Clinic Policies
To ensure our clinic is running smoothly and your family has a positive and experience that maximizes the time spent with your healthcare provider, we kindly ask that all patients review the following information.
Primary Care:
The physicians at Sage Fox Medical Consultants work as consultant based specialists. This means they provide an opinion or advice on the evaluation or management of the specific issue for which the individual was referred. Once the issue has been addressed and/or resolved they will be discharged and sent back to the primary care physician.
It is strongly suggested that every patient has a primary care physician/family doctor as our physicians are not in clinic every day nor do they provide primary care. If you need help finding a primary care physician please visit the following link: albertafindadoctor.ca
Missed Appointment or Late Cancellation Policy :
Definition of a Missed or Late Cancellation Appointment:
Sage Fox Medical Consultants defines a late cancelation appointment as any scheduled appointment in which the patient either:
Does not arrive to the appointment
Cancels with less than 2 business day's notice
Arrives more than 15 minutes late and is consequently unable to be seen
To ensure timely access to care for all patients:
Our staff aims to provide all patients with appointment confirmations 48-72 hours prior to their appointment time. Appointment reminders are a courtesy and not a guarantee.
If you cannot make your scheduled appointment, it is expected that you will advise the clinic as soon as possible. Patients are requested to give a minimum of 2 business day's notice to cancel or rebook their appointment.
If it is less than one business day before your appointment and an emergency comes up, please give us the courtesy of a phone call. Your physician may be able to offer a phone follow-up in lieu of your appointment.
Patients may be charged a late cancelation or missed appointment fee of $100 for new consultations and $50 for follow-up visits. Payment can be made in person by Visa, MasterCard, Debit, cash (exact change only) or cheque, by e-transfer to admin@sagefoxmedical.ca, or by mail via cheque.
Patients who miss multiple appointments without a reasonable explanation may be discharged from the practice at Sage Fox Medical Consultants.
Virtual Care and Secure Messaging
Our clinic uses virtual care technology to communicate with patients, including video visits, audio calls, and secure messaging through our Ocean Portal. The information exchanged with these tools may be confidential and personal in nature.
Virtual care has some inherent privacy and security risks that your health information may be intercepted or unintentionally disclosed.
In order to improve privacy and confidentiality, you should also take steps prior to participating in a virtual care encounter to ensure you are within a private setting. You should not use an employer's or someone else's computer/device as they may be able to access your information.
If it is determined that you require a physical exam, you may still need to be assessed in person, a follow-up appointment may be arranged with your physician.
You should also understand that virtual care is not a substitute for attending the emergency department if urgent care is needed.
Non-Insured Services
Several of the services that physicians provide are not covered by Alberta Health Care. Therefore, the cost of these services is charged to patients. It is a regular standard of practice in Alberta, to ensure physicians are compensated for the significant amount of time (outside of clinic time) to provide these services. The prices are based on suggestions from the Alberta Medical Association. Payment for these services are due upon receipt of the service. Payment can be made in person by Visa, MasterCard, Debit, or cash (exact change only) or by mail via cheque or over the phone with Visa or Mastercard. There is a $40 charge for all NSF cheques.
Third Party Examinations
These are examinations requested by a third party such as pre-employment physicals, letters, driver's medicals, camp physicals, parking placard, disability tax credit, AISH, etc. If there is a form that needs to be filled out, it is probably a "third-party examination." The fee for this service will be $35 - $120 depending on the extent of the required examination and the complexity of the form.