Medical in Vancouver today!

[Quail 0]

So I'm a total forum leech who asks a million questions and everyone is always so helpful so here's my turn to try to make myself useful. I had my medical done at the Woking Clinic in Vancouver today so I'm going to whip up a quick review of how it all went...

I arrived at the clinic about 10 minutes "early" at 6:20 and was told to grab a number and have a seat and wait. There were 18 people that had arrived before me (I know because I was number 19 ^.^) And I scanned but didn't recognize anyone from VJ. Anyhow.. at exactly 6:30 one of the extremely friendly nurses at the front desk had us all line up in numerical order and handed us each a consent form and a medical history sheet to fill out. Upon turning them in, they collected our documents and verified birthdays and case numbers. Then we were sent into another area of the building to get our bloodwork done. They were calling in 2 or 3 people at a time - also in numerical order- and I was called in around 7:05. The lab techs were also friendly and efficient and they open the clinic early on Wednesdays just for us immigration people. After I had my blood taken, I went back to the main waiting room in front of the clinic and waited for my number to be called to have my chest xray done. I didn't like this part one bit! We were asked to change into xray - smock type things that were very breezy and left your back exposed even when properly tied up. No one else seemed to mind but I didn't feel terribly comfortable standing in a lineup with my nips poking through the front of my smock (it was cold!).

Anyway, waited in line for that for about 5 minutes and had my xray done. Basically, you just go into a room with an xray tech, he asks you to put your chest against a screen, has you push your elbows forward and snaps the xray. Cake. Then back to the change room where my bra and tshirt and sweater were waiting for me!

I finished my xrays a little after 7:40 and was sent back to the main waiting room... to wait. And wait. I was called into the doctors office just a little past 9:40 and was given something akin to a bath towel sized napkin and told to undress down to my panties and wrap the paper sheet around me. I wasn't expecting this! I was thinking a little breathing with the stethoscope up my shirt, some Q&A and maybe a quick peek in my ears... I was wrong! So I'm all sitting in my undies, desperately holding the monster napkin around me and the Doc walks in with one of the female nurses. (I remember hearing that when a male doctor is examining a patient, a female nurse has to be present in the room but this is the first time I have been exposed to it) The doctor introduced himself (Bill? Bob? I forget) and was super friendly and made pleasant small talk through the whole awkward ordeal... making it a little less awkward. He asked me about my fiance and where we were going to be living, what I do for work, when was the wedding etc. The nurse (Lauren, I think?) was also really nice and chatty. As far as the exam goes, he did look in my ears and mouth, checked my neck, listened to my chest, asked me about some of my medical history and checked my stomach. Then it was done and I was told I could put my clothes back on and head back to the reception area.

The same nurse that was in the room during the physical exam weighed me and checked my height and also did a quick vision test.. and then that was it! I ended up leaving the office at exactly 11:00 am and was told to come back at 2 and pick up my results. (which were negative for all bad stuff, by the way )

Overall, it really wasn't that bad. As I mentioned, the staff are all so great- they are personable and I really liked how they made an effort to address everyone by name. I don't know how they all manage to be so upbeat at 6:30 in the morning but I am glad they are because it really made the whole experience more comfortable for me.

a few tips: don't try to jump ahead of people in line. As I witnessed today, even if you do manage to sneak in and get your blood work or xray done before your number is called, you still end up waiting until the doctor calls you in and that's done numerically, based on the number you were given when you arrived. Nice Try.

There is a Blenz Coffee just outside the building and to the right - they provided me with a cheap breakfast this morning.

Have all your paperwork ready! They appreciate it and it prevents you from being sent back and losing your spot in line.

So that's it. I hope this helps someone, somewhere out there in VJ land. Thanks again to everyone who has been so patient with me and all my questions <3

Next stop: Interview Sept 14th!

[Carlawarla 1]

Congratulations on having that over with! I had my medical done in Saskatoon three years ago when they were doing medicals there. Much different than any of the last few posters who have had them done in major centres where it sounds like an assembly line! Best of luck at your interview!

