Calgary Medical Exam ~ Review ~ Dr. Viljoen

[MrsCat 6]

So I just got home from my medical exam in Calgary with Dr. Viljoen. The clinic is called Hummingbird Cosmetic and located at: 100, 1919 Sirocco Drive S.W. There are two parts to the practice (1) cosmetic and (2) medical.

You can call the clinic at (403) 242-0484 and they'll ask you to call the other number (which I no longer remember). They won't transfer you over, even though the other phone number is the phone right next to the one that they are talking on. Its the second number that they will only book an immigration medical through.

You can find a list of their "services" on their website as well. http://www.hummingbirdcosmetic.com/html/practice.html

For the interview you need to bring:

1) two passport photos

2) passport

3) NVC case number

4) $260 cash or traveler's cheque for the medical exam

5) alberta health care card if applicable

6) immunization records if applicable

7) eyeglasses if applicable

The Review:

I called yesterday to reconfirm my appointment (so I didn't arrive in Calgary from Edmonton to find out that it had been rescheduled). I had added into my day timer that the appointment was for 10am when I booked the exam three weeks ago. The receptionist told me that I had the wrong number and would have to call the other line to find out the time of my exam. So I called back and was told that it was moved to 9:30am. Ok fine - thanks - see you tomorrow.

I arrived at Hummingbird Medical at 9:10am. There is plenty of free parking near the practice. The clinic looks much more like a high end spa rather than a medical clinic. It did not surprise me however, as I had seen the website previously, and it appears that most of their practice is centered on botox and collagen injections. The receptionists are varying forms of tarts (blonde, red, brunette) - not real smart, obviously don't like to work, and really hate to answer the phone.

The waiting room is small - seats about 5 people. I checked in with the receptionist, gave her the documents listed above and was told to take a seat. No place to sit - which was fine with me.

At 9:30 the waiting room had cleared out, so I sat on a leather chair and waited. Looked at the botox ads and ads for thermage. Smelled the high end (70$/bottle) face creams and eye creams (45$/bottle).

At 9:45 I was called in by the receptionist and taken to a small exam room. She asked me the questions required on the form (ex: have you had a history of mental illness, any diseases, current medications etc etc etc). She said to get undressed into a paper gown and would be examined by the doctor.

10:05 the doctor opens the exam room door. I am sitting in my sexy paper gown.

He asks "how are you today?"

I say "fine thank you"

he says "you don't look fine?"

I say "I'm fine"

he says "so then what's with the long face?"

I'm a little pissed now, so I figure I'll just give him an honest answer "I am sure you can appreciate the annoyance of having to drive from Edmonton to Calgary for this exam."

He says "You should consider yourself lucky to even have a place to go. Dr. Chana in Edmonton retired from doing immigration medicals because he was sick of the complaining and whining immigration clients".

We're getting off to a good start.

So I am thinking - f you mofo - but edited that a sweet and seething voice of "Well that's nice for him to be able to retire if that suited him".

He says "Imagine the annoyance of having to go to Montreal just for the interview."

I say "yes I agree that is annoying as well, I am sure you can see how time consuming this process can be on an applicant's life?"

So he quickly checks my breathing, heart rate, blood pressure (which must have been high). Asks me to lay down, examines my boobs for lumps, taps on my stomach a few times. Then says coldly - "ok, now you'll have to spread your legs and I have to check for genital warts. I won't bother going into the rationale for why this is a requirement."

Very great bedside manner! I love that approach when someone is asking me to spread-em.

So he goes over the same questions as his receptionist and says "well it says that you also need your chicken pox vaccine"

I'm thinking - I gave your tart outside a piece of paper that says I don't - so I say "ahhhh, my doctor said I didn't need that one."

He says "do you have something to prove that?"

Pass him the paper. He looks it over and says, "well then you only need your MMR". Now most doctors ask if you're ready for the shot in the arm, say count to three, rub the area a bit - whatever. All of a sudden wham right in the arm! Ok, so it didn't hurt, but I would have liked to have known when he was going to do it.

So we're done in less than 10 minutes. He asks as he is just leaving "why are you moving to the States?"

"To live with my husband."

"Where?"

