We are reopening our clinics to offer more in-person appointments!

As you may have already seen, we are shifting away from a #VirtualFirst approach and reopening all of our clinics to allow more access for patients to book virtual AND in-person appointments themselves.

We have made some adjustments in order to keep our clinic capacity at a safe number that still allows for physical distancing where possible. We will continue to maintain safety protocols including regular disinfection of all of our clinics. Please also continue to wear a mask when attending any in-person appointment at our clinics. We are working to balance the need for in-person medical care with the need to keep everyone safe as part of our new normal.

We have answered some common questions and outlined some of the changes we are implementing below. We ask that you review the below carefully before booking or emailing in to ask questions about our reopening plans.

Will I be able to use the online booking pages to book in-person appointments?

In general, yes, but there are some physician specific nuances. Please refer to your own physician’s booking page for more information on booking appointments.

Are you still screening patients for Covid-19 symptoms?

Yes, we will still be screening all patients when they arrive at a clinic for in-person appointments.

If you answer yes to any of our screening questions AND your appointment can be postponed (as explained here), you may be asked to leave and reschedule your appointment.

We are also asking that all patients self-screen prior to their in-person appointments.

Can I be seen for an in-person appointment if I have symptoms of Covid-19?

For infection control purposes, patients who screen positive on our Covid-19 self-screening questionnaire should avoid visiting the clinic in person until infection symptoms have resolved. Patients who have screened positive can book virtual appointments as usual, but in-person appointments are available only under exceptional circumstances.

How do/Can I schedule X type of appointment?

Please refer to your own physician’s booking page for specifics on how to schedule each type of appointment. We have taken great care to include instructions for broad types of appointments.

If you do not see your concern listed, it can likely be booked as an “any other reason” appointment.

Can more than one caregiver attend appointments?

As mentioned above, we will be running all of our clinics at a reduced capacity.

In light of this, we continue to ask that patients limit the number of accompanying caregivers to one person. Please be sure to self-screen both individuals who will be attending the appointment for Covid-19 (there will be a link in the appointment confirmation email to do so).

In-person urgent care clinics are returning!

Our in-person urgent care clinics are returning! The clinics will now be rotating through all 3 locations (Riverside, Midtown and Beaches) so please keep this in mind when booking and double check your appointment location before coming to the clinic.

They will be offered by APPOINTMENT ONLY (no walk-ins), in the evenings Monday through Thursday and Saturday mornings.

Will my physician be penalized if I use a walk-in clinic (virtual or in-person)?

Yes, the government has resumed penalizing physicians when their patients seek health care outside of Magenta Health. For example, visits to walk-in clinics (in-person and virtual), or seeing another family physician.

We understand, of course, that there are sometimes exceptional circumstances where you will need to visit a walk-in clinic for an urgent concern but please consider this a gentle reminder that, in general, we ask patients to not use walk-in clinics (virtual or in-person). In fact, we offer urgent care appointment options within the clinic for all patients so they don’t have to go elsewhere. 

Please note this does not apply to seeing a specialist or accessing the emergency department virtually or in-person.

My doctor asked me to come for an in person appointment. Why can’t we do this over phone or video instead?

Please see this page.

I have moved out of Toronto. Can I keep seeing my Magenta Health physician?

Please see this page.

What will happen if Ontario (and/or Toronto) goes back into a lockdown?

We will continue to monitor the situation with Covid-19 and will make any necessary adjustments to scheduling and our clinic practices to ensure the safety of patients, staff and the community. 

We will inform all patients should there be any changes.

If you have questions after reading through this blog post, please feel free to contact us.

Wrapping up #VirtualFirst

Update 2021-09-14: Appointments past September 13th are now available.

A long 18 months ago, we were one of the first clinics in the country to go #VirtualFirst. We like to think we even helped coin the term!

Through the sacrifices of many, the hard work and compromises of everyone, and the innovation of vaccine developers, we think we’re coming through to the other side. There will still be challenges, particularly due to emerging variants of concern and the fact the entire population isn’t yet eligible to be vaccinated, but, we’re getting there.

We’re currently working to wrap up #VirtualFirst by the middle of September, at which time we are aiming to allow more access for patients to book their own virtual OR in-clinic appointment. To get there, we’re developing new screening protocols, updating cleaning and disinfection protocols, ordering in more equipment and supplies, and completely revamping our scheduling. Since we used physical equipment from the clinics to enable our staff to work remotely, we're also busy re-outfitting our tech.

We extend our thanks to our patients, our staff, our physicians, and the community for their cooperation and efforts. We ask that you please be patient with us for the next few weeks as we sort things out. We’ll be sending an email blast out and updating our website as soon as everything is prepared for you; in the meantime, please know that appointments past September 13th cannot be booked yet!

