Looking for a Family Doctor?
We are gradually accepting new patients. Please take some time to read through our clinic policies. At the end of this page, there is a button to send us your request online. This is the most efficient and quickest way to send us your new patient request.
Clinic Policy
Making Appointments
Appointments may be scheduled by:
Online requests: https://booking.medeohealth.com/dr-steven-chen. Booking online is by far the most convenient and secure way to see all the available appointments we offer and select the time slot that best suits your busy schedule. You may make an appointment request even when we are not in the office (the time slot is reserved for you right away). When the appointment is approved (during our office hours), you will receive a text message and an email confirming the appointment date and time. Please note that "Urgent Appointments" are reserved for acute medical illnesses that require same day attention and may only be booked 36 hours in advance. Please do not abuse this system as it ensures timely access for our sick patients.
Telephone: 613-775-0234 (Local from Barry's Bay & Area to Pembroke) or 613-412-9688 (Local from Palmer Rapids, Bancroft and Whitney). Both phone numbers lead to the same line. If we are unavailable, a message may be left for appointment requests only.
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Our Scheduling
Your time and concerns are important to us. We schedule 15 minutes for most visits. Periodic Health Examinations ("Physicals") and most Counselling sessions are allotted 30 minutes. Please keep in mind that this time includes time for your health care team to document your visit in your medical record. Please check in a minimum of 5 minutes before your scheduled appointment. If Dr. Chen is unable to tackle all of your concerns in one visit, he will book you back for a follow up. We will try to make ourselves as available as possible. We reserve appointment slots each day for urgent appointment requests for acute medical illnesses. These time slots are limited however. When you call, please provide our receptionist with a brief description as to the reason for your visit.
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Cancelling Appointments:
We ask that you give us at least 24 hours notice for any appointment rescheduling or cancelling. This allows us to be more available to our patients by making available that time slot to another patient. If a patient does not attend a previously scheduled appointment and does not provide 24 hours notice of cancellation/rescheduling, the doctor may charge that patient a "no show" fee as per our uninsured service policy.
Telephone Advice
Because a patient interview and examination are essential for us to provide quality care, we have adopted the following office policies:
- Receptionists cannot give medical advice.
- Nursing staff (if available) will offer phone advice when indicated and at the direction of a doctor.
- Only basic advice will be offered by telephone.
- The physician does not routinely offer medical assessments or diagnoses on the phone, but will be available to assist staff when necessary.
- Whenever possible same-day or appropriate appointments will be offered for acute medical illnesses.
- All test results are reviewed by the doctor. Patients will be called for a follow-up visit if laboratory or diagnostic tests are abnormal
Referrals to Specialists
Before any referral is arranged, patients must see the family doctor for an appointment in order to gather information and order/review investigations to facilitate a faster and more effective consultation.
Ministry Insured Services
Patients must present a valid health card at each visit. If your card is lost, stolen or damaged, please visit ServiceOntario.ca or dial 1-800-267-8097 for information on obtaining a new one. You must renew your health card if expired.
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Uninsured Services
After successive rounds of health care cuts by our provincial government, the office bill patients directly for services not covered by the Ministry of Health at rates in keeping with the Ontario Medical Association guidelines. These services are usually elective (medically not necessary) such as benign skin lesion excision for cosmetic reasons, insurance forms, and travel advice, just to name a few. We offer these services for the convenience of our patients and the fees help cover a portion of the clinic operational expenses. Payment is due when the service is rendered (e.g. drivers license form completion).
In keeping with the Ontario Medical Association fee schedule and the Madawaska Valley Family Health Organization, please review our uninsured services schedule.
Clinic Overhead Expenses
Did you know that each year, your doctor spends more than $85,000 of his income to ensure that you receive the best care in a pleasant office environment? Some examples include:
- Hiring an experienced and dedicated clinical team (receptionist and nurse)
- Rent for office space and cleaning
- Heat and air conditioning
- Medical supplies used in the clinic (bandages, needles, surgical supplies)
- Capital expenses (furniture, computer equipment, exam tables)
- Medical diagnostic equipment
- Electronic medical records
- Continuing medical education
- Telephone, internet, fax costs
- Medical society fees, insurance board
- Professional services (accounting, IT support)
Prescribing Policy
We believe that an appointment with the doctor is the best time to review your medications to renew any that are running out, and stop any that are not beneficial and/or causing adverse effects. Poly-pharmacy (some people taking 20+ pills a day!) has become increasingly common among our seniors, which often leads to dangerous interactions and adverse drug effects. Please bring your medications with you at each visit. If you require a prescription renewal urgently, please ask your pharmacy to fax this request to our office. We offer this uninsured service free of charge. This office follows evidence-based guidelines for all prescriptions, including antibiotics, opioids (narcotics) and medications for stress-related condition.
In response to the opioid crisis in Canada, this office WILL NOT prescribe narcotics or other addictive substances for the treatment of chronic pain in keeping with evidence-based research. We will do our part in reducing prescription narcotics in Barry's Bay and area. Find out more about:
My Health, My Responsibility
In the early 1900s, the average life expectancy was just 40 years. Over the past century, we have doubled this to 80 years through improved sanitation, development of vaccinations and breakthroughs in medical science. Over the next century, we will again make great leaps in medicine pushing the average life expectancy up even more - perhaps to 120 years. We are now living longer but with increasing morbidity and disability as we age. Imagine living to 120 but with the last 60 years residing in a nursing home, struggling with health issues and dependent on other to provide basic daily care. Hence, we must take responsibility of our own health and live longer in good health.
Medicine has it's limits. By definition, there are often no cures for chronic diseases such as lung disease from smoking, congestive heart failure from heart disease, renal failure, diabetes and etc. We are limited to treating the symptoms with puffers and pills in our best attempt to restore what function has been lost, while slowing down further disease progression. Please do your best to prevent these chronic diseases through a healthy lifestyle, balanced diet and regular exercise. It's often hard to know it's function until its gone.
As physicians, our role is to educate and advise as we help our patients achieve the best quality of life. As a patient, your health is your responsibility.