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Do I need a referral to see one of the pediatricians? 

Yes. A referral from a physician, nurse practitioner or midwife is required to see any consultant pediatrician in British Columbia.

How long will I wait for an appointment?

This varies depending on the reason for the visit. All referrals are reviewed by the physicians and booked based on urgency. If the urgency of your problem has changed since the time of the referral, speak with your referring doctor to update our office.

Will I be notified that the referral was received? 

No, we will contact the referring practitioner to inform them that the referral has been received. Please follow up with the referring practitioner regarding the status of the referral.

How will I be notified of my appointment?

Willows Pediatrics will contact you by phone for the initial appointment and for any follow up you will be contacted via text, email and phone.

What should I bring to the appointment?

Any letters or reports from the school that may be pertinent. All medications and inhalers your child is taking.

Can I call to speak to my pediatrician after the appointment?

Possibly. Our pediatricians work in varied locations including the hospital. When they are in the office, they are with patients and are unlikely to be able to take a call. If you feel you need a message passed along to the pediatrician this can be passed along by our medical office assistants and a phone appointment may be booked or the physician may call at their discretion. We receive a very large number of requests for callbacks and they are not always possible.

Can I email my pediatrician?

No. We do not provide medical advice or consultation with patients over email. If there are files that your pediatrician has requested they should be sent through our secure messaging portal Medeo. See notes on Medeo and setting up an account.

What happens if I can’t make my appointment?

Your appointment time has been reserved for you well in advance. To help us minimize wait times, let us know if you cannot attend so the spot can be filled. If you notify us more than 48 hours prior to your appointment, your appointment will be rebooked, but this may take some time. 

If you do not show up for your consult (first) appointment or cancel with less than 48 hours’ notice; your referral will be cancelled and you will need to be re-referred and re-triaged.

If you do not show up for your follow-up, it will be up to the pediatrician if you are rebooked or not.

What if I am late for my appointment?

If you are more than 15 minutes late for your appointment, you may be asked to be rebook as it will impact all other appointments following yours. This is at the discretion of the pediatrician.

I don’t think I need the appointment anymore, what should I do?

Speak with your referring doctor to help with the decision. They or you can cancel the referral if it is no longer needed.

I have new issues to speak with the pediatrician about, what do I do?

A re-referral is requested for a new issue.

Do I need an appointment for a prescription renewal?

No. We ask you to try to get prescription renewals during your visits. If occasionally this is missed, a request for a refill can be sent to our office by your pharmacy. Medication changes will not ordinarily be done without an appointment.

Do I now see the pediatrician for all issues?

No. You should continue to see your primary care provider or use walk-in clinics or the nearest emergency room as you would have previously. If you have a non-urgent issue relating to the reason you saw the pediatrician, follow-up may be an option but this should be discussed with the pediatrician during your appointment.

Can the medical office assistant provide me with results or advice?

No. This is outside the scope of their training and should not be requested or expected.

What are the options to communicate with my pediatrician?

Phone messages through our medical office assistants. Documents can be sent through the secure messaging platform MEDEO.

I would like my pediatrician to fill out a disability tax credit, is that possible?

Yes. We request you fill out the appropriate section of the form before submitting it to our office. We also require a document detailing the impact your child’s diagnosis has on your day-to-day life, time and expenses to accurately complete the form. Please have a look at the form and answer the questions we will need to complete in the letter.

Co-parenting policy.

It is our expectation that parents communicate with each other regarding appointment dates, times, and outcomes. We are unable to provide duplicate appointments or phone calls to separated parents. If parents prefer not to be present in person together one or both could attend virtually if deemed appropriate by the pediatrician.