We look forward to seeing many of you in person again.

Seeking a female physician?

As we receive many questions from potential new patients asking to be assigned to a female physician or whether they can see a female physician more generally, this blog post is designed to help answer the most frequently asked questions.

Kindly review, and should there be further questions, feel free to get in touch!

I’m female. Why did I get assigned to a male physician?

For reasons discussed here, we do not assign new patients to physicians based on their age, ethnicity or gender.

However, as individuals may have reasonable particular preferences related to religious, cultural or other personal reasons, we offer the opportunity to choose a different physician upfront. We further discuss in detail the reasons here, here and here.

How do I get reassigned to a female doctor?

Everyone who registers and is successfully processed will have been sent a link to book with a particular physician.

On that page, there should be a paragraph (see screenshot) explaining how to switch to a different physician. Just a reminder, you need to switch before booking an appointment.

Please note that we do not maintain any physician waitlists.

Annotation 2020-09-10 160831.png

There are female physicians at my preferred clinic location but there are no available appointments. What can I do?

If you cannot find a suitable appointment for yourself, we ask that you check back later. You are most likely to find a suitable appointment time on the 15th of every month. This is when new appointments are generally released. Cancelled appointments also become bookable by others immediately.

Our staff do not have the ability to book appointments outside the listed availability, nor do we maintain a waiting list or last minute cancellation list.

Please visit this link if you would like to check the availability of other physicians accepting patients at other Magenta Health locations.

Please note that we do not maintain any physician waitlists.

There are no female physicians at my preferred clinic location. What can I do?

Option #1 - Book with a female physician at a different clinic location than your original preferred location with the understanding that it is generally not an option to switch physicians or clinics once the intake appointment is completed.

Please visit this link if you would like to check the availability of other physicians accepting patients at other Magenta Health locations.

Option #2 - Periodically check back at your preferred clinic location. If there is a female physician accepting new patients, their name and availability will automatically show up. To access a list of all available physicians, including female physicians, at your preferred clinic location, see the section on the booking page labelled “Switching Physicians”.

Please note that we do not maintain any physician waitlists.

Can I start seeing a male physician and then switch to a female physician when one becomes available?

It is not an option to switch physicians or clinics after your initial intake appointment. We discuss in detail the reasons here and here.

Can I see a female physician at a different Magenta Health location then switch to my preferred location when a female physician becomes available at my preferred location?

It is not an option to switch clinics after your initial intake appointment absent specific circumstances. We discuss in detail the reasons here.

I was referred to this specific female physician by Health Care Connect (HCC). How can I book with them?

HCC is a government organisation that helps Ontarians find family doctors. Being referred by HCC does not automatically mean that you are a patient of the suggested doctor. Individuals still have to register via our website and the suggested physician may not be available when the registration is processed.

I was referred to this specific female physician by a friend/family member but I don't see the physician on the available list. How can I book with them?

The appointment booking pages accessible here list all physicians who are actively accepting patients.

Our other physicians may sometimes agree to accept specific individuals, for example, family members of existing patients.

If you already have a physician's express agreement to take you on as a patient, please email us and we will look into it and get back to you directly.

Disinfectants and clothing

The pandemic is affecting all aspects of healthcare, not the least of which is the increased disinfection of facilities and equipment.

At Magenta Health, we use Health Canada approved hospital grade, non-toxic disinfectants to disinfect exam rooms and equipment after each patient visit.

We’ve been asked sporadically if our disinfectant can cause stains on clothing. The answer is: we’re not really sure – maybe with certain fabrics and in certain situations?

We’ve done some testing ourselves and were not able reproduce the staining. We’ve checked the manufacturer label and with our supplier to confirm that the disinfectants are generally fabric and colour safe. That being said, with all the different types of fabrics out there and the increased use of disinfectants at the clinic, it is possible that certain fabrics might be affected in certain instances.

Just be aware when you attend an in-person appointment that there may be a slight chance of your clothing possibly being affected in some way so you may wish to not wear your top-end designer bottoms!

Download the COVID Alert mobile app to protect yourself and your community

We highly recommend everyone download and install the COVID Alert mobile app.

The new app, called COVID Alert, will warn users if they have been near someone who has tested positive - https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/covid-pandemic-app-ontario-1.5670239

Since we can’t all be experts in privacy and technology, we thought it helpful to note that Professor Michael Geist has publicly advised he has also installed this app. As one of the strongest and most well known Canadian advocates and scholars on privacy and technology law, if it’s good enough for him, it’s good enough for us!

Please continue to do your part in keeping yourself, your friends and family, and your community safe.

An inside look at Magenta Health in-person clinic during COVID-19 pandemic.

Wow, it’s been 8 weeks since we launched our #VirtualFirst approach mid-March!

As part of this approach, patients are generally seen via phone or video with a small number being assessed in person as needed.

