Healthcare in Quebec.

[lleahdoll]

Hi! I am on my way to becoming a PR. Hopefully by the end of the year or the beginning of 2015. I have no clue about the healthcare here and my husband doesn't know how to explain it. Basically since it's all he knows (I explained to him about family doctors and insurance in the US. Or medicaid if you're poor.).
I read something about how it's hard to get a family doctor. I guess that's what my husband has but he also goes to a clinic if he's sick or something else is wrong.
How do gynecologists work here? Would I just go to a clinic and ask for a gyno examination? And what about getting tested for STDs? I'm due for a gyno exam so I want to get one as soon as I can after I get my health card.
Any help would be great! I already read stuff on ramq.gouv.qc.ca but there wasn't much besides general information.

 

[Leon]

Hi! I am on my way to becoming a PR. Hopefully by the end of the year or the beginning of 2015. I have no clue about the healthcare here and my husband doesn't know how to explain it. Basically since it's all he knows (I explained to him about family doctors and insurance in the US. Or medicaid if you're poor.).
I read something about how it's hard to get a family doctor. I guess that's what my husband has but he also goes to a clinic if he's sick or something else is wrong.
How do gynecologists work here? Would I just go to a clinic and ask for a gyno examination? And what about getting tested for STDs? I'm due for a gyno exam so I want to get one as soon as I can after I get my health card.
Any help would be great! I already read stuff on ramq.gouv.qc.ca but there wasn't much besides general information.

Healthcare in Canada generally works on referral. You have one family doctor or GP and they refer you to specialists as needed. You can look for family doctors where you live, there may be a website helping you to find one or you can ask people you know if they have one. Sometimes a family doc that is not taking new patients will take one if referred to him by an existing patient. Otherwise, you can go to the clinic with your husband. There are plenty of walk-in clinics but you can even have your family doc at one of them. The clinic would have your file so even if you don't see the same doctor each time, they would have your records and be able to look them up. You may ask for the same doctor each time you go there or only come there when this doctor is working or you can see different doctors that work at this clinic. Before you ask for a referral to a specialist, you may want to ask people you or your husband know to find a good one or you may call their offices and ask what their waiting lists are like before you decide who you want to be referred to. When you go to your GP to get the referral, if you don't have a name of a specialist, they will pick one for you.