Prepare for your Appointment
To see a specialist in British Columbia, you will need a referral sent to our office from a healthcare provider.
Your first appointment may be a consult in our office or over telehealth which may be over the phone or a video call. Depending on the referral, you may be booked directly for a procedure at the hospital.
If your first appointment is at our office, it will take approximately 30-60 minutes. We ask you to arrive five minutes prior to your appointment. If not already completed at the time of scheduling your appointment, you may review and complete our intake form prior to the appointment [here].
Our doctors strive to keep appointments on time, but we may run late due to unforeseen circumstances and patient needs.
Confirming Your Appointment
You will receive a text, phone, or email notification to confirm your appointment based on your preference. It is very important that you confirm this appointment.
What to Bring for Your Appointment
1. List of your current medications
2. BC Care Card
3. You may bring a family member or companion if you feel that you would like someone to help you with the appointment. If you do not speak English or have difficulty communicating, you should have someone to help you translate.
4. If coming in person to our office for a fibroscan, you will be asked to fast for 2 hours before your appointment.
At Your Appointment
The entrance to our office has six stairs. If you are unable to use stairs, please let us know as soon as possible, and we will accommodate your appointment at an alternative location.
At your appointment, the gastroenterologist will obtain a complete history and perform an appropriate examination to decide if further testing or therapy is required. They will ask about your past medical history, previous procedures and details about your family health history.
At the end of the appointment, the physician will discuss their diagnosis and your treatment plan. You have the opportunity to ask questions to clarify and understand your condition.
After Your First Appointment
After the appointment, a detailed letter will be sent to your referring doctor outlining the investigations and treatment plan. The gastroenterologist will also make arrangements for procedures and follow-up if necessary.
Procedures or Other Tests
If an endoscopic procedure is required, you will be asked to obtain preparation instructions from the front desk before you leave the office. The standard instructions for some of these procedures are available on our website [here]. Based on your circumstances, your gastroenterologist may require a modified preparation, and you should follow those instructions if they are provided to you.
The GI booking office at the hospital will contact you to schedule a date and time for the procedure.
If you need to have imaging tests, your gastroenterologists will send the required paperwork to the hospital, and the hospital or imaging clinic will contact you directly to schedule these tests.