Medical Dermatology

Dermatology is a specialized area of medicine which focuses on diseases of the skin, hair and nails. Dermatologists must complete an intensive five years of advanced, specialized training following medical school, and many go on to do fellowships in specific disciplines. Common conditions treated by dermatologists include acne, eczema, psoriasis, and skin cancers. To learn more about common skin conditions visit www.dermatology.ca.

Do I need a referral?

Yes – in Ontario OHIP regulations require that all patients must be referred to a dermatologist by their family physician for treatment of Medical dermatological conditions. Cosmetic dermatology treatments do not require a referral. If you are not sure whether your condition is Medical or Cosmetic contact our office and one of our patient coordinators will assist you.

How does the referral process work?

Once your family doctor has determined that you need to be seen by a dermatologist he or she will send a referral directly to us outlining your specific condition. Our office will schedule an appointment and notify your family doctor, who will then notify you of your appointment date and time. Once you have received your appointment from your family doctor any changes can be made by contacting our office directly.

Do I need a separate referral for each condition?

Yes – each skin condition requires its own referral from your family doctor.

What if I don’t have a family doctor?

A walk-in clinic or your local emergency room can issue a referral.

How long does it take to get an appointment?

You need to allow 3 – 4 weeks to receive your appointment notice from your family doctor. The date and time of your Dermetics appointment will depend on the urgency of your condition. Non-urgent appointments may be scheduled as far in advance as 6 – 9 months. Urgent requests are accommodated on a priority basis as soon as our schedule will allow.

Why so long?

Currently in Ontario there is an increasing demand for dermatology services and a shortage of practicing dermatologists. Our office receives hundreds of referrals each day and we do our best to process them as quickly as we can. Unfortunately this volume also means there may be a wait on the day of your appointment. We appreciate your patience. To help us see you as quickly as possible please:

• Try to avoid having to reschedule your appointments. We have limited space to accommodate changes.
• Let us know if you no longer need your appointment so we can release it to another patient.

Do you have a cancellation list?

No – our patient volume makes managing a cancellation list impossible.

On the day of your appointment

We recognize that wait times in our office can sometimes be long. We try to see patients as promptly as possible but cannot always predict how much time each patient may require. Our staff do their best to keep things running on time but unexpected emergencies and surgical procedures are sometimes unavoidable and can contribute to delays. To help us stay on time, on the day of your appointment please:

• Plan to arrive no more than 5 or 10 minutes before your appointment time. Arriving extra early doesn’t guarantee you’ll be seen any sooner.
• Have your health card ready when you arrive.