-
February 2024 by Sabrina MacQuat
As per theme of these comments is in regards to the reception desk. I can't give anything lower than 4 starts because these nurses and doctors are truly amazing and the secretaries too when they seem in a better head space. I suspect the secretaries inability to listen comes from an exhausted place. Please, those at the desk, if you feel it's ok to hang up on someone in pain, seek help to handle the situation better.
My situation:
I called to inquire if an emergency appointment was available but I was too late and wanted to know if they were open tomorrow. First call I was hung up on. I had to call twice. I needed a strep test for my 4 year old. I called the pharmacy (which was frustrating trying to get that person to listen). They didn't have a nurse in all weekend. Their test is 15$. So I was calling seeing if I could get an appointment at the clinic likely tomorrow. She asked me how I know I have strep and why I think my daughter needs a test. I explained. She started listing pharmacies I should go to and I said "well that's annoying" and she immediately took it personally. It wasn't about her, but I was now being put on a goose chase to seek ACCESSIBLE care. She proceeded to talk at me listing things and I stopped listening. I didn't want to waste her time and I told her I stopped listening, to try and explain why that's not a viable option. She hung up. I called back to try and explain I was trying to get her to listen to my specific needs as a patient. Again. Drones off at me and doesn't take the opportunity to ask questions AND LISTEN. I completely understand there are policy and procedures and that completely valid. However, she spoke at me like driving to Hull was no big deal. I live in Denholm - 1 hour from Hull. My husband had a surgery so I would have to bring three kids WHILE I ALSO HAVE STREP THROAT. And she never ONCE considered COST in her droning on or my health or my family situation. I searched and I already knew other pharmacies offer the test, and they cost 50$. I can't afford 70$ (gas included), driving 2 hours, while sick, while hauling 3 kids to get the test done. I spent another hour searching again to see if I missed something, tried making appointments, but I can't afford them and they are not accessible to me. My other option is go to go to the ER with all my kids while I'm sick for them to give me an appointment at the clinic anyways (I know this because it's happened before). I will be calling back and making an appointment because I literally have no other options. To the ladies on the phone, I totally get it. Dealing with people is hard, and when they call and they are in pain, exhausted, and stressed to access care that doesn't make for an easy job. But I'm begging you to find compassion, and it's really easy when you take an extra minute to ask questions and really listen. Especially in our economic and health crisis climate. You'll hear the pain, the struggle, the list of different attempts to solve their issues. Find ways to tap into your humanity and take care of yourselves.
-
February 2024 by Geoff B.
My Dr. is great - receptionists super helpful - my family members have great experience with their Dr.s. Happy patients for many years.
-
February 2024 by Erin Angel
I want to give them 5 stars. But for the last couple of years it's been almost impossible to get an appointment.. I called Monday 8am like I was supposed to, got transferred to my doctor's secretary and then the phone just rang for who knows how long before I gave up. Still no appointment and need my prescription refilled. Nor sure what to do now.
-
January 2024 by Sherry Ferguson
I have been going to this clinic since the 1990s, and I find the negative comments on the clinic to be completely opposite of my experience. I have had nothing but positive experiences with all of the receptionists, and I absolutely love Wendy. She is always available and tries to assist in every way possible, and she is always courteous. If staff seem rushed sometimes (although it doesn't typify my experiences), it is not their fault. It is also not their fault if the clinic policies (e.g., mental health policies) are different from patient preferences. We have too few doctors and too few medical staff everywhere now. So yes, getting appointments in a reasonable time frame is a problem--but it is a systemic problem, not the fault of the individual doctors or staff. It is a problem across the province and country. And sometimes when doctors are late arriving at the clinic, it is because they are dealing with emergencies at hospitals. This is not to say that I am not sometimes frustrated by unreasonably long waits at the ER facilities at the Wakefield hospital, but we need to put pressure on the politicians, not the doctors and medical staff, who are overworked, undersupported, and (when contrasted with American doctors) underpaid. If I could change anything, it would be to restrict the night clnic to patients whose doctors practice at the clinic because it limits our ability to get help on short notice when anyone can access the night clinic. At the same time, many families have nowhere else to go--no family doctor--so that is a selfish wish on my part. I never write reviews normally, but I found the criticisms of the staff to be unfair. I felt the need to offer a different perspective and to ask those with negative experiences to look at the source of the problems. Our health care system is in crisis--dramatically different from when I immigrated to Canada in the early 1970s.
