What is the difference between a family doctor and a medical doctor at a walk-in clinic?

Recently, we received many questions from patients regarding the difference between a family doctor and a medical doctor at a walk-in clinic. These are both medical doctors that can help you with your health problems. However, family doctors usually require a booked appointment and a signed agreement to become a patient of their practice. To see a medical doctor at a walk-in clinic do not require an appointment or a signed agreement. 

In this blog, we will ask Dr. Hang Cheng to explain the role of a medical doctor at a walk-in clinic and discuss how he can help you.

Dr. Hang Cheng is a medical doctor at the walk-in clinic besides Custom Care Pharmacy.  We asked him to tell us about the common health problems that he treats at the walk-in clinic.

"At the walk-in clinic, we treat all sorts of health problems. Since patients can just come in without an appointment, It is very helpful for patients with health problems that require prompt treatments. Examples are urinary tract infections,  eye or ear infections, cough and cold symptoms, fever, fall injuries and musculoskeletal problems, etc."

When we are feeling sick, it is often difficult to get an appointment with our family doctor on the same day or even for the next day. Sometimes when we finally get to see our doctor, we have already recovered from the illness. You can still go to a walk-in clinic to see a medical doctor even if you already have a family physician. You need to bring your OHIP (health) card with you for your visit. 

Young children often have mild fever and cannot attend school. They can be treated at a walk-in clinic right away. This is especially helpful for parents when the pediatrician does not have time for an appointment on the same day.

If you currently do not have a family doctor and you have chronic health conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes or high cholesterol, you can still go to a walk-in clinic in the meantime to manage your health conditions. 

Dr. Cheng tells us that he does treat chronic conditions for patients currently without a family doctor. Sometimes, patient might see a walk-in clinic doctor because they ran out of their medications while their family doctor is away on vacation. Dr. Cheng advised that patients should bring in their usual medication vials, so that he can determine what kind of medications you have been taking.  

Dr. Cheng is currently accepting new patients. If you currently have no family doctor or if you have moved far away from your family doctor, you can come in to the clinic or call 416-291-0033 to register as a new patient.