Review of Dr. Laity's Medical Exam (London, ON)

[Galateia 1]

Had my medical exam with Dr. Laity Friday morning. For those of you who are considering going to London vs. Toronto, I highly recommend going with London.

Some time ago I called the Toronto doctor (Seiden, I believe) and the receptionist was appallingly rude. It would have been far easier to get to Toronto by bus than London, but I refused to give my money to people who would be so gleefully unhelpful and vicious.

I have to say, Dr. Laity's receptionist/nurse alone would have made the whole experience worthwhile. She was incredible; warm, spunky, helpful, extremely competent, and I was treated like a 'person' not just a 'patient'. I spoke to her several times on the phone, and she was both friendly and helpful then as well. I was very, very impressed.

Not only that, but Dr. Laity was also warm and friendly, and so matter-of-fact about the exam itself (we were cracking jokes during my pelvic exam about how fortunate it was that I'd zipped off to the bathroom before we started) that I was not at all uncomfortable despite the fact he was a male doctor.

He also managed to avoid leaving a bruise at the needle site; normally bloodwork leaves me looking like I live with a prizefighter who has anger issues.

The receptionist was very interested to hear about VisaJourney, as she is often pelted with anxious questions about the entire process that she cannot answer. Now she has somewhere to refer them to, and was pleased to have something useful to offer them.

Generally, my experience with health care professionals has been thinly veiled indifference and impatience. Rarely do you find a medical professional who values the humanity of their patients.

Two thumbs up.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Glad all went well!!

[AngelD 0]

Had my medical exam with Dr. Laity Friday morning. For those of you who are considering going to London vs. Toronto, I highly recommend going with London.

Some time ago I called the Toronto doctor (Seiden, I believe) and the receptionist was appallingly rude. It would have been far easier to get to Toronto by bus than London, but I refused to give my money to people who would be so gleefully unhelpful and vicious.

I have to say, Dr. Laity's receptionist/nurse alone would have made the whole experience worthwhile. She was incredible; warm, spunky, helpful, extremely competent, and I was treated like a 'person' not just a 'patient'. I spoke to her several times on the phone, and she was both friendly and helpful then as well. I was very, very impressed.

Not only that, but Dr. Laity was also warm and friendly, and so matter-of-fact about the exam itself (we were cracking jokes during my pelvic exam about how fortunate it was that I'd zipped off to the bathroom before we started) that I was not at all uncomfortable despite the fact he was a male doctor.

He also managed to avoid leaving a bruise at the needle site; normally bloodwork leaves me looking like I live with a prizefighter who has anger issues.

The receptionist was very interested to hear about VisaJourney, as she is often pelted with anxious questions about the entire process that she cannot answer. Now she has somewhere to refer them to, and was pleased to have something useful to offer them.

Generally, my experience with health care professionals has been thinly veiled indifference and impatience. Rarely do you find a medical professional who values the humanity of their patients.

Two thumbs up.

It's great that your experience was a good one. I thought that there was no pelvic exam for the visas? Or is just specific to the office here in Toronto. I went to their website and said explicitly there was no pelvic.

Can you give a rundown of what exactly what they ended up doing -ei-bloodwork, heart etc?

I am sure it will put many minds at ease--like mine...

Thanks

Angel

[mozplay 29]

Happy that you had a good experience.

To respond to AngelD's question - there was no pelvic done at Dr. Seiden's - this is the case for a number of doctors, I believe, but everyone tends to have a different story.

Mo

Edited February 5, 2007 by mozplay

[Galateia 1]

It's great that your experience was a good one. I thought that there was no pelvic exam for the visas? Or is just specific to the office here in Toronto. I went to their website and said explicitly there was no pelvic.

Can you give a rundown of what exactly what they ended up doing -ei-bloodwork, heart etc?

I am sure it will put many minds at ease--like mine...

Thanks

Angel

Sure.

I went in, she asked for my passport, letter from the Consulate, the $225, the photos, and my immunization records. I handed everything over. By the way, you only need TWO photos not three. She gave me a large envelope to address to myself, as they would be mailing my sealed envelope and a small summary for me in it. She handed back a sheet that had one of my photos stapled to it and asked me to go downstairs to the X-ray clinic and get my X-ray done.

The receptionist there was also very friendly, and she went over my sheet, then took it away and had me sit and wait. After a few minutes they called my name, I went in and a nurse handed me one of those shirt-gown things, and asked me to take everything off my torso, including any chains or necklaces. I was allowed to wear my watch and ring. I changed (those shirt things are ingenious) and bundled up my stuff to bring into the room with me when she called me in.

She asked if there was ANY chance I was pregnant, than asked me to stand in front of the white board, set my chin into the groove there, and put my arms around the [thing] and hold onto the bars there. She instructed me to take a deep breath and hold it when instructed to do so. She came over and hung a lead cover off my waist that hung down over my fanny, presumably to protect my reproductive organs from radiation. After she took the X-Ray, she asked me to wait for a moment to make sure it turned out okay, and when it did, I was sent back to put my shirt, etc. back on. She took off the photo from the sheet, and sent me back upstairs. I was to come back in a hour as the X-ray would take that long to develop.

Once there, I waited until the nurse called me in, and she weighed me and had me sign a bunch of forms. She instructed me to take everything off and wait under the paper sheet ("Don't worry, it's thermal!") and I asked if I had to give a urine sample. When she said no, I begged to go to the bathroom. One quick pee later, I was back and stripping down to my skivvies, and under the paper blanket.

