Medical review - Vancouver

[~Nini~ 2]

*rubs eyes*

So, today was my medical exam at #250-1144 Burrard Street to see Dr. Ian Morgan. I get there at the (obnoxious) hour of 5.30am in the morning after catching the first Translink bus, and waited outside the locked gate as the lucky first arrival. A few others showed up and at about 6am someone opened the gate for us, and we went to sit in the lobby until the office opened up.

At about 6.15am we were allowed to wait in the reception area outside #250. We were given numbers according to arrival time, and were given a waiver form and medical history sheet to fill out. Afterwards at 6.45am, we went to get our blood tests done in the adjacent building (we walked through a little walkway) and groups of four were taken into a room separated by dividers for each seat. The guy who took our vials of blood was really friendly and energetic which was nice. Then we were hauled back to the reception area to wait to take our x-rays.

For the x-ray they ask that you strip from the waist up and put on a little hospital gown. One of the other girls and I didn't know which way to put it on so we just tied it in the front. We were led individually into the x-ray room, where the technician gave me a lead sheet to cover me from the waist down. That was finished at 7.20am - we were allowed to go off and do our own thing till the doctor arrived at 8am.

At that time I was called in and taken to a little room and asked to take everything but undergarments off. I was pleasantly surprised to hear that one of the nurses would also be in the room during the exam since the doc was male. He was an extremely friendly guy and asked me lots of questions (both medical and about my move) during the 5-minute checkup, which was a general exam. Afterwards, I was measured for my height and weight and my eyes were checked (I need new glasses ). Then I paid my bill (yay $275) and that was that!

The funniest parts were when the bunch of us were waiting outside the lab and someone mentioned VJ - and everyone kept referring to me as the person that knew what she was doing. I guess reading all those reviews helped! There were a few who hadn't quite collected what they needed - one girl had forgotten her vaccination records, another couple hadn't brought their visa photos along. Overall I'm glad that the medical clinic had sent me an email with instructions as to what I should bring.

Also, we kept shuffling around together like cows marching around a slaughterhouse. It's definitely been an interesting morning, but I get to pick up my results at 2pm today.

[vanee 13]

Thanks for the review.

It was especially interesting for me because I could have been there today. When I booked my medical appointment, I was offered this date, but I decided to delay mine until August, which will be closer to my interview date. (We're waiting for some documents to arrive before we book our interview.)

...and waited outside the locked gate as the lucky first arrival. A few others showed up and at about 6am someone opened the gate for us, and we went to sit in the lobby until the office opened up.

I've been to that medical building, and I don't remember any gate. Just curious...where is the gate?

Edited June 27, 2007 by vanee

[~Nini~ 2]

It's a huge black gate which blocks the walkway to the entrance of the building. I think they only use it when the building is closed, though - otherwise you just walk up the walkway and into the lobby.

[L_n_O 3]

=) yay! you did your medical !!

honestly happy that that's over for you

[Eka_&_Pyrrhic 0]

I was thinkin' of you today - glad everything went well. Sounds fairly painless, actually. =)

[Marilyn. 340]

i remember when I went for my medical, they told us to come back around 2pm for the results , so I went out and grabbed something to eat and came back to the building between 12:30pm and 1pm and for lack of anything else to do I went back up to the lobby waiting area... I was there for all of about 15 minutes and when the lady called my name and I went and she gave me my results... It was just me and another girl in the waiting area at that time and she got hers too... not sure how the lady knew who we were but maybe she could tell by the passport picture...

[~Nini~ 2]

I was thinkin' of you today - glad everything went well. Sounds fairly painless, actually. =)

Oh Eka - I totally thought of you too! There was a girl who was also making the trip down to NC and for a split second I was like "That can't be her!" Alas, she had never heard of World of Warcraft.

[Eka_&_Pyrrhic 0]

What a hilarious coincidence!

[Lance27 19]

Great review. It will definately be helpful for those doing Medicals with Dr. Morgan

...On to the interview now

Edited June 28, 2007 by Lance27

[~Nini~ 2]

I just wanted to add that when I was picking up my results on Wednesday afternoon, I was also given a copy of my vaccination records for future AOS. The medical results envelope (just a regular business letter size) was sealed with a big "U.S. Consulate Do Not Open" stamp and the not-that-impressive-and-big x-ray came in a nice brown envelope.

I also recommend that you don't be late in picking your results up! My bus ran late and when I arrived at 2.15pm the nurses were already leaving for the day. Luckily the office had left the results next door at the x-ray clinic and I went home a relieved clam.