"Hilo, Hawaii"

"Well that must be nice. The girls will take care of the billing outside."

"Ahhhh - doctor, isn't someone supposed to check my eyes."

"Ask them at the front, someone will do it. Oh and the exam results will be ready in three days, so you can call to see when they're ready to pick them up."

"Well I wasn't planning on driving back to Calgary to pick them up, so I need them mailed."

"We do offer to mail them through Purolator. But be warned that we do not accept phone calls at the office saying that Purolator lost my medical results, and if they lose them, that's between you and them. We don't have any responsibility in that" in his most condescending and whiny voice.

So I get my eyes examined by one of the tarts. Go to pay and billing was as follows:

$260.00 cash - medical exam

$20.00 - administrative free to use Purolator

$68.00 - MMR vaccine

Then had to travel about 10km to have blood serum taken. Another 5km to get chest xray.

Done. HATED every minute of it! However the people at the testing and xray labs were wonderful and nice.

Add $80.00 gas round trip from Edmonton to Calgary and total cost for this fun (without food and lodging) was $428.00.

[Emancipation 2]

:blink:

oh my goodness... i am SO sorry that happened.. what an A$$

[MrsCat 6]

:blink:

oh my goodness... i am SO sorry that happened.. what an A$$

thanks for reading my vent

[LindaB 0]

:blink:

oh my goodness... i am SO sorry that happened.. what an A$$

thanks for reading my vent

That is awful.....the dr. and the staff at the Vancouver Medical office were so nice (it did cost me $350 cash for the exam though)

[MrsCat 6]

:blink:

oh my goodness... i am SO sorry that happened.. what an A$$

thanks for reading my vent

That is awful.....the dr. and the staff at the Vancouver Medical office were so nice (it did cost me $350 cash for the exam though)

Yikes! $350! Dr. V would have had to pry that from my cold dead hands.

[LindaB 0]

:blink:

oh my goodness... i am SO sorry that happened.. what an A$$

thanks for reading my vent

That is awful.....the dr. and the staff at the Vancouver Medical office were so nice (it did cost me $350 cash for the exam though)

Yikes! $350! Dr. V would have had to pry that from my cold dead hands.

lol I told the receptionist that handing over the money was the most painful part of all

and another thing is ....you carry the silly xray all the way to Montreal and they don't even take it. I brought it back with me and joked with my husband we should frame it....lol

Edited July 30, 2008 by LindaB

[pegbert64 0]

Not a whole lot better in NC..... I just figured he was a pervert. A lot of money and time...... but as someone once told me, "If you want to stay, you have to do what they want." Sigh. Just glad it was over pretty quick.

[MrsCat 6]

and another thing is ....you carry the silly xray all the way to Montreal and they don't even take it. I brought it back with me and joked with my husband we should frame it....lol

Well I now know what I am giving Chris for xmas this year! The card will read - LindaB on VJ recommended something framed, personal and one of a kind for you.

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

10:05 the doctor opens the exam room door. I am sitting in my sexy paper gown.

He asks "how are you today?"

I say "fine thank you"

he says "you don't look fine?"

I say "I'm fine"

he says "so then what's with the long face?"

I'm a little pissed now, so I figure I'll just give him an honest answer "I am sure you can appreciate the annoyance of having to drive from Edmonton to Calgary for this exam."

He says "You should consider yourself lucky to even have a place to go. Dr. Chana in Edmonton retired from doing immigration medicals because he was sick of the complaining and whining immigration clients".

We're getting off to a good start.

So I am thinking - f you mofo - but edited that a sweet and seething voice of "Well that's nice for him to be able to retire if that suited him".

He says "Imagine the annoyance of having to go to Montreal just for the interview."

I say "yes I agree that is annoying as well, I am sure you can see how time consuming this process can be on an applicant's life?"

So he quickly checks my breathing, heart rate, blood pressure (which must have been high). Asks me to lay down, examines my boobs for lumps, taps on my stomach a few times. Then says coldly - "ok, now you'll have to spread your legs and I have to check for genital warts. I won't bother going into the rationale for why this is a requirement."

Very great bedside manner! I love that approach when someone is asking me to spread-em.

