Vancouver General Hospital—Gordon and Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre
- Take the elevator to the 7th floor
- Nursing station 3
St. Paul's Hospital
- The General Internal Medicine and Rapid Access Specialist Clinic is located in the Burrard Building.
- Entering from the Burrard Street entrance, turn left and take elevator to the 5th floor. Once on the 5th floor, turn right and the General Internal Medicine and Rapid Access Specialist Clinic reception will be located in front.
BC Women's Hospital
What to expect at your appointment
Phone visit
- You will be contacted within 2 hours of the scheduled time. To reduce wait times, please answer the phone if you are expecting a call.
- You and your health care provider will talk about how you are feeling, any questions you may have, and next steps in your care plan.
- Your information is kept confidential: Personal health information discussed during your visit is not stored or kept by the software or service in any way.
Video (video conference) visit
- We use secure video conferencing programs. It is best to access the video conferencing program before your scheduled time to test your video and audio. If you or your provider have any trouble with the video or audio, your provider will call you on the phone to complete your appointment.
- You and your health care provider will talk about how you are feeling, any questions you may have, and next steps in your care plan.
- Your information is kept confidential: Personal health information discussed during your visit is not stored or kept by the software or service in any way.
In-person appointment
- Please bring your BC care card and all of your medications (or a list of all your medications) to all appointments.
- COVID-19: We're committed to keeping you safe. We’ve added new precautions to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
Translation Services: If you do not speak or understand English well enough to have conversations about your health, we can book an interpreter at no cost. Talk to your health care team to request an interpreter.
Making the most of your appointment:
- Come prepared. Casual clothes and comfortable shoes can help put you at ease and keep you relaxed. Don’t forget to pack a sweater—even in hot weather—as hospital buildings are air-conditioned. Books, magazines, journals, knitting, or other activities can help fill the time and calm any nerves.
- Be on time. Please arrive at least 15 minutes ahead of your appointment so you have ample time to check-in and to complete any paperwork or other tasks before meeting with your doctor. If this is your first time visiting the clinic, remember to give yourself extra time to find and pay for parking and walk to your appointment.
- Prioritize accessibility. Don’t forget to bring your glasses or hearing aids, if you use them. Let your doctor know if you are having trouble hearing or understanding what they are saying.
- Ask questions. We welcome questions about your diagnosis and care. Let your care team know what you hope to get out of each appointment. Feel free to request clarification on any terms or instructions that don’t make sense to you.
- Helpful questions:
- How can I learn more about my condition?
- What would you recommend if I were your daughter/son/mother/father?
- Why are you recommending this test?
- Are there any side effects to this test or treatment?
- When can I expect test results?
- Is there anything I haven’t asked that I should have?
- What’s the best way for me to get more information or ask questions after my appointment?
- Helpful questions:
- Honesty is best. Your health care provider needs accurate information in order to fully understand your health situation and make a diagnosis. Answer questions honestly, and be open and honest about your current health and lifestyle. Symptoms or questions that may feel embarrassing to you are not embarrassing for your doctor.
- Feel free to take notes. Writing down what is discussed during your appointment will help you remember it later.
- Bring someone with you. If allowed according to public health guidelines, consider asking a friend or family member to accompany you to your appointment and take notes so that you can focus on the conversation. You can ask this support person to step out of the room during a physical exam or while you are sharing intimate health information.
- Clarify and repeat information. Will you need to schedule a follow-up appointment? Fill a prescription? Make lifestyle changes? Understand what is expected of you, and ask your doctor about next steps.