Finding a New Doctor

Access to quality health care in BC has a lot to do with your primary health care provider. There
are several things you can do to make sure that you get the kind of health care that you have a right
to. Becoming informed of your rights and the services available to you will help you to make the best
decisions when selecting a doctor. The relationship between a patient and a doctor is often based on an
unequal balance of power, where a doctor is imagined to be an expert, and a patient is seen as unknowl-
edgeable. It is important to keep in mind that a doctor is a RESOURCE, and not an AUTHORITY.
Titbits...on women’s health
Every day the Vancouver Women’s Health Collective receives calls from women who are looking
for a new doctor. It can be difficult to find a new doctor, particularly a female doctor, who is accepting
new patients. While women make up the majority of medical school graduates in Canada today, the
medical field has traditionally been dominated by men. Currently men make up the majority of physicians
and surgeons: 30% of practicing doctors and specialists are female, according to the BC College of Phy-
sicians and Surgeons. Women will not have access to health care that is fully invested in our well-being
until that changes.

Things to consider when looking for a doctor:

• A family doctor, also known as a general practitioner, does routine checkups, can provide you
with a referral to see a specialist (such as a gynecologist or a psychiatrist), and recommends
treatment. It is a good idea to have a regular family doctor. This way your medical history is
recorded in one place. Your doctor will be able to chart your health concerns over time to see if
any patterns emerge. Having a doctor who knows who you are and knows your health history
can make a huge difference in the quality of care you get.

• The Medical Services Plan (MSP), is the provincial health care insurance plan for residents of
BC. All residents of BC are required to enroll in MSP, and pay premiums in order to access
health care.

• Finding a doctor is a bit like interviewing someone for a job: you decide who is the best person
for the job, based on a selection process. The VWHC has an up-to-date practitioner directory
with listings of BC doctors accepting new patients, arranged by city and gender. For many of
these doctors, we also have evaluations women have completed and contributed to our files.
Come in to the information centre and make a list of potential doctors. Most doctors require an
introductory meeting with you before they will schedule an appointment for a checkup or exam.

• What do you require from your doctor? Someone who practices near your home? Someone
who is pro-choice? Someone interested in preventative and complementary medicine?
Someone who is sensitive to your needs as a lesbian woman? A female doctor? Someone who
speaks your language or has a similar cultural background? Someone who knows about
addictions? Someone who can meet your needs as a disabled woman? Someone who will also
be a doctor to your children? Make a list of things that you think are important, and be ready to
ask a potential new doctor if they can meet your needs.

Please copy and distribute freely to women you know and work with.
The Vancouver Women’s Health Collective’s Titbits are not intended to endorse or recommend particular
treatments, explanations or products but rather to facilitate your own search for health resources. Please see
your health practitioner for more information.
 Meeting with a potential new doctor:

• When you meet with a potential doctor, bring a list of questions with you, and ask all of them.
Consider things like: How long will it take to get an appointment? Does the doctor have a
substitute when they are away or on vacation? Does the doctor work any evenings or weekends?
Does the doctor have hospital visiting privileges, and if so, where?

• A new doctor should ask you about your health history, including your family’s health history.
You should be prepared to provide detailed information about your health and health concerns,
Titbits...on women’s health
as well as information about any extended benefits you might have in addition to MSP. While
it is sometimes difficult to share personal information with a stranger, keep in mind that being
direct with a potential new doctor will help you to determine whether or not they are right for
you. A doctor does not have the right to discriminate based on sexual orientation, race, ethnicity,
religion, ability, age, income, or education level.

• If you feel nervous or insecure about meeting with a doctor, bring someone with you. This
person can help you keep track of what the doctor said after the meeting is over. Keep a record of
your meeting.

• Find out how long your appointment with the doctor will be, and how long you can expect
future appointments to be. If you feel like the doctor is not giving you enough time, ask if your
appointments can be made longer.

Check out these resources at the VWHC:

• We maintain an up-to-date directory of doctors accepting new patients that you can use by
coming to the VWHC during our information centre hours.

• We maintain a listing of BC doctors who have had disciplinary action taken against them.

• We have listings for a variety of support groups that are active in BC.

