the best possible care is with a doctor or care team that knows your medical history and understands you, your lifestyle, and your values. studies show people with a consistent doctor have better care, fewer trips to the hospital, and may even live longer.
but what if you are away from home? or you can’t see your usual doctor? or need after-hours care? of course, if you feel you have an emergency or life-threatening health issue, you should go to the emergency department. otherwise, there are steps you can take to help you and your loved ones receive the best care at the right time and in the right place.
try your doctor’s office first
if you have a family doctor, many offices or care teams have after-hours and urgent clinics. even if your doctor is away, colleagues in a practice will often cover for each other. your doctor’s office can also help you decide how soon you should be seen for a new concern.
remember, your doctor or care team can see urgent issues as well, as it helps us care for you longer-term. consistency has benefits. for example, an issue that may seem like a recurrent infection on a single visit could actually be another diagnosis if taken in context. the best care is with your usual doctor or with a connected team that can bring together your entire history.
virtual care can assess urgency
if you are not able to see your usual doctor or care team, many communities, provinces, and companies have virtual care services. virtual care can allow people to speak with a health professional at any time of day or not to help assess the urgency of an issue, as well as begin a treatment plan. in many cases, electronic medical notes can be securely shared back to a person’s medical home. some communities have special virtual services, such as
toronto’s virtual emergency department
, helping people avoid a trip to the emergency room for concerns that are urgent, but not life-threatening.