Surveys are indicating that many people are worried about getting infected when visiting a clinic in person; here’s an inside look at how we’re working to keep everyone safe.

* - many thanks to the parents of this cutie for consenting to sharing this photo!

* - many thanks to the parents of this cutie for consenting to sharing this photo!

As you can see from the photo, physicians don full PPE (personal protective equipment) to physically examine patients of all ages.

Other precautionary measures include but are not limited to:

  • spacing appointments sufficiently apart to support physical distancing of patients,

  • limiting the accompanying adult to one parent,

  • pre-screening patients for symptoms prior to assigning appointment times,

  • minimizing staff and patient interactions,

  • disinfecting exam rooms after each patient encounter,

  • regular disinfection of high-contact surfaces,

  • providing masks to patients as needed.

Recently, we even made our COVID-19 pandemic processes available to other primary care clinics and physicians in an effort to promote collaboration and discussion between primary care providers.

We've Gone #VirtualFirst in view of COVID-19

Due to the risks of COVID-19, Magenta Health has migrated to a #VirtualFirst approach.

This means all visits will be first conducted entirely by phone or by video. An in-person visit will be arranged if necessary, during this virtual visit. Please do not visit our clinics without a pre-scheduled appointment, even just to ask questions.

To reduce the strain on the health system and our community hospitals and emergency rooms, our physicians have elected to offer appointments 7 days a week. There will also be reserved appointments for urgent issues.

Please use this link to book phone or video appointments with your physician: In some circumstances, this page will direct you:

  • to delay your appointment (e.g. an annual physical)

  • to submit your request a different way (e.g. prescription renewals)

  • to try again later if we’re not quite ready (e.g. to have a virtual first appointment)

If you are experiencing potential COVID-19 symptoms (such as fever, new or worsening cough, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, runny nose and joint aches), please see our COVID-19 web page for more information and guidance (including where to get testing, if appropriate):

If you are having difficulty breathing or are experiencing any other emergency symptoms, please visit an emergency department or call 9-1-1- immediately.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. We are doing our best to update our systems and we will be continuing to update our website as new information becomes available.

We're in the midst of switching to a "virtual-first" approach

Due to the risks of COVID-19, we are migrating to a “Virtual-First” approach, effective Monday, March 16th.

Conceptually, this means:

  • appointments that can be done by phone or video, or in writing, will happen that way

  • only appointments that need a physical assessment will happen in person

This decision was made only this morning, so we are in the midst of sorting out many details. It will be an “all hands on deck” weekend for us for sure.

Scheduling of new appointments has been temporarily disabled while we work through the transition.

We do not know how we will be handling already scheduled appointments yet; we will be reaching out to people before the end of the weekend. Please keep an eye on your email if you have an appointment scheduled.

Thank you for your patience and understanding; we’re doing our best and we plan to have further information available by the end of the weekend.

For more information about COVID-19, including whether and how to get tested, please review the information here. Warning - information about our internal processes is currently slightly out of date, in view of our migration to a “Virtual-First” approach.

What You Need to Know about Testing for Cervical Cancer

This blog article brought to you by Dr. Aarti Kapoor.

A Pap Test is a simple OHIP-covered screening test that can detect cell changes in the cervix caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). HPV infections may lead to cancer before patients feel or see any symptoms.

Unless otherwise directed, the Ontario Cervical Screening Program recommends a test every 3 years for everyone with a cervix between the ages of 21-69 who are/have been sexually active (vaginally, orally, or digitally). As HPV is spread through skin to skin contact during sexual activity, women who have sex with women should follow the same screening regimen as women who have sex with men. The same applies to trans men with a cervix.

During a Pap Test an instrument called a speculum is gently  inserted into a patient’s vagina so their cervix can be seen. Cells are brushed from the surface of the cervix and are sent to a laboratory to be examined under a microscope. Your results will be sent to both your physician, and to the address associated with your OHIP card. Cancer Care Ontario will also send reminders for when your next pap is due. 

Generally, Pap Tests are no longer recommended after the age of 70 if a person has had 3 or more normal tests in the previous 10 years.

More information about cervical cancer screening can be found on the Cancer Care Ontario website.

Use your regular booking link to book pap appointments with your Magenta Health physician or if Friday Pap Clinics are more convenient, contact your regular physician for more information.


Proper way to dispose of expired or leftover medications

This blog article brought to you by Milson Chan, pharmacist at the Beach clinic co-located partner, Queen East Medical Pharmacy.

Something that people often wonder about when cleaning out their medicine cabinets or first aid kits is “What do I do with this medication that has expired?”.

So, how do you get rid of your expired or leftover medications?

Do you:

  • Flush them down the toilet?

  • Throw them out with your trash?

  • Burn them during the next barbecue?