Edited August 27, 2009 by Carlawarla

[minnew 4]

Good luck with your interview Quail! That sounds like how the medical went for me as well! They are so friendly and down to earth. There was someone else from VJ there!! Jauque! and I think GTB-Micheal. Jauque had her interview on Tuesday, medical yesterday and hopefully is picking up the Visa today!!

Oh how I wish there was still a doctor in SK for immigration medicals!

Edited August 27, 2009 by minnew

[mishi 0]

So I'm a total forum leech who asks a million questions and everyone is always so helpful so here's my turn to try to make myself useful. I had my medical done at the Woking Clinic in Vancouver today so I'm going to whip up a quick review of how it all went...

I arrived at the clinic about 10 minutes "early" at 6:20 and was told to grab a number and have a seat and wait. There were 18 people that had arrived before me (I know because I was number 19 ^.^) And I scanned but didn't recognize anyone from VJ. Anyhow.. at exactly 6:30 one of the extremely friendly nurses at the front desk had us all line up in numerical order and handed us each a consent form and a medical history sheet to fill out. Upon turning them in, they collected our documents and verified birthdays and case numbers. Then we were sent into another area of the building to get our bloodwork done. They were calling in 2 or 3 people at a time - also in numerical order- and I was called in around 7:05. The lab techs were also friendly and efficient and they open the clinic early on Wednesdays just for us immigration people. After I had my blood taken, I went back to the main waiting room in front of the clinic and waited for my number to be called to have my chest xray done. I didn't like this part one bit! We were asked to change into xray - smock type things that were very breezy and left your back exposed even when properly tied up. No one else seemed to mind but I didn't feel terribly comfortable standing in a lineup with my nips poking through the front of my smock (it was cold!).

Anyway, waited in line for that for about 5 minutes and had my xray done. Basically, you just go into a room with an xray tech, he asks you to put your chest against a screen, has you push your elbows forward and snaps the xray. Cake. Then back to the change room where my bra and tshirt and sweater were waiting for me!

I finished my xrays a little after 7:40 and was sent back to the main waiting room... to wait. And wait. I was called into the doctors office just a little past 9:40 and was given something akin to a bath towel sized napkin and told to undress down to my panties and wrap the paper sheet around me. I wasn't expecting this! I was thinking a little breathing with the stethoscope up my shirt, some Q&A and maybe a quick peek in my ears... I was wrong! So I'm all sitting in my undies, desperately holding the monster napkin around me and the Doc walks in with one of the female nurses. (I remember hearing that when a male doctor is examining a patient, a female nurse has to be present in the room but this is the first time I have been exposed to it) The doctor introduced himself (Bill? Bob? I forget) and was super friendly and made pleasant small talk through the whole awkward ordeal... making it a little less awkward. He asked me about my fiance and where we were going to be living, what I do for work, when was the wedding etc. The nurse (Lauren, I think?) was also really nice and chatty. As far as the exam goes, he did look in my ears and mouth, checked my neck, listened to my chest, asked me about some of my medical history and checked my stomach. Then it was done and I was told I could put my clothes back on and head back to the reception area.

The same nurse that was in the room during the physical exam weighed me and checked my height and also did a quick vision test.. and then that was it! I ended up leaving the office at exactly 11:00 am and was told to come back at 2 and pick up my results. (which were negative for all bad stuff, by the way )

Overall, it really wasn't that bad. As I mentioned, the staff are all so great- they are personable and I really liked how they made an effort to address everyone by name. I don't know how they all manage to be so upbeat at 6:30 in the morning but I am glad they are because it really made the whole experience more comfortable for me.

a few tips: don't try to jump ahead of people in line. As I witnessed today, even if you do manage to sneak in and get your blood work or xray done before your number is called, you still end up waiting until the doctor calls you in and that's done numerically, based on the number you were given when you arrived. Nice Try.

There is a Blenz Coffee just outside the building and to the right - they provided me with a cheap breakfast this morning.

Have all your paperwork ready! They appreciate it and it prevents you from being sent back and losing your spot in line.

So that's it. I hope this helps someone, somewhere out there in VJ land. Thanks again to everyone who has been so patient with me and all my questions <3

Next stop: Interview Sept 14th!

i had my medical on the same day and same place.my interview is on 21st so please also write what you gonna find there. wish u good luck

[firefly_chaser 0]

that sounds like a great positive review. I'm not as nervous now as I thought I would be thanks alot

[Road 2 Peace Arch 0]

Thanks for writing about your exam. It will helpful for others in Vancouver to hear about how its done.