So he goes over the same questions as his receptionist and says "well it says that you also need your chicken pox vaccine"

I'm thinking - I gave your tart outside a piece of paper that says I don't - so I say "ahhhh, my doctor said I didn't need that one."

He says "do you have something to prove that?"

Pass him the paper. He looks it over and says, "well then you only need your MMR". Now most doctors ask if you're ready for the shot in the arm, say count to three, rub the area a bit - whatever. All of a sudden wham right in the arm! Ok, so it didn't hurt, but I would have liked to have known when he was going to do it.

So we're done in less than 10 minutes. He asks as he is just leaving "why are you moving to the States?"

"To live with my husband."

"Where?"

"Hilo, Hawaii"

"Well that must be nice. The girls will take care of the billing outside."

"Ahhhh - doctor, isn't someone supposed to check my eyes."

"Ask them at the front, someone will do it. Oh and the exam results will be ready in three days, so you can call to see when they're ready to pick them up."

"Well I wasn't planning on driving back to Calgary to pick them up, so I need them mailed."

"We do offer to mail them through Purolator. But be warned that we do not accept phone calls at the office saying that Purolator lost my medical results, and if they lose them, that's between you and them. We don't have any responsibility in that" in his most condescending and whiny voice.

So I get my eyes examined by one of the tarts. Go to pay and billing was as follows:

$260.00 cash - medical exam

$20.00 - administrative free to use Purolator

$68.00 - MMR vaccine

Then had to travel about 10km to have blood serum taken. Another 5km to get chest xray.

Done. HATED every minute of it! However the people at the testing and xray labs were wonderful and nice.

Add $80.00 gas round trip from Edmonton to Calgary and total cost for this fun (without food and lodging) was $428.00.

What an orifice!!! Why the long face, I'm fu**in' related to Secretariat azzhole. I feel for Dr. Chana, I bet he didn't get tired of picking up his wallet, poor baby. Maybe if he wasn't such an azzhole, the patients wouldn't complain. I really feel sorry for those of you who have medicals in Alberta, Dr. Chana was no prize and Viljoen apparently isn't any better. I find it amazing that he forgot about the eye examination but remembered to do a pelvic examination, on second thought on his CPSA listing one of his practice interests is....Newborn Circumcision. I know for Mom and Pop, Dr. Seit (Medisys-Toronto) did a one second peek and that was it. Doc bro' was along and had to pull rank on one snotty b*tch of a nurse. That little disclaimer about a lost medical was the icing on the sh*t cake. Cattattude, Dr. Adriaan Viljoen is a disgrace to the medical profession and I totally sympathize with you. Now I know why bro' has nothing but contempt for many of his colleagues.

Edited July 31, 2008 by IR5FORMUMSIE

[Texanadian 10]

$68 for MMR? Sheesh. I had to get a tetnus shot at a doctor down the street from the Vancouver medical exam. It was covered by health care ($15), but there was a $15 administration fee I had to pay. LOL But of course.

As rude as your Alberta doctor was, at least it was quick. I had to take the ferry to Vancouver the night before, be at the Vancouver office at 6:30AM and then be there all day until around 2PM. I'd much rather of left at 11AM and had them mail me the results, than wait around all day (in yesterday's clothes).

I must say though, the Vancouver staff is friendly enough.

[thetreble 19]

That is shite! What an #######. At least you were calm enough to not punch him one in the nose! I would have. I think ti is hard to find a doctor these days that you can be totally comfortable with. How I miss my wolf eyes....(my indian doctor back in Canada who had grey eyes like a wolf...he was dreamy!)

[Carlawarla 1]

So I just got home from my medical exam in Calgary with Dr. Viljoen. The clinic is called Hummingbird Cosmetic and located at: 100, 1919 Sirocco Drive S.W. There are two parts to the practice (1) cosmetic and (2) medical.

You can call the clinic at (403) 242-0484 and they'll ask you to call the other number (which I no longer remember). They won't transfer you over, even though the other phone number is the phone right next to the one that they are talking on. Its the second number that they will only book an immigration medical through.

