Clinic Policies​

Mutual respect 

Fern Pediatric Endocrinolgy respects the time, rights, and privacy of its patients. We kindly request that patients reciprocate this respect to all physicians and staff. 

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On-time appointments 

All reasonable measures are taken to see patients on time. To help ensure we uphold this policy, we request that our patients please arrive 10 minutes early for check-in. If arriving more than 10 minutes late, you may be asked to reschedule.   

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Harassment-free environment 

Our clinic prioritizes a harassment free environment for its patients and staff. Any behaviour considered harassment will not be tolerated in the clinic. This includes, but is not limited to, offensive language, intimidation, physical assaults, or aggressive behaviour. Failure to comply with this policy may result in your dismissal from the clinic. 

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Visit preparation 

Prior to your visit, the physician may ask for forms to be completed. Please ensure any requested forms are completed before beginning the visit with your doctor. This allows for more time to discuss concerns during the appointment. 

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Missed Appointment & Short Notice Cancellations or Reschedule Requests 

Your appointment time is reserved for you and is considered missed if you

• do not arrive

• are late to your appointment by more than half of the appointment time remaining

  • Note your appointment time will be reduced accordingly, or may need to be rescheduled

• cancel or request a reschedule with less than 48 business hours notice

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If you are running late, please contact our office as soon as possible and we will do our best to
work with you. If rescheduling or cancelling an appointment, please provide a minimum of 48
business hours (for example, if your appointment is on Monday, please ensure you call our office
by 4pm on Wednesday of the preceding week). We will accept voice mails for appointment
cancellations, as long as they are left within the appropriate time-frame.​

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Missed appointment fees are charged at a rate of $200 for initial consultations and $100 for
follow-up visits. This fee must be paid before the next appointment is booked.

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Test results 

We do not call if your results have returned normal. If your results are abnormal or require further
discussion, our staff will contact you to book an appointment so you can review the results with
the physician.

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AI Scribe

Fern Pediatric Endocrinology uses Heidi AI, an AI scribe tool, to help record and prepare notes
during your visit. The scribe is a secure documentation tool only. Your provider will always review
and approve the notes to make sure they are accurate before adding them to your medical record.
We make sure Heidi AI is used responsibly and in line with Alberta's Health Information Act to
protect your privacy. You can change or cancel your consent at any time and your care will not be
affected.

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Note: This is information only. Written consent will be obtained at the clinic prior to participation.

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Learners

You may be seen by a medical learner during your visit. We are proud to support the learning of
medical students, residents, elective students or nurse practitioner students and consider it an
essential part of medical training. Each learner is supervised and any recommendations are
made in conjunction the accredited professional.

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E-Mail Policy

Fern Pediatric Endocrinology shall take the necessary measures to comply with PIPEDA and
POPA privacy requirements when communicating electronically. Email communications should
never be used to access medical care in the event of an emergency, or any situation that patient
could reasonably expect may develop into an emergency. In such cases, please call 911 or
proceed to your nearest emergency room department. By providing your email address, you
consent to the receipt of electronic communications.

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Prescriptions 

Please anticipate your prescription renewals and book a follow-up appointment at least two weeks
before your prescription runs out

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For new prescription requests, please contact the clinic to book an in-person appointment. Please note that our clinic is generally booking appointments 4 months in advance.

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As a member of the CPSA, our physician strictly adheres to Canadian standards when issuing
prescriptions for medications regulated under the FDA and Controlled Drugs and Substances Act 

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Non-Insured Services

Several of our services are not covered by Provincial Health Care nor do we direct bill to
insurance, therefore the cost of these services is charged to patients. Examples follow:

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Form Completion - starting from $60.00
Travel Documentation - $45.00 
Simple Sick Note / School Form - $25.00
Out of Country Initial Consult- $450.00
Out of Country Follow Up Visit - $200.00

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Important considerations - Payment must be made at the time of service or request. If an
insurance company or other service provider requests the form, you may be able to submit for
reimbursement, however the patient is billed directly at the time of service.

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Paying for Non-Insured Services

Payment can be made by cash (exact change) or e-transfer to admin@fernmedical.ca. When
sending an e-transfer, Please ensure we can correlate the payment to the appropriate patient.

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