  • Grind them up and use them as fertilizers for your lawn?


Surprisingly, none of the above are actually appropriate!

The proper way to get rid of them is to bring them back to any pharmacy that offer medication disposal. Queen East Medical Pharmacy can help you deal with expired or unneeded medications.

Here are some of the things you should do when you want to properly dispose of your medications:

  • Empty all pills into a bag or container, but keep liquids, creams, and inhalers in their original packaging.

  • Remove any personal identification and information.

  • Recycle other packaging

  • Bring the medications back to any pharmacies (such as Queen East Medical Pharmacy) that offer medication disposal

In addition to disposing of expired medications, Queen East Medical Pharmacy also offers:

  • Senior’s discount

  • Methadone Treatment

  • Flu shots

  • Delivery services

  • Compounding of medications

  • Medication reviews

  • Blister packaging

QueenEastMedical.jpg

If you have any questions regarding medications or our services, please feel free to visit us at Queen East Medical Pharmacy, located at 1874 Queen St. East (northwest corner of Queen St. E and Woodbine) or contact us at (ph) 647-313-1948 and (fax) 647-313-1949.

Pharmacy Partners sharing space with Magenta Health

Updates were made to this page in December 2022:

At Magenta Health, we are continually looking for ways to enhance the patient experience whether through increasing efficiencies or by providing other services and often leveraging technology whenever possible.

One of these ways is by having pharmacy partners. our Beaches location we have a pharmacy partner located right in the same space just off the patient waiting area. 

Our pharmacy partners are independent pharmacist owners who provide great care and advice to all who elect to fill their prescriptions there, whether it is a Magenta Health patient or someone from the surrounding communities.

Queen East Medical Pharmacy is located directly in front as you step in the main entrance door of our Beaches Location

Queen East Medical Pharmacy is managed by pharmacist Milson Chan and often the first person you see as you enter the clinic entrance door. Milson provides services such as medication advice, injection administration (seasonal flu shots, travel vaccine, etc.) and can help you save valuable wait time on all your prescriptions.

For more information on store hours and services at Queen East Medical Pharmacy, visit their website or talk to Milson - he will take care of all your medication needs!

Auditing OSCAR EMR for Unsigned Notes

It’s been some time since the last time we shared some OSCAR tips / tricks. Here’s a new one for how to audit OSCAR EMR (v15) for unsigned notes.

Why?

Unsigned notes aren’t necessarily visible to other users and so are a common source of user error, seemingly “lost” notes, potential medical error, confusion, repeat tests, etc…

How?

There’s probably a better way using Report By Templates, but we just use the Query by Example feature usually.

There’s two queries to run:

SELECT LEFT(casemgmt_note.note,100) AS "First 100 chars of note", casemgmt_note.demographic_no,demographic.last_name,demographic.first_name, CONCAT(provider.last_name,",",provider.first_name) AS "Provider",SUM(SIGNED) AS cnt FROM casemgmt_note LEFT JOIN demographic ON casemgmt_note.demographic_no = demographic.demographic_no LEFT JOIN provider ON casemgmt_note.provider_no = provider.provider_no GROUP BY casemgmt_note.uuid HAVING cnt = 0 ORDER BY casemgmt_note.provider_no;

SELECT LEFT(casemgmt_tmpsave.note,100) AS "First 100 chars of note", casemgmt_tmpsave.demographic_no,demographic.last_name,demographic.first_name, CONCAT(provider.last_name,",",provider.first_name) AS "Provider" FROM casemgmt_tmpsave LEFT JOIN demographic ON casemgmt_tmpsave.demographic_no = demographic.demographic_no LEFT JOIN provider ON casemgmt_tmpsave.provider_no = provider.provider_no ORDER BY casemgmt_tmpsave.provider_no;

Our understanding is that the first query reveals notes that have been explicitly saved, but not signed, and the second query reveals notes that have been auto-saved, but not explicitly saved or signed.

The Beaches clinic at 1874 Queen Street East is now open!

We are delighted to announce that our long-awaited Beaches location at the intersection of Queen and Woodbine is open at last!

Three physicians have moved from our existing Riverside location to the Beaches location:

  • Dr. Nicholas Chong

  • Dr. Cristina Musngi

  • Dr. Matthew Cruickshank (will be accepting new patients on a limited basis in September 2018 - register here)

We have an additional physician who is joining the team in September - register here.

The clinic will grow over time to help ensure after-hours care is conveniently available, as well as ensuring patients have access to medical care during physician leave (e.g. vacations / holidays).

To patients that have recently pre-registered with the clinic; thank you for your patience, we will be sending you appointment invitations soon.

If you live in the area and are looking for a family physician, click here to register.

We are delighted to be joining the Beaches community and look forward to meeting all our new neighbours!