-
December 2023 by Michelle S
I have been going to WFMC for around 10 years. The doctors are generally great however the receptionists are an ongoing issue. My autistic son was experiencing some real severe mental health issues (going to emergency is very difficult for him) so I called for an appointment at the semi-urgent clinic (for a referral/meds) only to be told that he didn’t qualify. I asked the receptionist (Wendy) to clarify that their policy was that mental health issues were not considered urgent to which she replied, “I understand the urgency of mental health but he does not qualify for an appointment via our semi-urgent protocol.” If true, this is extremely problematic. Further, I don’t feel like I need to justify my reason for an appointment to anyone but my doctor. I am not someone who visits the doctor often or for no reason and yet, every time I call, it becomes a debate. My partner will sometimes call for me because I don’t have the energy to deal with them. What is the point of having a good family doctor if you can never access them? If it were not for the front desk staff, this clinic would get 5 stars. The Drs Khalaf, Satenstein and Menard are amazing!
-
November 2023 by J P
The secretaries are particularly unpleasant, otherwise the concept is good
-
August 2023 by gary stacey
This has been my doctor medical center for years, one of the best!
-
March 2023 by Etienne Gauthier
Some reception staff are very arrogant and do not provide good telephone service. no help or listening was offered to me during my call and practically closed the line in my face! very disappointed!!
-
January 2023 by Carole Belanger
Excellent medical center
-
January 2023 by curtis merril
Most disgusting receptionist ive ever dealt with nothing but rude,being hung up on multiple times , and threatened to have the police called on me while attempting to make a appointment with the emergency clinic but i couldnt even get that far as soon as she opened my file and seen a doctor's appointment in a couple months as my doctor is away she decided i do not need to contact the office what so ever. They offer emergency vlinic for a reason and u was trying to access it. Ive been a client here for 8 years and i love my doctor and the other doctors seen althought this receptionist had always given trouble and attitude when not needed and this is extreme. I will be taking action against this horrible threatening service that is suppose to be a i clusive medical office. This is the absolutely unacceptable way to talk to any client in any field and i really hope yous train this lady properly ad i can see im not the only one with an issue although to have her threaten to call the POLICE because shes hanging up on me and im trying to make an appointment thats a big big problem. My name is curtis merrill and again ive been going here for 8 plus years.
-
January 2023 by brittany buzzell
Every comment about the rude receptionists are true. Terrible service over phone most of the time. HOWEVER, the nurse Megan and Dr. Charente are absolutely amazing!
-
June 2022 by Roger Chénier
Very professional
-
June 2022 by Jocelyne Lefebvre
The doctors are really professional
-
January 2022 by Mora Altuaich
Dr Saul and Dr Kalaf are wonderful doctors.
-
January 2022 by Honey 1974
I've had the best doctor there in years. Dr Legrand is a silk. She always takes the time to examine me, explain to me, question me, reassure me and even call me from time to time to hear from me. I've never had this from any doctor before. After a lot of investigation on her part, she was able to find what illness I had when no one could find it and I had had this problem for years. She does a good follow-up with me and offers me all sorts of alternatives to relieve me of my pain. So for Doctor Legrand I give a 5/5.For the secretariat it happened to me on 2 occasions to have had to deal with a lady who was a little rough and dry. But if not I always deal with Wendy my doctor's secretary who is just as caring as my doctor. So I give a 4/5 for the secretarial service.As for making an appointment, well it's true that it takes time to see a doctor, sometimes 2-3 months before having an appointment but that's not the fault of the clinical. It's the same everywhere! It is the lack of doctors that means that our doctors are overloaded with patients and that we have to wait months to see them. Do not blame the central appointments who do everything they can to accommodate us. So to them who don't have it easy because they have to deal with rude, impatient and rude people, I give them a 4/5 too.Overall I am very satisfied with the service I have at this clinic.