Finding a Doctor

Most people have a family doctor they go to when they need medical care or checkups.  This doctor is also called a general practitioner or family physician.  You need to be registered as a patient to get medical care from a family doctor.  If you go to the same doctor all the time, he or she knows your medical history. You can also set appointments and have a shorter wait. 

How can I find a family doctor?

Finding a doctor can be difficult for both newcomers and people born in Canada.  A good place to start is the Region of Waterloo Public Health Department.  

You can also visit Health Care Connect to help you find a family health care provider in the community, or call 1-800-445-1822 to sign up for the program.

How do I get medical care if I don’t have a doctor?

If you don’t have a family doctor, you can go to the nearest urgent care clinic.  You do not need an appointment.  Just go to the clinic and wait until a doctor can see you.  It may be a long wait.

At any time, you can call Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000. Telehealth is a free service of the Government of Ontario. You can speak to a qualified, registered nurse and get health advice or information. You can call any time of the day or night. The Telehealth service is in English or French with translation for other languages.

Where can I get help if I have a medical emergency?

Whether or not you have a family doctor, if you have a medical emergency call 911 or go directly to the emergency entrance at the nearest hospital.

You may also be interested in Find a Dentist or Eye Doctor and Additional Health Services.