No, a referral is not required. However, they are accepted if you are transferring from another medical facility. Please feel to call and book an appointment.

Call our clinic and book an appointment. You will be asked to provide information such as your Alberta Health Care number, phone number, etc.

Please bring your Alberta Health Care card or a valid health card of any province of Canada. If you do not have one, please bring other valid identification. 

This may vary depending on the patient. Generally, the initial appointment may be 45 minutes to an hour. However, appointment length decreases over time and may eventually be only 20-25 minutes.

This answer is unique for every patient. It depends on the side effect profile, comorbid substance use, medical history, patient preference and patient’s social stability amongst various other factors. We recommend that you do your research and consult with your physician when you come for an appointment.

This depends on the choice of treatment, safety, medical status and clinical assessment of a physician. However, most patients are initiated the same day they come in for the appointment.

Majority of our patients are covered by Alberta Blue Cross and other private insurances. Should you have no coverage, we can always refer you to social agencies, pending on their assessment make the decision about drug coverage. 

This solely depends on treatment plan, compliance with treatment, urine drug specimen results, medical and psychosocial stability. In addition, CPSA standards and guidelines have to be followed. Although, we understand the treatment is to make your life more functional to enjoy the time with family and outdoor activities but the physician has to analyse benefits and risks depending on specific factors in their treatment to provide treatment flexibility as soon as it’s possible and safe.

Urine test date is decided by randomization process that are generated by our EMR and usually patient is required to submit urine samples once or twice a month depending on phase of the treatment. 

This answer depends on the success of the treatment. Initially, the appointments are as often as twice a month. Some patients eventually only come three to four times a year. However, each process is individualized and varies based on the patient.

We encourage family participation in the process. Patients should have support for the duration of their treatment. Families can join part of the appointment to consult with the physicians. However, this is at the discretion of the patient. We respect the patient’s privacy at all times.

SMC understands and has a female physician to provide privacy and comfort to the female patients.

SMC is a culturally sensitive clinic and our physicians speak Punjabi, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Urdu, Russian, Guajarati and Tagalog (Filipino).  

All medications have side effects. However, the benefits far outweigh the side effects. However, if you have any concerns, they can be addressed with your physician later on.