Finding Health Care Professionals
Finding a DoctorFinding a doctor that is accepting new patients can sometimes be challenging. Here are some ways to help find a physician:
- Call the Physician Information Line at 902-424-3047
- Lists of doctors accepting new patients are sometimes available from hospitals
- Doctors are listed in the yellow pages
- Family clinics often can refer you to doctors
- Visit the Department of Health's Family Physicians Accepting New Patients
One point to consider when looking for a doctor is, are they male or female, and would you have a preference? If you can’t find a doctor and are experiencing health problems, you should visit a hospital emergency department.
Finding a Dentist or OptometristFinding a dentist or optometrist is usually easier than finding a doctor. They are usually more willing to take on new patients because they only see patients once or twice a year. Some even advertise that they are accepting new patients. All dentists and optometrists are listed in the phone directory or yellow pages under dentists or optometrists.
DentistsVisits to the dentist for a routine examination and cleaning are recommended every 6 months. Similar to vision examinations, dental coverage is provided by MSI for children up to the last day of the month of their tenth birthday. Yet not all services are covered.
For a routine check up, the approximate cost for an adult in Nova Scotia is $100.00. For a child, the cost is usually about $70.00. This does not include any additional procedures that may be required after an examination.
Relevant LinksNova Scotia Dental AssociationOptometristsA visit to the optometrist or eye doctor is recommended once every two years to maintain and monitor healthy eyes. In Nova Scotia, bi-annual vision analysis coverage is available for children up to their tenth birthday. It is also available for persons over the age of 65.
Approximate costs for routine eye exams in Nova Scotia are $62.00 for an adult and $57.00 for a child over age 10. If the patient is a contact lens wearer, the cost is approximately $72.00, as a more extensive examination is required. These costs do not include additional procedures or the cost of corrective lenses that may be required upon examination.
Relevant LinksNova Scotia Association of Optometrists