Dr. Laity came in, file in hand, greeted me, and asked me a series of questions along the lines of "Have you ever had kidney, asthma, lung, etc. disease, cancer, blah blah blah" (all of which I answered no) and then asked me to sit up so he could take my blood pressure. He was very cheerful and calm, which I appreciated. I warned him to stay away from my overcooked feet for his own safety, which he found very funny. He took my blood pressure, then listened to my heart, and then my lungs, then told me I could lie back down.

While we chatted away, he folded down the sheet and did a breast exam, then quickly poked and prodded my abdomen UNDER the sheet (which I also appreciated), across where my ovaries and uterus were, and then a faint tug at the edge of my pubic bone that reminded me of when men hoist their bits (to make sure they are still there??). The whole 'pelvic/abdomen' part took about 5 seconds, tops. There was no 'internal' exam, if that's what you were asking about.

Then he had me flex my fist while he peered at my vein, then told me to clench. He tied up my forearm, broke out the needle (I was staring at the wall by this time, trying not to hyperventilate) stuck it in my arm, released the tie, and took two small vials of blood (or so he says, seeing as I was NOT watching) to test for HIV and Syphilis. It was mercifully quick and not as painful as it often is. There was NO fumbling with trying to get the dang needle into my vein, which was a refreshing change. He put a cotton pad on it, and told me to put pressure on it, and explained what causes the bruises I normally get.

Then he was off to leave me to put my duds back on, and I went out and chatted with the Nurse. I asked for a bigger band-aid because the one he'd put on the cotton was peeling off. She, my roommate, and I chatted for a bit about various things before we left to go get my X-ray.

They'll be mailing off the results to me shortly, and I left the building with X-Ray in hand. Done.

Which reminds me: Are we allowed to open the X-ray envelop and look at it, and therefore move it to a carrying tube?

Anyway, hope the blow-by-blow saga is helpful to someone!

[Flames9_RN 358]

99.99999999% chance that the xray wil NEVER be required. I have yet to hear about anyone on VJ been asked to show it at Mtl or Van!!! Of course many of us being paronoid bring it to the interview!! Yes many have rolled it up and put it in a tube!! My xray was just tossed in a brown bag unsealed.

[mercy 1]

Oh I'm so glad you posted this! I went to Dr. Laity as well and had meant to write a nice review about him since awhile back someone had said he made them uncomfortable. The nurse/receptionist is wonderful and he is a really kind, funny man. He does do a quick external exam, which both he and the receptionist warn you about. I got the feeling that he is just a "by the books" kind of guy, and if the sheet says he's supposed to do one, he does one. It wasn't inappropriate or uncomfortable and he definitely makes a point to be quick about it. The other nice thing was that it was very easy to get an appointment, I picked the time and day that suited me, and I was the only person there for the immigration medical.

No one will probably ever ask to see your x-ray, but I'd keep it sealed until after the interview just in case. I opened mine up later out of curiosity and have used it to make a couple cyanotypes, but it's mostly been a big, useless pain.

[AngelD 0]

Thanks Galateia!!

An awesome run down of what to expect. I of course thought you meant "internal Pelvic exam" and was just dreading the whole thing. It's bad enough I've had everyone else "examining" my coo**ie (had a baby recently) I really didn't feel up to one more! If it was required-I'd of course do it-but hate it none the less.

I am sure your posting will put many minds at ease. It was quite thourough to say the least!! Makes me almost want to make the commute to London rather stay here in Toronto to have the medical done (but time and cost are always a factor).

Best of luck with the next steps!

Thanks a ton

Angel

[Chiroman 0]

Hey all- this is Chiroman- as I used to post with the name (meliss) I was the one the girl above was referring too, a bad experience. Whatever. He totally felt me in the "area" felt like a grope, was very uncomfortable. I am over it - some one stated he has to check for your identity of sex.....yeah, he knows I am a woman for sure. Yuck.

Anyway he was personable, I guess a nice guy, and I did'nt need my x-rays either.

At least he could have bought me dinner first right????ha. Just kidding. Meliss

[Galateia 1]

Hey all- this is Chiroman- as I used to post with the name (meliss) I was the one the girl above was referring too, a bad experience. Whatever. He totally felt me in the "area" felt like a grope, was very uncomfortable. I am over it - some one stated he has to check for your identity of sex.....yeah, he knows I am a woman for sure. Yuck.

Anyway he was personable, I guess a nice guy, and I did'nt need my x-rays either.

At least he could have bought me dinner first right????ha. Just kidding. Meliss

Hmm. I totally did not get that vibe from him. (And I'm a bit paranoid when it comes to that sort of thing) He was so entirely desexualized that his wedding ring threw me off, until I remembered this is Canada and it could just as easily be from a man as a woman. I'll leave it at that.

I suppose if I thought that wasn't going to be part of the exam it could have been a rude surprise, but I assumed they would be checking for external signs of STDs and was pleasantly surprised I wasn't 'eyeballed' as well.

Edited February 6, 2007 by Galateia

[Emancipation 2]

When I went for my interview I brought my x-ray and the lady at the wicket said I didn't need to bring my x-ray that it was only to give to my new Dr. in the US. She said it is for reference for him/her incase they ever call for another chest x-ray (for their files only). The Medical report would also include the x-ray results - so I just rolled it up put a rubber band around it and had my fiance bring it home to CT. They never asked for it at POE either. Just my 2 cents!