Doctor receives dozens of new patients, questions effectiveness of provincial system

A doctor in Cambridge is happy to have new patients, but the sudden influx has raised concerns surrounding a provincially-run program.

Health Care Connect is supposed to help people living in Ontario find a family doctor.

However, Dr. Binh Van said he was having trouble filling out his roster despite being registered with Health Care Connect.

That all changed when CTV News Kitchener covered his struggles last week.

“The phones rang off [the hook] – just nonstop for three hours until we closed,” Princeton Medical Centre spokesperson Pete Keung said. “There was a rush of 30 to 40 patients that came in and then the next day. It continued all weekend.”

Van said his team has been in touch with Health Care Connect, but they are unaware of anyone who has been directed to his clinic through the website. It wasn’t until his story was broadcast on television and shared online that he started to receive calls from people looking for a primary care physician.

Van also acknowledged the mechanics of the online system might not be ideal for everyone who is looking for a doctor.

“It’s the seniors that move, or new resident to Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, and new immigrants. They don’t know how to get on the government website to find a doctor, so they clog up our hospitals. That’s a problem.”

Sharon McGoldrick is one of the new patients who was able to connect with Van after seeing his story on CTV News Kitchener.

“I need a doctor in this area because I’m new here and that’s why I’m sitting here with you today.”

CTV News Kitchener reached out to the Ministry of Health several times to try to get clarification about how the Health Care Connect system works. The ministry did not provide answers by our deadline.

Meanwhile, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario said they are not involved in the Health Care Connect provider registration process.