Masks
At this time, the Red Lake Family Health Team asks that all visitors that have respiratory symptoms wear a mask. This is for the protection of everyone in the building and is based on recommendations from the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Changes to Prescription Renewal Process
August 23, 2023
Change to Prescription Renewal Request Processes in Red Lake:
Effective September 5, 2023, Red Lake Medical Associates will no longer accept renewal requests by fax, by email or by drop off, whether from pharmacy or from a patient or their representative directly. There will be an exception made for end-of-life palliative care patients. We will continue to accept fax clarifications from pharmacists or other related professional communication.
This unfortunate change in service is directly related to the reduction in funded positions for doctors in the RNPGA agreement for Red Lake and the overall Human Health Resource crisis in the community.
As of September 5, 2023, prescription renewals will be managed during very short appointments, dedicated ONLY to the prescription renewal request. In order to accommodate a maximal number of patients requiring renewals, no other health issues can be dealt with during these appointments. In addition, these appointments are not for requesting new medications.
Prescription renewal appointments are only available to patients who are part of the Red Lake Medical Associates’ clinic practice. If you are not already rostered, please ask for a form at the front desk.
How will they be booked?
Mostly online. Patients of the Red Lake Clinic will be able to request a booking of a dedicated prescription renewal appointment online at https://portal.healthmyself.net. For those without access to computers, we will reserve a few appointments that can be booked by the front office staff in person/by phone. The appointment times will be approximate. The doctor will try to call you within an hour or two of either side of your booked time. Doctors may use their cell phones—please be prepared to answer “Unknown Caller” calls.
What do I need to do to prepare?
Know your medications and doses. When you book your appointment online, list in the online form the names and doses of all the medications you wish to have renewed. Have an updated list of those medications and their doses with you at the time of your appointment, too.
We anticipate that most of these prescription renewal appointments will be via telephone. Providing us your list of medications in advance will help ensure a fast and efficient appointment.
Plan ahead. Plan to request renewals of all medications you are likely to require in the next 6-12 months. Please plan approximately a month in advance of when your medication is expected to run out.
Complete your lab req, if you have one. If you are on medications that require blood work monitoring and you have a requisition, have your lab tests done at least 1 week in advance of your appointment.
For blood pressure medications, check your blood pressure, if possible. If it is a blood pressure pill, it is helpful if you have a home blood pressure cuff and can tell the doctor your measurement during the appointment. Alternatively, if you do not have an updated blood pressure since your last renewal or dose change, you can request a blood pressure appointment with the clinic to have it checked.
Keep an updated medication list. We suggest that when you pick up your medications from the pharmacy, you ensure you keep the printed list provided to you for easy reference.
Familiarize yourself with the online booking portal before you need it.
Have ready a quiet place with no distractions for your appointment.
What about controlled substances?
Controlled substances (narcotics, benzodiazepines, ADHD medications, etc.) require complex assessment, monitoring and discussion We ask that patients make every effort to try to book a regular appointment for these medications. “Prescription Renewal Only” appointments are a last resort for renewal of controlled substances. The decision to renew any medication is at the discretion of the clinician.
What if there are no appointments left?
We recognize that the team may not be able to accommodate all prescription renewal requests. Try speaking with your pharmacist about extending or renewing your medications until you can secure an appointment. Alternatively, you can seek care from other resources, such as virtual clinics.
We are hopeful that with your help in organizing and planning your prescription renewal requests, we will soon find we have enough renewal appointments to meet the needs of the community.
Sincerely,
Physicians of the Red Lake Medical Associates
Change to Prescription Renewal Request Processes in Red Lake:
Effective September 5, 2023, Red Lake Medical Associates will no longer accept renewal requests by fax, by email or by drop off, whether from pharmacy or from a patient or their representative directly. There will be an exception made for end-of-life palliative care patients. We will continue to accept fax clarifications from pharmacists or other related professional communication.
This unfortunate change in service is directly related to the reduction in funded positions for doctors in the RNPGA agreement for Red Lake and the overall Human Health Resource crisis in the community.
As of September 5, 2023, prescription renewals will be managed during very short appointments, dedicated ONLY to the prescription renewal request. In order to accommodate a maximal number of patients requiring renewals, no other health issues can be dealt with during these appointments. In addition, these appointments are not for requesting new medications.
Prescription renewal appointments are only available to patients who are part of the Red Lake Medical Associates’ clinic practice. If you are not already rostered, please ask for a form at the front desk.