You can find a list of their "services" on their website as well. http://www.hummingbirdcosmetic.com/html/practice.html

For the interview you need to bring:

1) two passport photos

2) passport

3) NVC case number

4) $260 cash or traveler's cheque for the medical exam

5) alberta health care card if applicable

6) immunization records if applicable

7) eyeglasses if applicable

The Review:

I called yesterday to reconfirm my appointment (so I didn't arrive in Calgary from Edmonton to find out that it had been rescheduled). I had added into my day timer that the appointment was for 10am when I booked the exam three weeks ago. The receptionist told me that I had the wrong number and would have to call the other line to find out the time of my exam. So I called back and was told that it was moved to 9:30am. Ok fine - thanks - see you tomorrow.

I arrived at Hummingbird Medical at 9:10am. There is plenty of free parking near the practice. The clinic looks much more like a high end spa rather than a medical clinic. It did not surprise me however, as I had seen the website previously, and it appears that most of their practice is centered on botox and collagen injections. The receptionists are varying forms of tarts (blonde, red, brunette) - not real smart, obviously don't like to work, and really hate to answer the phone.

The waiting room is small - seats about 5 people. I checked in with the receptionist, gave her the documents listed above and was told to take a seat. No place to sit - which was fine with me.

At 9:30 the waiting room had cleared out, so I sat on a leather chair and waited. Looked at the botox ads and ads for thermage. Smelled the high end (70$/bottle) face creams and eye creams (45$/bottle).

At 9:45 I was called in by the receptionist and taken to a small exam room. She asked me the questions required on the form (ex: have you had a history of mental illness, any diseases, current medications etc etc etc). She said to get undressed into a paper gown and would be examined by the doctor.

10:05 the doctor opens the exam room door. I am sitting in my sexy paper gown.

He asks "how are you today?"

I say "fine thank you"

he says "you don't look fine?"

I say "I'm fine"

he says "so then what's with the long face?"

I'm a little pissed now, so I figure I'll just give him an honest answer "I am sure you can appreciate the annoyance of having to drive from Edmonton to Calgary for this exam."

He says "You should consider yourself lucky to even have a place to go. Dr. Chana in Edmonton retired from doing immigration medicals because he was sick of the complaining and whining immigration clients".

We're getting off to a good start.

So I am thinking - f you mofo - but edited that a sweet and seething voice of "Well that's nice for him to be able to retire if that suited him".

He says "Imagine the annoyance of having to go to Montreal just for the interview."

I say "yes I agree that is annoying as well, I am sure you can see how time consuming this process can be on an applicant's life?"

So he quickly checks my breathing, heart rate, blood pressure (which must have been high). Asks me to lay down, examines my boobs for lumps, taps on my stomach a few times. Then says coldly - "ok, now you'll have to spread your legs and I have to check for genital warts. I won't bother going into the rationale for why this is a requirement."

Very great bedside manner! I love that approach when someone is asking me to spread-em.

So he goes over the same questions as his receptionist and says "well it says that you also need your chicken pox vaccine"

I'm thinking - I gave your tart outside a piece of paper that says I don't - so I say "ahhhh, my doctor said I didn't need that one."

He says "do you have something to prove that?"

Pass him the paper. He looks it over and says, "well then you only need your MMR". Now most doctors ask if you're ready for the shot in the arm, say count to three, rub the area a bit - whatever. All of a sudden wham right in the arm! Ok, so it didn't hurt, but I would have liked to have known when he was going to do it.

So we're done in less than 10 minutes. He asks as he is just leaving "why are you moving to the States?"

"To live with my husband."

"Where?"

"Hilo, Hawaii"

"Well that must be nice. The girls will take care of the billing outside."

"Ahhhh - doctor, isn't someone supposed to check my eyes."

"Ask them at the front, someone will do it. Oh and the exam results will be ready in three days, so you can call to see when they're ready to pick them up."

"Well I wasn't planning on driving back to Calgary to pick them up, so I need them mailed."

"We do offer to mail them through Purolator. But be warned that we do not accept phone calls at the office saying that Purolator lost my medical results, and if they lose them, that's between you and them. We don't have any responsibility in that" in his most condescending and whiny voice.

So I get my eyes examined by one of the tarts. Go to pay and billing was as follows:

$260.00 cash - medical exam

$20.00 - administrative free to use Purolator

$68.00 - MMR vaccine

Then had to travel about 10km to have blood serum taken. Another 5km to get chest xray.

