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How do I find OB/GYN care for twin IVF pregnancy?
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ngocanhtt Posts: 1
Posted On: 3/1/2021
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Hello Settlement Moderator,
I am a first- time mom, with IVF Twin pregnancy, in first tri-semester after multiple fail attempts in Vietnam I have done some research about maternity care in Ontario and understood that this is considered complicated pregnancy and would need care of an obstetrician. I am Canada's PR, returning to Toronto on April 2021 and will get OHIP right away. I have a few questions regarding my case:
1. I must get an ob-gyn specialist to take care of my case asap, how can I self refer to an ob-gyn specialist here? Pls suggest possible options for my case.
If I have to go through family doctor- I need to find available first and it is not easy at all given shortage of family doctor in Ontario. Some friends mentioned they have to wait for family doctor who accept new patients for years! And even with referral, it is not that appointment will be made right away as the Ob-gyn also has very packed schedule.
2. Will the specialist here refer to medical report from overseas (Vietnam to be specific) to understand about my IVF/ Pregnancy history or I have to do overall check up again?
3. How do I know which ob-gyn is great? Is there any public reviews/rating to know about their work and performance?
4. Must I stay in Toronto to be able to get care of ob-gyn and later birth delivery from Toronto based hospitals such as St Micheal and Sunnybrook? This will impact my housing decision so really need your advice.
Thanks a lot for your help!
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Moderator Moderator Posts: 4141
Posted On: 3/16/2021
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Hi there,
Congratulations and thank you for sharing your questions with us.
1. I must get an ob-gyn specialist to take care of my case asap, how can I self refer to an ob-gyn specialist here? Pls suggest possible options for my case.If I have to go through family doctor- I need to find available first and it is not easy at all given shortage of family doctor in Ontario. Some friends mentioned they have to wait for family doctor who accept new patients for years! And even with referral, it is not that appointment will be made right away as the Ob-gyn also has very packed schedule.
You need a referral from a family physician to see a specialist like an OB-GYN. That being said, a hospital will not refuse you care if you need urgent attention. You may also find helpful information on the Government of Ontario's website on finding a referral for a doctor near you, here is an excerpt:
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:
Register with our Health Care Connect service and have a nurse find a doctor or nurse practitioner for you.
Use The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario’s Find a Doctor search.
choose “Advanced Search” to find a doctor near you (by city/town or postal code)
click on “Additional Search Options” to narrow your search (to family doctors and/or language spoken)
contact the doctor to check if they are accepting new patients
When you fill out the form on Health Care Connect, it would be good to identify that you are pregnant. If you find that the wait for a family physician is too long, you may want to visit a walk-in clinic for a referral from a family physician there. You can also call the Toronto Public Health Unit at 416-338-7600 for information or support in accessing care.
2. Will the specialist here refer to medical report from overseas (Vietnam to be specific) to understand about my IVF/ Pregnancy history or I have to do overall check up again?
This is a good question you may want to ask Telehealth Ontario and your doctor, Telehealth Ontario is a free, confidential service you can call to get health advice or information. A Registered Nurse will take your call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Assistance is available in more than 300 languages. When you call Telehealth, tell them what language you speak and you will be connected to an interpreter.- Toll-free: 1-866-797-0000
- Toll-free TTY: 1-866-797-0007
3. How do I know which ob-gyn is great? Is there any public reviews/rating to know about their work and performance?
Your doctor has an obligation to provide care in a way that respects the rights, autonomy, dignity and diversity of all patients, including you as a person seeking care. If you google a doctor's name, you will likely find reviews, articles, and other information about their practice on a few websites. You may find helpful information in the Settlement.Org article, How and when should I schedule my first gynecology appointment? and How do I choose a family doctor?
4. Must I stay in Toronto to be able to get care of ob-gyn and later birth delivery from Toronto based hospitals such as St Micheal and Sunnybrook? This will impact my housing decision so really need your advice.
While you can seek care at any hospital in Ontario, your doctor may only be approved to be on staff at a particular hospital/set of hospitals. You may want to ask your doctor which hospitals they are approved to work at if you have a preference.
We hope this information is helpful. Please follow up with us if you have any additional questions.
Sincerely,
Your Settlement.Org team
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