred to the clinic following our regular process. We reserve to right to refuse referrals depending, among other reasons, on the circumstances the patient was discharged from the clinic.

• We are committed to providing a safe, respectful environment for everyone.
• Disrespectful, abusive, or threatening behaviour towards staff or others will not be tolerated and will result in immediate discharge from the clinic.
• We ask that you comply with clinic policies and any reasonable safety instructions.

• Your personal health information is protected and handled in accordance with provincial and federal privacy legislation (PHIPA and PIPEDA), as well as the clinic's policies.
• For more information, refer to our Privacy Statement.
• If you have questions about your information, please speak with our staff.

• To make communication with you more efficient, we rely on a range of electronic communication methods. These are described in our Consent for Electronic Communications.

If you have any questions or require additional information about these policies, please do not hesitate to contact our clinic team. We are here to support you and ensure you have a positive experience at the GIM Rapid Access Clinic.