Please Read our Clinic Policies Carefully 

Old South Maternity Care & Family Practice 
Patient Policies 
 
Please note that we are not accepting new family practice patients at this time. Pregnant patients may be referred to our clinic at any point in their pregnancy. 
 
Regular Office Hours 
  • Phone calls are answered by reception during the following hours: 
  • Monday 9am – 4pm (closed 12-1pm) 
  • Tuesday 9am – 4pm (closed 12-1pm) 
  • Wednesday 9am – 12pm 
  • Thursday 9am – 4pm (closed 12-1pm) 
  • Friday 9am – 3pm (closed 12-1pm) 
  • Barring absences and hospital call/duties, our physicians are in the office on the following days: 
  • Dr. Bachmeier – Monday, Wednesday, Friday 
  • Dr. Dales – Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 
  • Dr. Hacking – Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 
  • Dr. Smits – Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 
  • Dr. Thompson – Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 
 
Appointment Booking 
  • To help us schedule appropriately, please provide reception with all of the issues you would like addressed. 
  • Standard appointment slots typically allow us to address one major or two minor issues. If you have multiple concerns, you may be asked to book multiple appointments. 
  • If your physician is unavailable, you may be booked with another physician or locum physician at our clinic. 
  • Please note we are unable under our licensure to provide any form of medical care to you if you are currently located outside of Ontario.  
 
Mask Policy 
  • Depending on current public health recommendations or symptoms, you may be asked to wear a well-fitted mask that covers the nose and mouth for in-person appointments.  
  • We care for many vulnerable patients. Thank you for helping to keep us all healthy and safe! 
 
Respiratory Illness & COVID-19 Screening 
  • We encourage patients to self-screen prior to entering the office or any health care setting as we take care of vulnerable populations including newborns and seniors. 
  • Call us ahead of your appointment if you have any of the following symptoms. Your appointment may be converted to a phone appointment or deferred if non-urgent.  
  • If you have any one or more of the following symptoms of a viral infection, assume that you may be contagious. Please clean your hands with sanitizer on arrival and wear a mask.
    • fever or chills 
    • cough 
    • shortness of breath 
    • decreased or loss of taste or smell 
    • runny nose or nasal congestion 
    • headache 
    • extreme fatigue 
    • sore throat 
    • muscle aches or joint pain 
    • gastrointestinal symptoms (such as vomiting or diarrhea) 
  • For more information on COVID-19 , including where testing, vaccination, and treatment is available, visit: https://www.ontario.ca/page/covid-19-coronavirus 
 
Missed Appointments 
  • Not attending your scheduled appointments (either in person or by telephone) prevents access to care for other patients. 
  • Please provide at least 24 hours notice by calling our office if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment. 
  • If you no-show to an appointment once, you will receive a warning letter. 
  • After a second missed appointment, you will be charged $40 for a missed 15-minute appointment and $80 for a 30-minute appointment. 
  • If you no-show a third time, you may be discharged from the clinic and need to find a new family physician.  
 
Communication of test results and referrals
  • Abnormal results will be communicated to you by scheduled appointment, phone, or secure email if you have granted us permission. 
  • Normal results may not be communicated to you until your follow-up appointment. 
  • If you have not heard back regarding a referral after 2 months have passed, please contact us. 
  • Please promptly update the office reception if your mailing address, phone number, health card number, pharmacy, or email address have changed.  
  • Our clinic uses the OceanMD platform for booking appointments, receiving secure messages and appointment reminders, and completing forms digitally. For more information on these services, visit: https://www.oceanmd.com/patients-guide-to-ocean/. Please also check your junk mail if you are expecting a message from us. 
 
TALI AI 
  • NEW October 2024: Our office has adopted the “TALI AI” artificial intelligence tool to help us more efficiently generate clinical notes and documents by listening to your conversation with your physician.  
  • If you do not consent to the use of this software during your in person or phone visit, please advise your physician.  
 
Medication Renewals 
  • It is your responsibility to keep track of when you are running out of prescriptions and require renewals.  
  • Medication renewals are best completed at your appointment. 
  • NEW JAN. 1, 2025: A $20 administration fee applies for any prescription renewal requested without an appointment.  
  • Please bring all your medications, vitamins, and supplements to each visit for reconciliation, and update us with the name of your current pharmacy. 

