Do I need a referral?

It is not always necessary to have a referral to see a dermatologist. If you are seeking a diagnosis or suspect a skin condition requires medical attention, please visit your primary care provider (PCP), and they can escalate your case to our clinic. In many cases, a referral is required for conditions that OHIP deems medically necessary, such as detecting and treating skin disorders that affect your wellness or health. 

However, a range of conditions do not fall within that scope and are not covered by OHIP. For example, the Ministry of Health considers most benign lesions an unessential service. All our services are physician guided, including elective, non-OHIP treatments that address these skin concerns. 

However, there are times when a referral may be helpful.

As previously mentioned, if a treatment you are seeking from our team can be covered by OHIP, a referral will be helpful so that any associated costs can be covered. The key is to avoid giving your insurance any reason to deny your treatment, which can happen when seeing a specialist. In cases where a referral will be needed, simply visit your primary care provider so they can examine your condition and then refer you to our team or another area dermatologist.

Besides helping with insurance payouts, there are other reasons to see your primary care provider first. Some of these reasons include:

• It allows your primary care provider to oversee your care before collaborating with our specialists for your needs.
• Your PCP has an in-depth understanding of your medical history, and seeking a referral will allow them to coordinate with us in the many aspects of your care.
• We work with many Ontario area PCPs, and a referral will allow your doctor to refer you to the team he deems most appropriate for your needs.
• Your PCP can communicate openly with our team to ensure you receive the proper care.

As stated earlier, depending on your situation, you do not need a referral to schedule an appointment with our team. If you know that your procedure will not be covered by any form of insurance you currently have, including OHIP, then a referral is likely not going to do you much financial good. However, keeping your PCP in the loop regarding any procedures may still be a good idea so that our team can fully understand your medical history, allergies, etc.

If it is not clear whether your concern falls under OHIP or not, please contact our office and speak with one of our patient coordinators, who will be happy to guide you.

Your primary care provider (PCP), like your family doctor, will send a referral directly to us, outlining your specific condition. Our office will schedule an appointment and notify your PCP of the date and time. Your provider then contacts you with the appointment details. To make any changes to your appointment, simply contact us.

Yes. Each skin condition requires a referral from your PCP.

A walk-in clinic or your local emergency room can also issue a referral.

We do not accept walk-in or emergency patients. If your case is urgent, please visit your local emergency room.