[Malrothien 6]

Glad you had an easy medical.

Just out of curiosity - are their any male reviews? Hubby is freaking out because I told him that they stick a finger up your bum.

[Michael+Tracie 0]

Just out of curiosity - are their any male reviews? Hubby is freaking out because I told him that they stick a finger up your bum.

I'll post one later this week...I have my interview on Tuesday, so will likely do a combined review. Just haven't had the time yet!

But to put your hubby's mind at ease, no fingers are inserted anywhere! lol

[Malrothien 6]

Just out of curiosity - are their any male reviews? Hubby is freaking out because I told him that they stick a finger up your bum.

I'll post one later this week...I have my interview on Tuesday, so will likely do a combined review. Just haven't had the time yet!

But to put your hubby's mind at ease, no fingers are inserted anywhere! lol

I did it to pester him about it.

[TimandJoyce 1]

Glad you had an easy medical.

Just out of curiosity - are their any male reviews? Hubby is freaking out because I told him that they stick a finger up your bum.

Too funny

Good review. And your right, get there early!! Mine was done in Vancouver too..so easy!! The only difference is I had a woman doctor!! She was very nice, and put me at ease.

[simistar 2]

Hi everyone,

I just got back from my medical in Vancouver this morning...(have to go back at 2pm to pick up results)...

I don't think I need to "reinvent the wheel" as the original poster gave quite a good review!

But some things I just wanted to add that may help someone out (as I too am a forum leach and have been helped MANY times by others...trying to pay it forward a bit :-))

Parking...

On the Woking Medical website they say they have parking behind and beside... however, I couldn't find any parkades in that exact block open that early in the morning!

I got there early (like a good VJer, lol:-)).... I drove past the clinic at 6am and saw a bit of a line had already formed...

I drove around and into the back alley where there are some parkades, but they were all locked!

So I ended up going onto Hornby street (one street east of Burrard) and went into the Wall Centre parkade. It was really the only parkade I could see that was open at that time of the morning...

(*you shouldn't park on the street at the metres! If you're in there past 9am, which you likely will be, your car WILL get towed! And they don't allow you to go out and move it or put more change in...)

I parked from about 6:10 to 9:10 and it cost me $12 (@ the Sheraton Wall Centre)

Getting in...

Also, as I said, a few people were lined up already... They open the doors to let people in at around 6:10...(they're just letting you in, you still have to wait until 6:30 for them to start processing people)...which is good b/c it was COLD outside this morning! :-)

Anyway, there were too many people for one elevator, so I went up in the second elevator... and I think some people get all antsy b/c basically the line-order gets lost when everyone jams into the elevator...

Anyhoo, you get off the elevator and walk to the right to the Woking Medical sign-in desk and take a number. Some people who came in late didn't know they were supposed to take a number and just sat down. So just a heads-up there...

Waiting...

Another heads-up..not sure if it was just b/c it was cold out this morning or what, but it was pretty cold inside there! People were wrapping their coats around themselves and putting their hoods on to keep warm! Plus, the reading material kinda sucks :-) (all soap opera digest magazines:-))...so bring something GOOD to read to pass the time:-)

When you're done your x-ray, you go back and sit in the main waiting room...this is where they call people out one by one to go in for the exam...

I was #9 and still had to wait about an hour before my name was called. Each person on average was taking about 20 mins and it seemed like they had two doctors on... So, it was SLOW... I was glad I got there super early and I got out of there at 9:01am...but there were lots of people left waiting after me...

I think that's all I can add to the original poster's review!

But if you have any questions...ask away!:-)

[simistar 2]

Whoops...forgot to add one more thing parking...

There's an open lot (street level) one end of the block the clinic is on...

BUT, you can only park there for I think a max. of two or three hours...which isn't enough:-)

(I actually parked, got out and walked to the metre...that's how I know....so hopefully this will save someone else the hassle:-))

[LeprechaunSean 0]

My wife and son are going to have to do the medical soon, so I really appreciate this thread. Thanks guys...