Controlled Substances 
  • If you have been prescribed a controlled substance, your physician will have you sign a controlled substance contract, the terms of which will be reviewed in detail with you. 
  • Examples of controlled substances include: opioids (e.g. Tylenol no. 3, morphine, hydromorphone, tramadol, Percocet, fentanyl, oxycodone), benzodiazepines (e.g. lorazepam, clonazepam, oxazepam, diazepam), sleep aids (zopiclone, lamborexant), and stimulants (e.g. Ritalin, Concerta, Vyvanse, Adderall, Biphentin). 
  • These medications will not be prescribed or renewed without an appointment to review with your physician. 

Late Arrivals 
  • Occasionally your physician may be late for your appointment due to unforeseeable circumstances in providing patient care.  
  • You will be asked to rebook your appointment if you arrive more than 15 minutes late, and may be charged for a missed appointment
 
Uninsured Services & Forms 
  • Not all services are covered by OHIP. Examples of uninsured services and forms include: 
  • Visits or procedures done for cosmetic reasons 
  • Certain unfunded immunizations and their administration 
  • Ear flushing without hearing loss 
  • Wart treatment (other than feet/genital areas) 
  • Medical forms including (but not limited to) driver’s medicals, travel forms, sports/job clearance, records requests, sick notes, insurance notes, Disability Tax Credit, CPP Disability Medical Report, lawyer requests, transfer of medical records, travel advice, and prescription renewals without visit 
  • Most forms require an appointment for completion. Please inform the staff when booking your appointment if you have a form to be completed. 
  • Forms take up to two weeks to be completed.  
  • Payment is due immediately upon pick-up/completion. 
  • Non-payment may result in your discharge from the clinic.  
  • Please see our updated price list for uninsured forms and services or inquire with the office. 
 
Outside Use Policy 
  • As an expectation of providing comprehensive family medicine, the Ministry of Health notifies and financially penalizes your physician when you visit other healthcare providers, particularly walk-in clinics.  
  • We do not typically receive notes and records from walk-in clinics, cannabis clinics and virtual clinics.  
  • Choosing to repeatedly seek care outside of Old South Maternity Care may result in dismissal from our clinic.  
  • If you are unable to attend our office regularly due to location, please notify our office.  
  • We have same day appointments available for urgent issues and an After Hours Clinic available four times per week.  All physicians at the After Hours Clinic have access to your record and will provide us detailed information about your visit.  
 
Clinic Etiquette & Behaviour 
  • We aim to provide a safe, secure and respectful environment for all of our staff and patients.  
  • We ask that you please be respectful of others’ privacy and space during your wait and appointment. 
  • We have a zero-tolerance policy for threatening or inappropriate behaviours. This includes but is not limited to behaviours such as yelling, swearing, threats or threatening behaviours, unwanted physical contact, sexual harassment, and discriminatory remarks.  
  • Failure to abide by this policy may result in you being discharged from the practice immediately. 
 
Phone Appointments 
  • If deemed appropriate, your appointment may be conducted by telephone. 
  • If a physical exam is required, you may be asked to follow-up in person. 
  • Ensure your phone allows for calls from blocked/private numbers. 
  • Our no-show policy applies. 
  • If the physician is on-call at the hospital, she may not call at your designated appointment time.  
  • Do not operate a vehicle during your appointment. 
 
Medical Learners/Teaching Practice Policies 
  • You may encounter family medicine resident physicians and medical students in our practice.  
  • They review all cases with the supervising physician and are capable of different levels of responsibility. 
  • Thank you in advance for contributing to the development of our future generation of doctors! 
 
Obstetrical Practice 
  • All physicians at Old Maternity Care deliver babies and may occasionally need to leave the clinic on short notice. 
  • If your appointment is affected, you will be rescheduled to the next available appointment. 
 
 ​
Old South Maternity Care
Suite 208, 190 Wortley Road London Ontario N6C 4Y7
Tel:519-438-5101 Hours: