Dr. Cheema Review

[Allison and James 9]

Just finished my medical in Vancouver, in anticipation for my interview at the end of the month.

​Here is the rundown, and what my experience was like.

Appointment with Dr. Cheema: Monday 7:00 AM
​GET THE EARLY APPOINTMENT TO SAVE TIME.

​​Living on Vancouver Island, I had to go over the day before. ​Met my brother for dinner and he drove me to the hotel. It was The Best Western, 8033 King George Blvd.
​Nice hotel, nothing fancy. Paid $165 for the night.

Was awake at 5 AM as per my usual schedule. Wasted time then was ready at 6 to go. (Ya ya ya...I am one of those type of guys)
Went to the lobby and got a taxi called, and it came immediately. I was at the office by 6:15. $12 taxi ride.

​I looked in windows, then went back to the office by 6:30. The receptionist came to the door to ask if I had an appointment. When she found out I did, she brought me in to start the paperwork. So freaking cool to get it out of the way early. I handed over everything that was needed, checked her paperwork to make sure that it was all correct, then sat down for 5 minutes.
I was taken ​for my weight and height, then got put in a room. Dr. Cheema entered the room a minute later, introduced himself and took me out to do my eyes. a couple of lines on the wall, then back to the office. He started banging out questions, and signing things off super fast. He checked blood pressure, and checked my heart beat. He asked more questions....medical history...drugs...blah blah blah. All went fast and by 7:10 I was in the lobby getting paperwork for the next place.
​Taxi was called and showed up immediately. 7 minutes and $12 later I was at the next building. Since it was 7:20, I went to the blood clinic. Took my number then was immediately called. Paperwork checked, went around the corner, jabbed with a needle, blood drawn, and boom...finished.
​Went downstairs, and since the x-ray place doesn't open until 8 am, I had to wait 35 minutes.
​1 person in front of me, and the doors opened at 8 sharp. Handed paperwork, sat down for 2 minutes then taken into a room. Shirt off, up against the x-ray thing.....dude went behind the partition and 30 seconds later I was at the front desk. Got a taxi called and rechecked the paperwork.
​Appointment at 7am, 3 stops and a taxi ride, and done by 8:10, including waiting 30 minutes for the x-ray place to open.

​Taxi came immediately and took me the skytrain, $18. Paid, up the escalator and into a waiting train.
Train to downtown Vancouver, turned the corner and an express bus was waiting to go to Horseshoe Bay.
​Boarded bus, landed in Horseshoe Bay, and ran to catch the ferry.
AMAZING timing for the day. 7 AM appointment in Surrey, a stop to get tests, and on a ferry back home at 9:55.

All in all a real breeze. Fast, efficient and professional. As with every step if this crazy journey, there are concerns that something might come up...the fear of the unknown that will delay things. (We have all had those thought - admit it)

​Now the interview on August 31st in Montreal and hopefully home very soon with my baby, her son, and our dog. (Plus my golf clubs - I miss those guys)

​If anyone has any questions, please feel free to pm me, and I will answer them the best that I can.

[kris1915 8]

Hey there, thanks for posting on this. I go to Dr. Cheema month end. So, you had to go to another location? I wasn't anticipating having to travel beyond Dr. Cheema's clinic.

Glad it went smooth.

[Allison and James 9]

Yes. For the X-ray and blood tests, you have to go a few blocks away. Basically a straight shot from Dr. Cheema's office.
Where are you coming in from?

[kris1915 8]

How odd. Yes, I emailed yesterday after I had seen your post and they told me. I am coming by Sky Train! LOL. Flying in from Calgary in the morning. I have a friend picking me up so I may convince them to taxi me over to get my bloodwork done.

[*FishF00D* 45]

Thanks for the detailed review!
I'll be seeing Cheema sometime soon and I'm curious - did he ask you to provide any medical records outside of your vaccinations?

His website seems to suggest that you only need to provide records if you have a history of chronic illness/major surgery, so I'm wondering if he simply asked whether or not that's the case - or if he needed medical records to verify a clean bill of health.

I'm asking because I'm not living in my hometown where I'd have access to request medical records (and going back 15+ years of documentation to when everything was filed on paper would be a hassle for everyone!) so if I don't need to jump through that hoop then that's ideal hahah

Thanks!

[mdcatelli 16]

Thanks for the detailed review!

I'll be seeing Cheema sometime soon and I'm curious - did he ask you to provide any medical records outside of your vaccinations?

His website seems to suggest that you only need to provide records if you have a history of chronic illness/major surgery, so I'm wondering if he simply asked whether or not that's the case - or if he needed medical records to verify a clean bill of health.

I'm asking because I'm not living in my hometown where I'd have access to request medical records (and going back 15+ years of documentation to when everything was filed on paper would be a hassle for everyone!) so if I don't need to jump through that hoop then that's ideal hahah

Thanks!

Mine was a year ago, but no I did not have to supply any additional medical records besides the vaccination records.

[zilchfox 296]

Oh my god.

I just reading your review and it and didn't know there were THREE different places to go. Dr. Cheema's and the blood work was all done as expected, and when I was at the blood work I asked about the X-ray and they were like "what x-ray?", and I thought that was a little weird. Afterwards I re-checked the Packet 4 and it said that the x-ray was optional, so I shrugged and went back to my friends place. After reviewing your post I had kinda freaked out once I got to the x-ray portion. Oh god. It's not done yet and I'm afraid I messed things up! Shuffling through the papers I now see I had an appointment yesterday for the place you mentioned...I'm gonna be going by there again today to see if they will admit me, and then stop by Dr. Cheema's to explain I was confused and what the next steps are. I was hoping to have the sealed packet today, but I guess not.

Geez, I'm glad I drove from Calgary and didn't fly...

Edited September 13, 2016 by zilchfox

[zilchfox 296]

Well, quick update: All will be okay. Got the x-ray done today and the office of Dr. Cheema thinks things should still be ready today, but at latest tomorrow.. whew..