Medical At Medisys

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

The Medisys office is located on the 12^th floor of the Desjardins Bank Building (on the south side

of St. Clair Ave. between Avenue Road and Yonge Street at Deer Park Crescent). It looks like

you might expect a bank building to look, large and imposing. Upon exiting the elevator I was

greeting by the sight of a waiting area that was "walled" off from the elevator area by a frosted glass partition on the right and a desk and reception area that would have looked at home in a Bay Street lawyer's office. In short the place looked like what it was, the floor of an office building. I noticed a total lack of signage of any sort. Undaunted and being of the male persuasion I chose to eschew aid in direction finding and proceeded to the waiting area in search of a sign. I passed through the waiting area and noticed an office with 3 women. In my most dulcet tone (for me, I usually sound like a professional wrestler or an angry truck driver) I asked if this was where I needed to go for the US Immigration physical and was told to go back through the waiting area, past the elevators to the reception desk. That's when the fun began. At first the people at reception desk refused to proceed with the interview since I did not have the interview letters, even though I had the case numbers. After much argument, I finally got the person in charge to allow me to fax in the interview notice when I got home. Apparently the Consulate is placing a great deal of pressure on panel physicians to get reassurance that the case number is correct and place a copy of said letter in the file. Anyways I was given two clipboards to fill out (one for each parent). The document consisted of two pages, the first page had all the typical questions (medications, illnesses, surgeries, etc.) Make a list of medications and any medical conditions ahead of time and you will save a great deal of time and effort. It is also a good idea to keep a copy of this info on your person at all times, just in case something happens to you (knock on wood!) . I was just about finished filling out the forms when we were called in to the same office I had seen the three women in when I first arrived. I was accompanied by my two brothers since Heath Street (two streets north) has free one hour parking between 9-4 and the parking enforcement people tend to show up after 3:30. The three ladies started looking over the pages from the clipboard and asked for the case numbers, where my parents had lived, immunizations records (they really appreciated the fact that we brought these along), etc. I was then asked to write the names of my parents on their respective photos. They then took the three photos and handed out two (one for each parent) urine specimen bottles. I found the three nurse quite friendly and pleasant. The men's washroom is just outside the waiting area to the right and the women's washroom is through the waiting area, straight ahead and to the right of the reception area. Shortly thereafter a nurse came and got my father. She didn't need me to accompany him she told me, though not in a belligerent manner. My two brothers accompanied my mother. After about 10 minutes a nurse came out and gave me my mother's immunization record. After another 10 minutes of waiting for my father's immunization record to be returned, I wandered off in search of him. I proceeded to the right of the receptionist and down a circuitous path until I found him and one of my brothers waiting for an examination room to open up. Apparently Dr. Seit, who does the physicals, only uses rooms 1, 3 and 4. My mother and other brother were waiting for Dr. Seit in room 3. I found out that my mother and father had already had their blood drawn and were given their x-ray forms with one of the three photos stapled on top. I started to talk to my brother, who was across the hall in the examination room with my mother, when a curt (I'm being very polite here) nurse cut into our conversation. She started ranting and raving about how we'd have to wait. My brother decided it was time to pull rank, started speaking in his most conciliatory tone and gave her his business card. It's funny how two little letters after your name changes people's attitudes. Shortly thereafter an examination became available and my father (who was given a paper gown to change into) and me waited for Dr. Seit to appear. After 10 minutes he did. He checked my father's blood pressure with a tattered ratty looking cuff (which presumably was accurate since the wall mounted part of the syphygmomanometer looked OK), probed with both an otoscope (ears) and an ophthalmoscopose (eyes), throat, palpated and percussed his abdomen, auscultated the heart and lungs and after a quick peek at the naughty bits (quick tug of the waistband) and he was done. He didn't ask much, just about previous surgeries and existing illnesses, how long he was on various medications and looked at the medication list I prepared (it made his job much easier) and that was all he asked. As we were walking out to reception we passed the same nurse who was suddenly smiling and friendly. At the reception we picked up Mom and Pop's passports and paid the $191.50 for each and steeled ourselves for the trip to Dr. Tongue's 3-D House of Roentgenography.

