Clinic Policies

By booking an appointment or visiting Aspire Medical Clinic, you acknowledge and agree to comply with all clinic policies outlined below. If you do not agree with these terms, we kindly ask that you seek medical care at another facility.

Aspire Medical Clinic – Clinic Policies

Welcome to Aspire Medical Clinic. We are committed to providing safe, respectful, and high‑quality primary care in accordance with the professional standards of the BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC (CPSBC).

Please review the following policies before your first visit. These policies help set clear expectations and support effective, ethical care.

1. Intake Appointments ("Meet and Greets")

Intake appointments are used to collect medical history and determine whether care can be safely provided within this clinic.
Health concerns, symptoms, or treatment decisions are not addressed at intake visits.
Medical issues must be booked as a separate follow‑up appointment.
Booking an intake appointment does not guarantee long‑term attachment to the clinic.
Ongoing attachment is a mutual decision between the patient and clinician.
If care needs fall outside the clinic’s scope or cannot be safely managed, patients will be supported with redirection to appropriate services.
The clinic may decline attachment if policies are not followed.

2. Follow‑Up Appointments

Appointments may be booked online, by phone, or by email.
Standard visits are 10 minutes.
Generally, one main issue per visit can be addressed. Additional concerns may require a separate appointment.
In‑person visits are required for concerns needing a physical exam (e.g., joint pain, abdominal pain, skin issues).
Phone visits are appropriate for results review, prescription refills, mental health discussions, and minor illnesses.
Appointment times (especially phone visits) are approximate. Please be available within 3 hours of your scheduled time.
Calls may come from a private or unknown number.
Please ensure your contact information is kept up to date.

3. Recording Policy
Audio or video recording of appointments without explicit consent from clinic staff is not permitted. Breaches may result in termination of care.

4. Missed Appointment Policy

No-Show Fee: A fee of $40 will be charged if you fail to provide at least 24 hours’ notice prior to canceling your appointment.
Arriving more than 5 minutes late may result in your appointment being rebooked.
Repeated missed appointments may lead to suspension or termination of services.

5. Referrals to Specialists

An appointment is required to request a referral.
Specialists determine triage priority and wait times.
Typical waits range from 3–6 months, and may be longer for some specialties.
Wait times are determined by the specialist, not your primary care provider.

6. Prescription Refills

Prescription refills are provided during appointments.
Refills are usually written to last until your next recommended follow‑up.
Ongoing medications require periodic review visits.
Controlled substances (e.g., opioids, benzodiazepines, stimulants) generally require an in‑person or formal appointment and are not renewed via fax.
Pharmacies may provide limited emergency supplies at their discretion.

7. Test Results & Investigations

You will be contacted if results are abnormal or require follow‑up.
Normal results are not routinely communicated.
Appointments may be booked to review results if desired.
Some of our providers may prefer to review your imaging report with you, and such appointments will be scheduled if needed.

8. Preventive Care & Physical Exams

Routine annual physicals are not recommended for healthy individuals.
Preventive health reviews are encouraged for patients aged 40 and older to address screening and prevention.
Please discuss any individual requests or recommendations with your provider

9. Care Coordination

Patients are encouraged to seek primary care through this clinic when possible.
Please identify your NP or GP as your primary care provider when accessing other services.
If you have an urgent issue and cannot obtain timely care, please attend Urgent Care or the nearest Emergency Department.

10. Uninsured (Private‑Pay) Services

Some services are not covered by MSP and may incur fees, including but not limited to:

Sick notes or employer letters
Travel or insurance forms
Driver’s medical exams
Disability Tax Credit forms (subject to eligability
Non‑MSP insured pre- procedure examination requests

11. Forms & Paperwork

Forms require a separate appointment and cannot be completed during visits for other concerns.
Please complete your portion of the form in advance.
Forms must be submitted at least 2 business days before your appointment.
Forgery of provider signatures or information will result in termination of services between the patient and the clinic/practitioners.

12. Learners in Clinic

Aspire Medical Clinic is a teaching site.
Medical students from accredited programs may be involved in your care.
Learners are always supervised by your primary care provider.
You may decline learner involvement at any time.

13. Zero‑Tolerance Policy for Harassment or Abuse

The clinic has zero tolerance for abusive, aggressive, or inappropriate behaviour toward staff or providers, including verbal abuse, threats, discrimination, or harassment (including written or online communications).

In accordance with BCCNM and CPSBC standards, the practitioner–patient relationship may be ended when:

Behaviour threatens the safety of staff or providers;
There is an irreparable breakdown in the therapeutic relationship and trust such that care can no longer be provided effectively or safely;
Care requests fall outside the scope, or conflict with legal, ethical, or professional obligations;
There is repeated misuse of clinic services despite collaborative efforts to address concerns.

14. Controlled Substances (Opioids & Benzodiazepines)

Long‑term use of opioids and benzodiazepines carries significant risks.
Patients prescribed these medications can expect:
- A review of prior records and prescribing history
- Consideration of stabilization or tapering where appropriate
- Use of a controlled‑substance agreement when indicated

These measures are required to meet professional, ethical, and legal standards and to support patient safety.