FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Does my doctor need to send a referral?

Yes, new patients are seen by referral only. If you have not been an active patient of the clinic for more than 365 days, you will also need a new referral to be seen. Unfortunately, due to the very large number of new referrals each day, not every patient can be seen and the practice is limited to the areas of pancreatic and biliary diseases, therapeutic endoscopy, and endoscopic oncology.

I live outside of Toronto; can I still be a patient in the GI Clinic?

Yes, if you have a clinical condition that falls within the purview of the clinic.

What is the wait time to be seen by the doctor?

The average wait time is 3 months. Those conditions of an urgent nature are given priority.

Procedures

How soon will I have my procedure done?

That will depend on the urgency of the indication for the procedure and the number of patients waiting for the procedure. The number of slots is limited and therefore all patients are asked to confirm their appointments and to give ample notice if they will not be able to attend their appointment.

How long is the procedure?

That will depend on the type of procedure being conducted.

How long will I be at the hospital for on the day of my procedure?

Typically patients will be at the hospital between 2 1/2 and 3 hours.

Do you put patients to sleep for procedures?

Patients are given a sedative called Midazolam and a painkiller called Fentanyl. This is to make the patient relaxed and comfortable. Patients may sleep but are not anesthetized for their procedures.

Do I need to make arrangements for a ride home?

Yes, if you receive sedation for your procedure, you must not drive for 24 hours afterwards and if you take a taxi home, you must be accompanied by someone you know who can care for you at home.

After my procedure, when should I expect to receive my results?

The doctor will give you a handwritten report summarizing the findings immediately after the procedure. If however biopsies were performed, you can expect the pathology results after 3 weeks. If your family doctor’s name is known, he/she will also receive a copy. You can also access your reports on MyChart.