Clinic Policies

A1C Policy

If A1C test is not done prior to patient’s appointment, BCDiabetes proposes to test A1C levels on-site to gauge how well patients are managing diabetes. If patients want to see the doctor at their immediate appointment and A1C test has not be done by LifeLabs, BCDiabetes will charge patients $20.00 per test for all new and returning patients. If patients do not want to conduct the A1C test and refuse to pay $20.00 for it, patients are more than welcome to have A1C done at LifeLabs and book another appointment at a later date.

Sharps policy

BCDiabetes office is not equipped to dispose of sharps from clinic or research patients. This means that BCDiabetes cannot accept full sharps containers or dispose of your sharps.

Participants in certain clinical trials may be provided with sharps containers as part of their participation. While BCDiabetes can make these containers available to eligible participants to use at no cost, we cannot take back full containers for disposal. We cannot be responsible for the containers or their contents in any way once they leave our office.

We encourage patients to inquire about sharps and needle disposal options with a nearby trusted or or convenient pharmacy. Here are some examples of disposal programs offered at pharmacies.

• Shoppers Drug Mart Sharps Disposal Program
• Metro Vancouver: Pharmacy with Care program through The Medicine Shoppe
• London Drugs Needle disposal program

Cancellation policy

BCDiabetes understands that there are times when you must miss an appointment due to emergencies or obligations for work or family. However, when you do not call to cancel an appointment, you may be preventing another patient from having a much-needed appointment. Conversely, the situation may arise where another patient fails to cancel and we are unable to schedule you for a visit, due to a seemingly “full” appointment book.

If an appointment is not cancelled at least 24 hours in advance, this will be documented. Patient must notify the clinic if they are unable to attend their scheduled appointment or there will be a $75 no show fee charged before another appointment is given.