Dear patient,

I want to thank you for entrusting me with your care over the past 8 years.

It is with profound sadness that I must inform you that as of February 28th, 2023, I am no longer able to provide you with medical care.

I am very much aware how upsetting and distressing this news is to you. I do know how difficult it is to find a new family doctor. I want you to know that it was an exceedingly difficult decision for me to take. As the years go by, the amount of administrative work generated by the size of my practice has increased significantly. This administrative work is done on evenings, weekends, during my vacations. The number of hours spent working on my personal time has been affecting my ability to care for my 3 young kids, my relationship, and my own health. I have tried to continue as long as I could, but I am reaching a point where I have no other choice than to decrease the size of my practice.

As a family physician with a practice in Ontario, the priority must be to Ontario patients and as such, all out of province patients will be discharged from my practice as of February 28th, 2023. Please note that due to limited capacity and doctor shortages in Ontario, the ByWard FHT will not be able to accommodate out of province patients who wish to register with another provider.

After February 28th, 2023, it will not be possible to book an appointment with me. Therefore, if you have a new medical issue or if you are due for your regular follow-up, you will have to consult a walk-in clinic in the Ottawa and Gatineau area (such as Clinique Medigo and Appletree medical group). You will have to do the same for prescription renewals, blood test requisitions, cancer screenings, etc.

I want to clarify that all the investigations (imaging, blood tests, etc.) that I have ordered for you, or asked you to do and have not been done yet are not cancelled, even if these are scheduled after February 28th, 2023. So please do not cancel any test, do your follow-up blood test or imaging tests as we had planned. I will follow-up on those results with you by email.

For assistance with locating another physician, RAMQ patients can go to the following websites:

•  https://cisss-outaouais.gouv.qc.ca/language/en/accessing-a-service/care-and-services-in-the-community/find-a-doctor
•  https://carnetsante.gouv.qc.ca/aide/services/vous-inscrire-GAMF

To send a copy of your medical records to another facility, via fax or mail please contact ByWard FHT directly at 613-564-3950.ext. 251. Note that your written authorization is required to release your medical records and an administrative fee for this uninsured service will apply. A consent to release personal health information can be found on the ByWard FHT website at: https://bywardfht.ca/our-clinic/forms/.

It has been a pleasure to serve you for these past years and I truly wish you well.

Dr Geneviève Davignon, MD CFPC