FAQ

Wakefield Family Medical Centre

Frequently asked questions

1. What can nurse clinicians do for me?
Clinician nurses follow up on chronic diseases, including:
  • Diabetes;
  • Hypertension;
  • Dyslipidemia;
  • Neurocognitive disorders;
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD);
  • Obesity.
They also take care of:
  • Well child follow-ups, 0-5 years;
  • First pregnancy visit;
  • Cervical cancer and STI screening;
  • Smoking cessation advice and interventions.
2. What can the GMF pharmacist do for me?
The GMF pharmacist can help you with any medication-related issue that cannot be resolved by your community pharmacy, such as:
  • Undesirable effect of a drug;
  • Drug ineffectiveness;
  • Medication review for pregnancy;
  • Medication review: complex cases, polymedication, drug interactions, neurocognitive disorders, renal/hepatic insufficiency;
  • Drug withdrawal support.
3. What can the GMF nutritionist do for me?
The nutritionist is involved in all aspects of nutrition and diet. Her interventions cover the promotion of good nutrition, prevention, assessment, treatment and rehabilitation. The nutritionist aims to maintain, improve or restore nutritional status and health. In collaboration with the family physician and other health professionals, the nutritionist:
  • Assesses nutritional status by considering eating and lifestyle habits;
  • Assesses nutritional status;
  • Determines and teaches the treatment plan, considering clinical characteristics;
  • Together with the patient, targets dietary modifications and evaluates results in relation to clinical objectives;
  • Proposes appropriate follow-up;
  • Facilitates group interventions to promote the acquisition and integration of healthy eating habits and nutritional knowledge;
  • Serves as a resource person for the interprofessional team, particularly for clinical scholarly activities related to his/her expertise.
4. What can the social worker do for me?
The social worker assesses social functioning with a view to supporting and restoring the person. In collaboration with the family physician and other health professionals, the social worker:
  • Detect and prevent social problems;
  • Identifies the patient's social needs and available resources (personal, family and economic) considering the assessment of social functioning;
  • Evaluates the person's functioning and intervenes on the social and mental health aspects that influence his or her overall state of health;
  • Collaborates and actively participates in the development of the service plan;
  • Carries out short-term interventions (maximum of 12 sessions) or in crisis situations;
  • Facilitates access to services by directing FMG patients to the most appropriate resources;
  • Serves as a resource person for the interprofessional team, particularly for clinical scholarly activities related to his/her expertise;
  • Shares relevant clinical information with other members of the interprofessional team and CISSS or CIUSSS resources, to provide optimal service to patients.
1. What do I do if my doctor tells me he's retiring?
When your doctor retires, you'll need to register with the Guichet d'accès pour la clientèle orpheline (G.A.C.O.) in your territory. You'll keep your doctor until he or she leaves, while having your name on the list for a new family doctor.
(Hyperlink: https://sante.gouv.qc.ca/votre-gaco/)
2. Will I be able to see a doctor until I have a new family doctor?
Yes, you can use the Guichet d'accès à la première ligne (GAP), a service for people in Quebec who don't have a family doctor. GAP helps you find the health service that best meets your needs. You can contact the Guichet by dialing 811, option 3, or by visiting:
(Hyperlink: https://gap.soinsvirtuels.gouv.qc.ca/fr)
3. Who will refill my medication if my doctor retires?
If you don't have a family doctor and your health problem remains stable, your community pharmacy will be able to extend your prescriptions so that your treatment is not interrupted until your next medical follow-up. This requires a consultation with your pharmacist, who can determine the length of extension, if any.

Based on his or her professional judgment, the community pharmacist may adjust medication during treatment, resolve certain minor health problems or refer you to other health professionals.

If your pharmacist is unable to renew your prescription and you need to see a doctor, you must call the Guichet d'accès à la première ligne at 811, option 3.
1. What should I expect when I call the clinic for an appointment?
Since June 2025, administrative agents at all GMFs in Québec have been required to fill out a questionnaire to better target your needs. We encourage you to take the time to describe your symptoms with precision. This information is essential for an accurate assessment of your situation. We make every effort to ensure that you receive the appropriate service from the right professional, so you may be referred to a healthcare professional other than a physician, depending on the problem.
2. Why does it take time to fill in a form?
Your doctor does not only see patients at the clinic; their services may also be required in the emergency room, in hospitalization, in the areas of public health, teaching, medical research, home care, palliative care, long-term care facilities, administration, and management, or they may be required to undergo training. As a result, when you give your doctor a form to fill out, there may be a delay. In addition, completion of a form is not covered by the RAMQ. You will therefore have to pay for this service yourself. We encourage you to check with your insurance company to see if you are eligible for reimbursement. For more details, you can consult the provincial fee grid of the Fédération des médecins omnipraticiens du Québec by clicking on the link below. https://fmoq.s3.amazonaws.com/pratique/facturation/frais-accessoires/Grille+tarifaire+07_2023_FR_grand.pdf)
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