The x-ray facility is located at 1849 Yonge Street just north of the Miles Heating Oil sign (which is no longer in operation, bummer!) on the east side. The closest cross street is Balliol, since the entrance is on the north-west corner of the block and Balliol Street is no more than 30 feet north of this. Take the elevator to the basement or the stairs and pass through the glass door. It's your first turn on the right and be prepared to wait. We waited for around 45 minutes along with all sorts of other potential emigrants. The change rooms were down the hall and on the left for the Women and a double right turn for the Men. You change into a gown and wait for approximately 15-20 minutes and get called into the x-ray room. After the x-ray you are asked to wait 2 minutes and that's it. I don't know in what form the x-rays are but I saw a CD burner in one of the rooms, whether this is for OHIP procedures or for all patients, I don't know. I spoke to one gentleman who recognized me from the Medisys office. We spoke about Dr. Seiden and he also expressed his unease with paying a doctor in cash and having an appointment at 7AM. I just pointed out that I had heard from several doctors who had expressed their concern about Dr. Seiden's abilities. After the 2 minutes were up we wandered out into the late afternoon traffic. We started at two and were finished at five. There are some things you can do to make things much easier and more bearable no matter where you get the medical done. You should realize that these places are, by their very nature, busy. So take it easy and have your medication list and immunization record at hand. Also have someone come along who went to the same matchbox medical school as Drs. Seit and Seiden.

What more can I say, c'est ca.

[Misty1979 0]

Nice review, and very detailed! I have to start wondering exactly what I paid for though, after reading your review. I payed $265 in Vancouver and no one sneaked a peek at my "naughty bits"!

Edited October 25, 2007 by Misty1979

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

Nice review, and very detailed! I have to start wondering exactly what I paid for though, after reading your review. I payed $265 in Vancouver and no one sneaked a peek at my "naughty bits"!

Thanks for your comments concerning my review but I think in Vancouver you need to go to Davy Street to have someone peek at your naughty bits.

[Misty1979 0]

Nice review, and very detailed! I have to start wondering exactly what I paid for though, after reading your review. I payed $265 in Vancouver and no one sneaked a peek at my "naughty bits"!

Thanks for your comments concerning my review but I think in Vancouver you need to go to Davy Street to have someone peek at your naughty bits.

[SpiritAlight 1]

It's Davie Street and only if you're male.

Ha!

Oooouuu I just do not like hospitals/clinics...it sounds like hell.

[trailmix 77]

lol

Good review IR5, he makes it sound not so scary Spirit, maybe you can get his brother to go with you?

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

It's Davie Street and only if you're male.

Ha!

Oooouuu I just do not like hospitals/clinics...it sounds like hell.

You're absolutely right about the spelling (too many windows open at the same time and I have enough trouble spelling my own name ) but I wouldn't know about such places.

I don't think it was hell, but, come to think of it, I believe there was a sign as I exited the elevator, "All hope abandon ye who enter here."

[SpiritAlight 1]

lol

Good review IR5, he makes it sound not so scary Spirit, maybe you can get his brother to go with you?

Maybe all three brothers to hold me down so I don't hurt anyone.

Bahahaha!!!

I am terrified of needles.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Do you need to get a flu shot?

I believe it would make me get the flu forever after.

I don't get sick.

Edited October 25, 2007 by SpiritAlight

[trailmix 77]

lol

Good review IR5, he makes it sound not so scary Spirit, maybe you can get his brother to go with you?

Maybe all three brothers to hold me down so I don't hurt anyone.

Bahahaha!!!

I am terrified of needles.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Do you need to get a flu shot?

I believe it would make me get the flu forever after.

I don't get sick.

If they do, since you have such a good immune system it will just chew it up and spit it out (I know there is no scientific data to back this up - it's the - world according to trailmix at this moment - or WATTATM for short).

I never minded needles, but it seems that a lot of people do, wonder what the difference is.

Edited October 25, 2007 by trailmix

[SpiritAlight 1]

...

I never minded needles, but it seems that a lot of people do, wonder what the difference is.

You are brave?

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

...

I never minded needles, but it seems that a lot of people do, wonder what the difference is.

You are brave?

Or comfortably numb?

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

Picked up the medicals from Medisys yesterday. A business envelope stapled to the larger x-ray envelope. From what I could see of the insides of the business envelope (with a flashlight), it contains one of the passport pictures stapled to the form I saw earlier. No big surprise, although the receptionist was quite adamant about not even bending the envelopes let alone opening them. There are huge red stamps on the envelopes warning me not to open the envelopes.

[SpiritAlight 1]

Picked up the medicals from Medisys yesterday. A business envelope stapled to the larger x-ray envelope. From what I could see of the insides of the business envelope (with a flashlight), it contains one of the passport pictures stapled to the form I saw earlier. No big surprise, although the receptionist was quite adamant about not even bending the envelopes let alone opening them. There are huge red stamps on the envelopes warning me not to open the envelopes.

Flashlight, huh?

What, no steam??

[bradcanuck 1]

My friend lived right down near Stanley park by the Boathouse Restaurant. Davies was always avoided. I am way too cute to be taken advantage of.

[trailmix 77]

...

I never minded needles, but it seems that a lot of people do, wonder what the difference is.

You are brave?

Or comfortably numb?

more the latter probably your flashlight endeavor made me laugh.