Office Policies

Do I need a referral?

All of our new medical patients require a referral from their family doctor or a walk-in clinic before an appointment can be booked with one of our specialists. This referral may be faxed to our referrals coordinator at 647-351-9077. Please do not contact us right away, as it takes up to two weeks to review all of our incoming referrals and call patients with their appointment date and time. We do not accept patients on a walk-in basis.

Patients wishing to see our dermatologists for cosmetic purposes do not require a referral. New cosmetic patients may book a cosmetic consultation with one of our board-certified dermatologists for a fee of $250. This fee is absorbed into the cost of your subsequent cosmetic treatment.

Please note that patients who are more interested in laser procedures or skincare product lines can enjoy a complementary consultation with our laser aestheticians or skincare specialists.

How do I know if my concern is medical or cosmetic?

Medical concerns include (but are not limited to) skincare issues such as rashes, acne, eczema, rosacea and mole checks.

Cosmetic concerns include (but are not limited to) aesthetic issues such as wrinkles, hollowing of the cheeks, acne scars and uneven skin tone.

Patients who wish to have a mole or skin tag removed for cosmetic purposes do require a referral from a family doctor or a walk-in clinic in order to book an appointment. While there is a fee for these services, it is important that our doctors examine the lesion and deem it benign prior to removal.

If you are still uncertain under which category your skincare concern falls, please give us a call and one of our staff will be happy to help you.

Is my visit covered under OHIP?

All medical appointments with our dermatologists are covered under OHIP. Any private fees will be communicated to the patient before proceeding with such treatment.

Cosmetic appointments with our dermatologists are not covered under OHIP. A customized cosmetic consult is the best way to determine which procedures will help you achieve your goals.

How long will it take to get an appointment?

At Compass Dermatology, we do our best to review referrals and schedule patients as quickly and efficiently as possible. Due to the high volume of referred patients we receive daily, the wait time to see one of our dermatologists for a non-urgent referral is approximately 2-3 months. Urgent referrals will be accommodated as soon as possible, usually within 1-2 weeks.

I'm a patient at Compass Dermatology; can my family member become a patient too?

We are happy to see your family members, however, they do require their own separate referral for a medical dermatology appointment. Your family member would be considered a new medical patient and will be reviewed and scheduled in sequence with other incoming referrals. Please be respectful of our doctors and their time as well as the time of other scheduled patients we ask that you do not bring additional family members into the exam room during your appointment to ask the doctor to look at their skin issue.

How long should I plan to be at Compass Dermatology for my an appointment?

Please plan to be at Compass Dermatology for one hour for your scheduled appointment. Allowing for this additional time is in your best interest to avoid feeling rushed during your appointment with the doctor. Plan to consider arrangements such as parking and child care when anticipating your upcoming appointment.

Do your doctors run on time?

Our dermatologists and staff make every effort to run on time, however, circumstances such as urgent referrals or surgical procedures may arise causing us to fall behind.  Please plan to be in our office for one hour.

How do I go about getting a prescription refill?

Please monitor your personal prescriptions and refills and book your follow-ups accordingly to avoid calling for a last-minute appointment as last-minute appointments are often not feasible on our end. If you choose not to schedule a follow up, please have your pharmacy fax your prescription to our clinic for your dermatologist to review. There is a fee for this service.

Do you have a cancellation list?

Yes. However, due to the high volume of patients requesting to be on our cancellation list, we often only place urgently referred patients on this list.

What if I need to cancel my appointment?

Please ensure that you give us 24 hours notice to cancel your appointment or a missed appointment fee will be charged when you reschedule. You can call our clinic at 647-351-9277 and speak with one of our receptionists or leave a message clearly stating your name, phone number and the appointment date you wish to cancel/reschedule. While we don't have the opportunity to pick up every phone call, please leave a voicemail if you do not reach us directly and we will be diligent in returning your call.

How long does it take for test results to come back?

It can take up to 6 weeks to receive and review reports. Please note that our reception staff cannot give you any information about your biopsy results over the phone.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept cash, debit and credit (Visa and Mastercard). We do not accept American Express.