Finding a Doctor in Ottawa

It can sometimes be a challenge to find a family doctor who is taking new patients as the majority of Ottawa's doctors already have full practices and are not taking new patients.

If you need medical care, and don't have a family doctor, Ottawa has a good number of walk in clinics:

Walk In Clinics in Ottawa

Of course, if you have a serious medical need, call 911. You can also visit one of Ottawa's hospitals.

But ulitmately, if you're living in Ottawa, you are going to want to find a family doctor. When I (Marie) moved to Ottawa, I found a doctor by asking the doctor I saw at a walk-in clinic if she was taking new patients. Even though she wasn't advertising that she was taking new patients, she and I had a good rapport and she agreed to take me on. She is now also my husband's (David's) doctor as well as our two children's. We have referred many people to her and even though she's not listed as taking new patients, she usually takes them on. Therefore, one way to find a good doctor is to ask a friend or family member if they can ask their doctor to take you on as a patient.

If you're not able to get a doctor at a Walk-In clinic or via a friend's referral, here are some resources that you can use to find a family doctor:

Health Care Connect

This is a service that helps to connect people who don't currently have a family doctor with one who is taking new patients. About 80% of the people who join this program will successfully be able to be connected with a doctor.

You can join by calling 1-800-445-1822 or by filling out this form. You'll be contacted by a nurse who will help to connect you to a doctor.

Open Care

We have not used this service, but it looks interesting. They claim to be able to connect you with a family doctor who is taking on new patients¹. Their website also lists a number of doctos who are taking new patients so that you can browse through and choose one on your own.

For Military Families - Family Force - Operation Family Doc

This is a service operated by the Military Family Resource Centre-National Capital Region in partnership with the Academy of Medicine Ottawa. They can connect military family members with doctors who will take them on as patients.

Phone: (613) 993-8671
Email: ofd@mfrc-ncr.org
Click here to download a Family Referral Form which you can fax or email in to request to be connected with a family doctor.

References

1. Tech Startup Tackles the Health Care Sector - The Toronto Star. November 28, 2013.