How will they be booked?
Mostly online. Patients of the Red Lake Clinic will be able to request a booking of a dedicated prescription renewal appointment online at https://portal.healthmyself.net. For those without access to computers, we will reserve a few appointments that can be booked by the front office staff in person/by phone. The appointment times will be approximate. The doctor will try to call you within an hour or two of either side of your booked time. Doctors may use their cell phones—please be prepared to answer “Unknown Caller” calls.
What do I need to do to prepare?
Know your medications and doses. When you book your appointment online, list in the online form the names and doses of all the medications you wish to have renewed. Have an updated list of those medications and their doses with you at the time of your appointment, too.
We anticipate that most of these prescription renewal appointments will be via telephone. Providing us your list of medications in advance will help ensure a fast and efficient appointment.
Plan ahead. Plan to request renewals of all medications you are likely to require in the next 6-12 months. Please plan approximately a month in advance of when your medication is expected to run out.
Complete your lab req, if you have one. If you are on medications that require blood work monitoring and you have a requisition, have your lab tests done at least 1 week in advance of your appointment.
For blood pressure medications, check your blood pressure, if possible. If it is a blood pressure pill, it is helpful if you have a home blood pressure cuff and can tell the doctor your measurement during the appointment. Alternatively, if you do not have an updated blood pressure since your last renewal or dose change, you can request a blood pressure appointment with the clinic to have it checked.
Keep an updated medication list. We suggest that when you pick up your medications from the pharmacy, you ensure you keep the printed list provided to you for easy reference.
Familiarize yourself with the online booking portal before you need it.
Have ready a quiet place with no distractions for your appointment.
What about controlled substances?
Controlled substances (narcotics, benzodiazepines, ADHD medications, etc.) require complex assessment, monitoring and discussion We ask that patients make every effort to try to book a regular appointment for these medications. “Prescription Renewal Only” appointments are a last resort for renewal of controlled substances. The decision to renew any medication is at the discretion of the clinician.
What if there are no appointments left?
We recognize that the team may not be able to accommodate all prescription renewal requests. Try speaking with your pharmacist about extending or renewing your medications until you can secure an appointment. Alternatively, you can seek care from other resources, such as virtual clinics.
We are hopeful that with your help in organizing and planning your prescription renewal requests, we will soon find we have enough renewal appointments to meet the needs of the community.
Sincerely,
Physicians of the Red Lake Medical Associates
Changes to our Urgent Care Clinic
There is an urgent care clinic physician assigned in the mornings Monday through Saturday (excluding statutory holidays). In the afternoon there may be accommodations for same day bookings for urgent issues with a clinic physician, depending on availability. If the clinic is unable to accommodate a same day booking we encourage you to seek care in the emergency room if the issue is emergent, or to present the next morning to the urgent care clinic when a physician will be assigned to cover urgent consultations (excluding Sundays).
Changes to Red Lake Healthcare
Retroactive to April 1, 2023, there are less family physicians funded to work in Red Lake. There has been a reduction in the number of Ministry of Health allocated physician spots on the RNPGA (Rural Northern Physician Group Agreement) Contract. There was funding for 7 doctors—we are now funded for only 6.
This devastating change will negatively impact the ability to recruit doctors, draw locums and keep physicians working locally. It will further challenge medical services at the clinic, the hospital and beyond.
What does this mean for patients?
At the clinic:
At the hospital:
What can you do?
-Be kind. No one is more disappointed about these changes than the physicians, the staff and the integrated care teams we work with. Derisive language, threats and abuse cannot be tolerated.
-Write a letter to your Member of Provincial Parliament, Sol Mamakwa and to the Ontario Minister of Health, Sylvia Jones and let them know you feel you want equitable, robust healthcare that includes more than a skeleton crew of rural doctors dedicated to your community
-Take preventive health seriously. Avoid risky activities that might cause injury, given the unstable state of the Emergency Room.
-Consider alternate means of care. Mammograms for eligible women can be self-booked, for example, by the breast screening program. Patients can self-refer for depression or anxiety to Ontario Structured Psychotherapy program based out of Thunder Bay. Health 811 is an option for many health issues and there are several private-pay virtual care companies to be found on the internet.
This devastating change will negatively impact the ability to recruit doctors, draw locums and keep physicians working locally. It will further challenge medical services at the clinic, the hospital and beyond.
What does this mean for patients?
