Doctors offices accepting new patients near me

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There is a shortage of family doctors in some areas in Ontario. It may take you some time to find a doctor.

A family doctor is also called a general practitioner (GP). Family doctors are usually the first doctors to diagnose and treat most medical problems. If you need to see a specialist doctor, usually, you need a family doctor to refer you. Family doctors also order laboratory and other tests.

Here are a few ways you can look for a family doctor:

• Ask a friend or family member if their doctor is accepting new patients.
• Register with Health Care Connect. This program refers you to a local doctor or nurse practitioner who is accepting new patients. You need to have OHIP to use this service and must not be currently registered with an Ontario family health care provider. It is run by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. You can register with this program by filling out an online form or by calling 1-800-445-1822 (TTY 1-866-797-0007).
• Use the Doctor Search found on the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario website. This search is helpful for finding doctors that speak your language or have a specialization you may need.
• Ask the nearest hospital if it has a family practice unit.
• You can also ask a worker at your local settlement agency. They might have a list of doctors who are accepting new patients or who speak your language. To find help, go to Services Near Me and search for "settlement services" in your area.

When you contact a health care provider's office you should ask if they are accepting new patients.

Where can I get medical help if I don't have a family doctor?

For More Information

• Your Health Care Options - Information and links about your options to get health care in Ontario. You can search the directory by location and type of services. It is run by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
• MD Home Call - These companies can arrange for a doctor to visit your home. If you have OHIP, you do not have to pay. If you do not have OHIP, you have to pay the doctor.
• Refugee HealthLine - Call this line (1-866-286-4770), for free, to register for help in being connected with a health service provider who can assist with initial medical assessments and referral to other health services. This is not an emergency or crisis line.
• Rainbow Health Ontario Service Directory - This directory includes doctors and healthcare professionals who deliver LGBTQIA+ friendly services.

Last updated: March 14, 2022 4001217

Connect with a doctor and care team today.

1.574.213.1050

When you need care, it’s important to have a family doctor who gets to knows you, understands your and your family’s medical issues and cares about meeting your healthcare needs. The doctors and practitioners in Saint Joseph Physician Network offer care for all ages. We can help with everything from screening tests and annual physicals to treatment of injuries and managing chronic conditions such as diabetes and arthritis. We can also be a trusted advisor who answers your most important healthcare questions. 

Our family practices are conveniently located throughout the region so you’re sure to find one close by. In St. Joseph County, we have offices in South Bend, Mishawaka and Granger. In Elkhart County, we have an office in the city of Elkhart. In Marshall County, we have offices in Plymouth, Bourbon, Bremen and Culver.

For an appointment with one of our family medicine physicians or practitioners, call 1.574.203.5809 today.

Find a family doctor or nurse practitioner

A family doctor or nurse practitioner is your primary health care provider – meaning they are the person you make an appointment with when you have a new, non-emergency health concern. You can learn more about their services below.

Visits to a doctor or nurse practitioner are publicly funded – meaning you don’t have to pay.

Here are two options to find a family doctor or nurse practitioner who is accepting new patients:

1. Register with our Health Care Connect service and have a nurse find a doctor or nurse practitioner for you.
2. Contact an Ontario physician to ask if they are accepting new patients.
   1. Use The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario’s Find a Doctor search.
   2. Choose “Advanced Search” to find a doctor near you (by city/town or postal code).
   3. Click on “Additional Search Options” to narrow your search (to family doctors and/or language spoken).
   4. Contact the doctor to check if they are accepting new patients.

What family doctors and nurse practitioners can do

A family doctor and a nurse practitioner can provide:

• diagnosis and treatment for common illnesses and injuries
• referrals to health care specialists who can help with a specific condition
• support in managing a chronic condition (such as diabetes or high blood pressure)
• prescriptions for medication
• regular check-ups including physicals and routine screening tests (e.g., for cancer)

Learn more about nurse practitioner-led clinics.

Have a nurse find you a doctor or nurse practitioner through Health Care Connect

Register for Health Care Connect and a nurse will search for a doctor or nurse practitioner who is accepting new patients in your community.

Register for Health Care Connect online

Or register by phone at 1-800-445-1822, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

About 88% of people who join the program find a family health care provider this way, however, joining Health Care Connect does not guarantee that:

• a family health care provider will be found for you – those who need urgent care will be placed with a family health care provider first
• one family health care provider can take your whole family

See a detailed breakdown, by region and level of health need, that shows who has found a family health care provider through Heath Care Connect.

Who can use the program

To use Health Care Connect, you must:

• not currently have a family health care provider (learn how to remove yourself from your current provider’s patient list)
• have a valid Ontario health card
• have an up-to-date mailing address associated with your health card (here’s how to update it if you need to)

How to join the program

You can sign up for yourself and your whole family or for someone else (with written permission).

1. To sign up for the program, you’ll be asked for your name, health card number and some basic health information that will help determine your health needs.

   There are two ways you can give this information and sign up:

   1. Visit Health Care Connect online at any time
   2. Call 1-800-445-1822 from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

2. Your request will be given to a Health Care Connect nurse in your community and they will:

   • review your request
   • try to find you the right family health care provider in your community who is accepting new patients
   • contact you if a provider is found for you, and give you their contact information

3. Contact the provider that’s been found for you as soon as possible – if you choose not to make them your provider and want Health Care Connect to keep looking, you will have to register again.

If you currently have a family health care provider

You can only join Health Care Connect if you don’t have a family health care provider. If you would like to use Health Care Connect to switch to a new family health care provider, you must first take yourself off the patient list of your current one. There are two ways to do this:

1. contact your family health care provider directly
2. call ServiceOntario – 1-888-218-9929 (TTY: 1-800-387-5559)

Find a doctor by name or specialty

Visit the sites below if you are looking for a specialist in a particular field.

• Search by name, location and specialty on the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario’s All doctors search
• Find a nurse by name or registration number, by the College of Nurses of Ontario
• Dentist search, by the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario
• Find an optometrist, by the College of Optometrists of Ontario
• List of colleges for all regulated health professions in Ontario
• Find other types of health services near you

For health care professionals

To join Health Care Connect or speak with the Care Connector in your community, contact your local Home and Community Care Support Services organization.

How do I see a new doctor?

How can I find a family doctor?

How do I change from one doctor to another?

How do I get new patients in my clinic?