Done. HATED every minute of it! However the people at the testing and xray labs were wonderful and nice.

Add $80.00 gas round trip from Edmonton to Calgary and total cost for this fun (without food and lodging) was $428.00.

Well, that was quite the review. In Saskatchewan, unless they have a new doctor now, there is no more US civil surgeon there, and so anyone from there will have to travel to Calgary, or Winnipeg.

I didn't have an eye check. I wear glasses, and didn't have an eye check. Don't remember if there is anything on the form about that either?

Maybe it had to do with voice inflection? I think he was giving you an opening by saying you didn't look fine when you were in the office. Given what you've said here, you seem like you were maybe angry as soon as you got to the office. Calling his clerical staff tarts? Wow...I know you didn't say that to their face, but its not a nice thing to say, and why would you say that anyway? Are women defined by how they dress? Act?

It wasn't appropriate or professional of him to comment on the whiny and complaining immigration clients...totally uncalled for. I would have said something to him right then and there.

Maybe things are just overwhelming for you right now, getting close to your interview, the money everything entails, the travel you had to incur to have your medical...a lot of us have been there and done that..it can be daunting!

I'd suggest you write a letter to the Dr. and maybe make a copy to the provincial board of physicians and surgeons at the same time outlining how you weren't happy with how your physical was conducted.

Sorry about your not so nice experience.

[MissStacey 1]

If Dr Chana knew how to do his job- or his nasty a$$ receptionists for that matter- I wouldn't still be waiting for my Greencard. Because of an error they made I had a glitch at my interview in Vancouver and I had a problem with my AOS interview here in New Orleans. When we got to the AOS interview- they had both the fixed and unfixed copy of my medical. The officer asked me to submit another medical. I asked him if I needed another chest X Ray and HIV test- he hummed and hawed and said no. So I went to the Civil surgeon here in N.O.- I brought passport photos and they said they didn't need them. I filled out my paperwork and waited for a while- all the botox people obviously have priority there.

I finally get into the room- I was not asked to change or undress. The nurse and Doctor come in and this was my exam: A few deep breaths while he holds the stethoscope to chest, a little flashlight shone in my eyes and the little reflex hammer on my knees. I'm not lying when I say I was in there for under 30 seconds. I'm not really complaining- it was the easiest medical exam I have ever been through.

Now I am just hoping the new medical is acceptable. I did what he asked me to do. I went down to USCIS a few weeks ago because I was worried that there was a problem- apparently they hadn't gotten back to my case yet because there was a push to get Citizenship applications done. I was told it could take up to a year before my GC shows up in the mail. He said I could make another infopass appointment in 4 months if I haven't heard anything.

I just really want to know how immigration Doctors are chosen- do they apply to do this or are they sought out my USCIS?

They make a wad of cash for a few minutes work, fill out a few papers and that is the end of that. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal to me. I don't know why so many of them have to be d!cks about it.

[MrsCat 6]

MissStacey - that is aweful. I would want him tarred and feathered in public.

According to Dr. Viljoen - something I left out of the rant - the Consulate is starting to not replace surgeons who perform the medicals. So Edmonton will not be getting a new physician, people in AB, NT, SASK will have to use him. I think they apply to do these types of exams and the Consulate either approves them as a practitioner or not. They're both useless by the sounds of it.

[thetreble 19]

Calling his clerical staff tarts? Wow...I know you didn't say that to their face, but its not a nice thing to say, and why would you say that anyway? Are women defined by how they dress? Act?

In her defense, I don't think she was calling into question the definition of a woman. We should never determine someone's womanhood by what they wear, but how they act is definitely a part of someone's ethos. There is something to be said for professionalism and how one carries them self. I work in a professional environment and it is understood that I dress suitably because I am dealing with the public and with government members. Same would go for a receptionist who is the first person people see when they walk into most businesses.

Also, I signed a contract saying I will act with professionalism. I'm sure they did something similar when they were offered the job. Therefore, some times a word like tart may be suitable. I have seen female workers in offices that are revealing too much, hell I have even worked with some. I have worked with women who dress the same to work as they would on a night out on the town.

That is just my thought, any ways...