The next best thing to do IMO is go frequently to a doctor group (ie: MCI, Medicentres) etc. Just do "walk in" but request the doctor that actually sees you to respond. Keep asking them if they have a doctor in their group willing to take you on as a family doctor.
The only thing useful I've found for family doctors is certain long term prescriptions. For sharing information and notes, I've found that the doctors groups are relatively good for sharing basic info, so that aspect is resolved that way.
There are inside tracks for these groups. Medicentre allows you to start booking online "fast track" appointments which is a useful bridge between no family doctor and "walk in". Go there a few times and request the ability to set it up (they have to give you a special activation code and will only do so if they notice you've been there a few times). It uses a platform called Telus Pomelo which is kinda archaic looking, but at least it's an option.
MCI does not have a fast track option. However, I've sorta discovered that they have an expansive network, and on occasion, even if they have a thing saying they aren't taking walk ins, sometimes (not always, perhaps a 1 in 3 chance) they'll let you in as the "last one" if you tell them you'd go to the other MCI, but it was just conveniently closer. Sometimes they call another location on your behalf so that they'll take you there to address something the location you are at isn't capable of doing as efficiently. I've often seen my family and my parents bounced around between Beacon, Beddington and Ranchlands locations. But making the extra 15-20 minute trip vs not having availability for a few days/weeks at a specific location is worth it. I finally got a family doctor with the MCI group a few months ago after asking around, but I admit that afterwards, I still use the medicentre fast track option to bridge walk-in/appointments, for things I want looked at ASAP. Family doctors are still often quite busy and booking an appointment could still be a few days out. Useful for generic things or longer term things, but frustrating for things that are immediate (ie: fracture/sprain considerations, illness within 24 hours etc.).
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Originally Posted by Fuzz
They have done good work on this, pharmacists can do some prescribing, and I'd think something like a steroid cream is well within their abilities. I think a lot of people aren't aware you can get stuff like that without seeing a doctor.
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From what I understand, for certain things like creams and prescriptions. Non-family (walk-in) and pharmacists can prescribe 1-2 weeks max. If you have a prescription that is long term, this is a pain in the ass. A family doctor can prescribe up to 3-4 months of prescriptions.
Getting 1-2 weeks to tide you over before you get the long prescription from your family doctor is useful, but I wouldn't want to go to walk in doctors 20+ times a year. That'd be annoying.
I don't know if this is true across the board, but I've run into this issue quite a few times. So I assume it's relatively accurate.