Family Clinician

Dr. Heather McLaughlin, MD, CCFP

Dr. Heather McLaughlin was born and raised on a dairy farm in Penetanguishene, ON. She completed her Bachelors of Science in Life Sciences at Queen’s University, followed by medical school at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry in London, Ontario. She came to Peterborough with her family to complete her residency in Family Medicine through Queen’s University with the intention of setting up her practice here. At the present time, Dr. McLaughlin provides comprehensive primary care in the office, including office based procedures such as joint injections and skin biopsies. She is also the resident physician at Fleming College where she provides student health services one day per week.

Staff Information

Debbie Levere is our office receptionist/nurse. Debbie should be trusted with all your concerns. She is responsible for scheduling patient appointments and keeps the office running smoothly and performs injections when needed. She is available to answer the phones for Dr. McLaughlin five days per week and can help to direct you on days when she is not in the office. Melissa Forgrave is the Nurse Practitioner associate with with our office. Our office acts as a training precepter for residents associated with Queens University. When scheduling please advise if you don't wish to be seen by the attached resident.

Appointment Scheduling

Urgent visits can be arranged by telephone, usually the same day or within a few days. All requests for appointments will be prioritized by the receptionist, and patients will be asked to provide specific information about their concern(s) so that we can allot an appropriate amount of time. Please arrive on time. We will do everything we can to ensure that the office runs efficiently and on time. We reserve the right to rebook patients who are late for appointments, or whose concerns cannot be appropriately assessed in the time available.

Family Health Team Services/After Hours/Holidays

If you need urgent care outside of office hours, the After Hours Clinic at the Medical Centre is available Monday to Thursday, 5pm to 8pm; Saturday, 8am to 2pm; and Sunday, 9am to noon. If our office if closed for holidays, there is also a doctor on call available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. For an appointment with the Day Clinic doctor please call 705-743-6280. For an appointment at the After Hours Clinic or with the doctor on call, please call the Medical Centre switchboard at 705-743-6222. After Hours Clinic hours may occasionally change, particularly during holidays. You may also contact the Tele-Health Advisory Services, available 24/7, at 1-866-553-7205. The emergency room at the Peterborough Regional Health Center is available 24/7 for more urgent matters.

By ‘rostering’ (signing up) with our team, you have access to the After Hours Clinic and the doctor on call as described above. You also have access to allied health services including mental health counseling as well as dietician and pharmacist consultations.

Uninsured Services

Certain services are not paid for by OHIP and will be charged to you directly. Such services include completing forms, sick notes, transferring medical records, and procedures not deemed ‘medically necessary’ such as cosmetic procedures. Should you request one of these services, you will be advised of the charge and must agree to it prior to the service being completed. Payment is required at the time the service is completed. Cash and cheques are accepted. The fees assigned are as per the recommendations of the provincial medical association. That said, we realize and will always take into consideration that some patients may not be able to pay for these services. Please do not hesitate to inform us if these charges pose a financial hardship to you so that alternative arrangements can be made.

Appointment Cancellations/Missed Appointments

If you are unable to keep an appointment, please call at least 24 hours in advance of your scheduled appointment to cancel. Any notice you can provide is appreciated and we recognize that unexpected circumstances can arise. If appropriate notice is not given, you will be charged for each missed appointment. Our office will not be calling to remind you of your appointment; it is therefore your responsibility to remember.

Prescribing Renewals

You may ask for a prescription renewal at any visit. This is the preferred method to obtain medication refills. We do not routinely fill prescriptions by telephone or fax request. Please call at least 2 weeks prior to running out of medication to book an appointment to monitor your progress on the medication. If you have run out of medications prior to your next visit and a phone or fax prescription renewal is needed, a fee will be charged as this is an ‘uninsured service’. Our current charge for this service is $15. In addition, we would prefer you contact your pharmacy directly and have them contact our office with the renewal request if necessary. This policy does not apply to ‘blister-packs’.

Referrals to Specialists

Before any specialist referral is arranged, you must book an appointment with us for pre-consultation information gathering and investigations to facilitate a faster and more effective consultation.

What to Bring to Each Visit

1. All current medications in their bottles (if not practical, a list with name, dose & frequency)
2. Health Card (without a valid Health card, you will not be seen)

Scent Policy

For the comfort and health of our patients, staff and physicians we request your support for our scent aware facility by refraining from the use of scented products and smoking products prior to visiting with us.

Dr. McLaughlin's Top Links:

KIDS:

www.aboutkidhealth.ca (The Hospital for Sick Children)

www.caringforkids.cps.ca (Canadian Pediatric Society)

TEENS:

www.sexualityandu.ca (Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada - Birth control options and STD Information)

WOMEN:

www.sogc.org (Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada – various women’s health topics)

www.americanpregnancy.org (American Pregnancy Association)

www.motherisk.org (Sick Kids - information on medication use during pregnancy/breastfeeding)

www.breastfeeding.ca (Jack Newman’s website - information and videos on breastfeeding)

www.menopauseandu.ca (Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada - Menopause Information and Treatment Options)

MEN:

www.prostatecancer.ca (Prostate Cancer Canada)

MENTAL HEALTH:

www.moodgym.anu.edu.au (MoodGym - free online cognitive behavioural therapy)

www.anxietybc.com(AnxietyBC)

www.anxietycanada.ca (Anxiety Disorders Association of Canada)

ALL:

www.uptodate.com/patients (Searchable, reliable information on a wide variety of health topics)

www.pcchu.ca (Peterborough County City Health Unit Resources and Information)

www.diabetes.ca (Canadian Diabetes Association)

www.heartandstroke.ca(Heart and Stroke Foundation)

www.cancer.ca (Canadian Cancer Society)

www.smokershelpline.ca (Smoking cessation program put on by the Canadian Cancer Society)

www.bestliferewarded.com (BestLifeRewarded - information and tools to help you achieve a healthy lifestyle)