At the clinic:
- Patients should anticipate shorter appointments targeted at dealing with a single health issue. If you have a few issues at hand, we suggest you bring a list so the physician can help you sort out which is the most medically pressing.
- Effective August 5, 2023, the Saturday morning urgent care clinic will stop operating.
- Effective August 1, 2023, incoming emails and/or messages from patients will no longer be attended to. Patients should NOT send electronic messages or leave voice mails. The physicians and staff may still use outgoing messaging, if you have consented to this option, but incoming messages or replies will not be accepted.
- Some of the existing physicians will be leaving the contract group. It is anticipated that effective Oct 1, 2023 there will be only 4 full time equivalents to see to the needs of our community. As such, it is expected that less service will be available and will impact appointments, prescription renewals, insurance forms etc.
- Our non-insured services rates are changing, in keeping with Ontario Medical Association established rates. These are charges for items including work notes, insurance forms, driver’s medicals etc. Updated fee lists will be available at the accounts desk at the clinic.
At the hospital:
- The ER will become more challenging for the local physicians to provide service for. Doctors were already struggling to cover 24/7 and to find locums. ER closures may be in the future, if the hospital is unable to secure locums.
- With the changes at the clinic above, it is anticipated ER volumes and wait times will increase.
- Outpatient procedural services such as excisions & stress tests will be more difficult to offer.
- Obstetrical services are currently on hold. This makes it harder to re-open.
What can you do?
-Be kind. No one is more disappointed about these changes than the physicians, the staff and the integrated care teams we work with. Derisive language, threats and abuse cannot be tolerated.
-Write a letter to your Member of Provincial Parliament, Sol Mamakwa and to the Ontario Minister of Health, Sylvia Jones and let them know you feel you want equitable, robust healthcare that includes more than a skeleton crew of rural doctors dedicated to your community
-Take preventive health seriously. Avoid risky activities that might cause injury, given the unstable state of the Emergency Room.
-Consider alternate means of care. Mammograms for eligible women can be self-booked, for example, by the breast screening program. Patients can self-refer for depression or anxiety to Ontario Structured Psychotherapy program based out of Thunder Bay. Health 811 is an option for many health issues and there are several private-pay virtual care companies to be found on the internet.
Other Resources
There are very few appointments with a doctor right now but please do check in periodically for cancellations or new openings, either by phone or online through our patient portal. Check out our list of online or alternate resources as well:
Family Health Team (NP, RN, Social Worker, Dietitian)
Family Health Team (NP, RN, Social Worker, Dietitian)
- The Red Lake FHT offers appointments for blood pressure checks, wound care, foot care, mental health, dietitian consults, diabetes, injections, paps, well baby and early prenatal care
- Telehealth Ontario Toll-free: 1-866-797-0000 or https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-medical-advice-telehealth-ontario
- Maple - online doctors, virtual health and prescriptions getmaple.ca
- MD Connected Virtual Clinic - Innovative Telemedicine Clinics and Virtual Care Services. Speak With a Healthcare Professional mdconnected.ca
- C.A.R.E Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation offers virtual visits with Registered Physiotherapist Tomo Ono. ph: 905-882-8847 or carephysio.ca
- Registered dietitian advice: Telehealth Ontario provides a free service to residents of Ontario to get trusted advice from a registered dietitian to help them make healthier food choices and to answer their nutrition questions. Telehealth Ontario connects you with a registered dietitian. Toll-free: 1-866-797-0000
- MindBeacon - is currently a free program to Ontario residents https://mindbeacon.com
- Crisis Line 24/7 1-866-888-8988 (includes access to mobile crisis response)
- Community Counselling 727-1100
- Bounceback Ontario is a free, guided self-help program that’s effective in helping people aged 15 and up who are experiencing mild-to-moderate anxiety or depression, or may be feeling low, stressed, worried, irritable or angry. https://bouncebackontario.ca/
- Woebot Health: Whether you’re feeling stuck, sad or anxious, or just want to take a moment to check-in, Woebot is always there to help you work through it. With behavioral health solutions available for adults, and treatments in development for teens and new mothers, Woebot will help you understand where you are, and empower you to keep moving, all at your own pace. https://woebothealth.com/
- CAMH provides a wide range of clinical care services for patients of all ages and families https://www.camh.ca/
- Wysa - Mental Health Support,For Everyone.
Helping users self-manage stressors by blending AI-guided listening with professional expert support.
Anonymous, Available 24/7, Clinically safe. https://www.wysa.io/www.wysa.io/