• We have information and listings for clinics and centres that provide free or low-cost medical,
dental, and holistic or complementary services.

Resources in your community, if you do not have MSP:

Pine Free Community Health Clinic (free youth clinic, and serves people without MSP)
1985 West 4th Ave., Vancouver 604-736-2391

Bridge Community Health Clinic (free services for refugees)

2450 Ontario St., Vancouver 604-709-6540

Vancouver Native Health Society (free walk-in clinic, with or without MSP)
449 East Hastings, Vancouver 604-255-9766

Vancouver Women’s Health Collective

#225-119 W. Pender Street Vancouver, BC V6B 1S5
Phone: 604-736-5262 E-mail: vwhc@vcn.bc.ca July, 2006
Website: www.womenshealthcollective.bc.ca
 Taking Charge of Your
Health
The Vancouver Women’s Health Collective continues to hear from
women in the community who are unable to get the routine care they
need. We are committed to speaking out against attacks on our public
Titbits...on women’s health
health care system and at the same time, we support women to advocate
for themselves to get the services they need. We believe that women are
experts in their own health, and that we can work towards providing all
women with information and skills to navigate the system.

Health care cuts affect women directly: in BC, for instance,

the Medical Services Plan (MSP) no longer covers annual physical
examinations. This barrier to prevention compromises women’s health.
Additionally, the trend toward privatization of health care (a two-tier
system, as it is sometimes referred to), fails to address issues of poverty,
discrimination, and class-privilege.

According to Statistics Canada, in 2003, 30% of women in Canada

aged 50-69 did not have a mammogram within the recommended
previous two year period. 13.5% of women aged 18-69 had never had a
PAP smear test. These figures reflect the impact of a health care system
that does not adequately reach women.

The BC health care system provides a provincial health care

insurance plan for its residents called the Medical Services Plan (MSP).
In recent years MSP premiums have increased by 50%, and at the
same time, services to individuals have been cut dramatically. This plan
determines what kind of access you have to health care, including tests
and exams. See the VWHC titbit on MSP for more information.

Many of the recommended tests for women in various stages of life

are not automatically covered by MSP. MSP gives doctors a lot of control
by letting them determine whether or not a test or exam is “medically
necessary,” and you may not agree with their decision. If you disagree
with your doctor, or feel that your doctor is not meeting your needs,
SPEAK UP, or find a new doctor.

Please copy and distribute freely to women you know and work with.
The Vancouver Women’s Health Collective’s Titbits are not intended to endorse or recommend particular
treatments, explanations or products but rather to facilitate your own search for health resources. Please see
your health practitioner for more information.
 ROUTINE TESTS AND EXAMS
Routine tests and exams, starting at age 18, that should be performed
annually:

Annual Physical Exam Only covered by MSP if your

doctor thinks it is medically
necessary

Pelvic Exam and PAP test (cervical exam) Covered by MSP

Clinical Breast Exam Covered by MSP

Dental exam and cleaning Not covered by MSP

Chlamydia test Covered by MSP

Titbits...on women’s health

Tests and exams recommended for different stages of a woman’s life:

Prenatal care during pregnancy Covered by MSP

Baseline cholesterol testing Covered by MSP, if your doctor

(at age 30, retest every 1-5 years) thinks it is medically necessary

Baseline test for thyroid hormones Covered by MSP, if your doctor

and function (age 35, retest annually thinks it is medically necessary
after 50)

Mammogram Covered by MSP; before age 40

(every 1-2 years beginning at age 40, with a doctor’s referral, after age
or earlier if you find a lump, or 40 without
are at a high risk of breast cancer)

Bone mineral density scan Covered by MSP, if your doctor

(at age 50, then every 2-4 years) thinks it is medically necessary

Colonoscopy Covered by MSP, if your doctor

(at age 50) thinks it is medically necessary

Stool sample (at age 50, Covered by MSP, if your doctor

then every 5-10 years) thinks it is medically necessary

Eye Exam Not covered by MSP for people

(at age 50, then every 1-4 years) between the ages of 18-65

***some of these tests should be performed more often if a woman is considered high risk***
Vancouver Women’s Health Collective
Website: www.womenshealthcollective.bc.ca