Patient Policies

• You will be contacted if results are abnormal or require follow-up. If you haven't heard from us within two weeks, please call the clinic.
• Dr. Kamphuis checks test results every day. If something is very urgent, we will call you. For most other results, we will email you, unless you asked us not to.
• Even though results are checked daily, you may not receive a notification the same day — sometimes more time is needed to consider the best course of action for your circumstances.
• If you did more than one test (like bloodwork and an ultrasound), we usually wait for all results before contacting you.
• If your tests are routine and normal, you may not get a message unless you ask for one — please don't hesitate to inquire.

If you don't hear from us: results can occasionally be missed or not sent correctly, so we do not use a strict "no news is good news" rule. If you don't hear from us within the time frames above, contact the clinic by email, voicemail, or by booking an appointment.

Notes about certain test centres: SureCare Diagnostics (formerly WNR) sometimes fails to send imaging results to clinics — contact us and we can follow up with their management. Tests done outside Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge, or ordered by another physician, are sometimes not sent to us either — if you haven't heard within the expected time frame, please reach out.

Specialist referrals: please wait two weeks before contacting the clinic to confirm processing. If you haven't heard from the specialist after that, we can provide their phone number for follow-up.

• The fastest route: ask your pharmacy to fax a renewal request to (226) 686-0184 — most are processed within 1–2 business days.
• We will always prescribe enough medication to last until your next check-up. In some cases we may need to see you more frequently while getting to know your health history.
• Please monitor your medication supply and plan ahead. Walk-ins for prescription renewals are always welcome; routine and brief appointments are recommended for safe renewal.
• Controlled or complex medications may require more frequent monitoring.
• Renewals requested without a visit when an appointment was recommended carry a $40 fee — see the fee guide.
• There is a pharmacy on site for your convenience. The clinic and its physicians have no ownership stake in it and receive no profit from prescriptions filled there — you are always welcome to use any pharmacy you choose.

• All forms (insurance, disability, school) and sick notes require an in-person appointment. Some forms take 1 week or longer.
• Form completion policy: outcomes are not guaranteed — payment for a form does not ensure a specific result. Clinical independence is maintained: patients may not direct the clinical content of a physician's documentation. One revision is included in the listed price; additional revisions are billed per OMA guidelines at the physician's hourly rate, paid in advance. No refunds once work has begun.
• We may request prior medical records; you'll be asked to sign a release form. Some clinics charge a fee to send records — that fee is your responsibility.
• Former patients of Dr. Scott Wright, Dr. Dilini Wijayanaka, St. George Medical Center, or Ottawa & River Clinic: please contact their office directly for your records and bring them to our clinic.
• Per CPSO policy, doctors have up to 30 days to provide your records.

Some services are not covered by OHIP, including: employment, school, or insurance forms; driver's medicals; cosmetic procedures (skin tags, warts); TB testing; travel consultations; certain vaccines; non-OHIP mental health or dietitian services; third-party reports.

See the complete fee guide →

• Walk-ins are welcome daily, depending on physician availability.
• While we strive to accommodate everyone, there may be rare days when clinic capacity is exceeded and additional walk-ins cannot be accepted for safety reasons.
• Booking an appointment is encouraged whenever possible — appointments guarantee you will be seen that day unless the clinic is unexpectedly closed.
• While we do our best to stay on schedule, delays may occur due to the unpredictable nature of medical care. We appreciate your patience.

• Appointment times are approximate and may vary with clinic flow.
• Knowing the reason for your visit helps us prepare and reduce wait times.
• Please focus on one concern per visit — for multiple concerns we may book a follow-up so each gets the attention it deserves.
• Cancelling an appointment you no longer plan to attend is appreciated, but not mandatory.
• Appointments may be shorter than elsewhere; in return, we strive to maintain same/next-day access for all visits.

• All visits are in person. Home visits are not offered.
• Dr. Kamphuis does not do phone visits. Dr. Farzam offers phone visits for patients he has seen, at his discretion.
• You are free to attend other clinics. If tests are ordered elsewhere, please bring a copy before following up. For best continuity, try to attend our clinic when possible.
• Per OHIP policy, the person being discussed must be physically present at the visit.
• Follow-up visits are welcome for lingering questions.
• Patients who are not fluent in English are encouraged to bring a translator to ensure clear communication.

To help us prepare, consider: What brings you in today? How would you like the doctor to help? When did your issue begin? Were there any triggers? What treatments have you tried?

• We do not routinely prescribe narcotic or sedative medications, including opioids (Percocet, Tylenol #3, Oxycodone) and benzodiazepines (Clonazepam, Lorazepam, Diazepam).
• In exceptional cases these may be prescribed with strict monitoring; patients may be asked to sign a controlled-substance agreement and complete drug testing.
• Unsafe use or non-compliance may result in discontinuation or dismissal from the practice.

We encourage all patients to take an active role in preventive health. Please speak to your physician about:

• Colorectal cancer: FIT test every 2 years after age 50
• Cervical cancer: Pap test every 5 years after age 25 (if sexually active) — requires a dedicated visit; see Women's Health
• Breast cancer: Mammogram every 2 years after age 50 (or from age 40, per Ontario guidelines)

• We strive to maintain a respectful, inclusive, and safe environment. Verbal abuse, harassment, or aggression toward staff or others will result in dismissal.
• Please keep your contact and health information up to date.
• Disputes over clinic policies or repeated inappropriate behaviour may result in termination from the practice, as will threats of unfounded complaints to regulatory bodies (e.g., CPSO).
• If you choose to leave the clinic, we will assist with record transfers, usually for no fee.

• Your care may involve medical students, residents, scribes, or other health professionals. When your physician is away, another qualified provider may assist.
• We may use an AI scribe tool to help document your visit — it improves efficiency and quality of care. No identifying information is saved, and all data is deleted after entry into your chart. You may opt out at any time, including visit-by-visit, by informing the physician.

Dr. Andrew Kamphuis is a family physician with experience across a wide range of clinical environments in Ontario. He is committed to patient-centred, efficient, evidence-based care in a respectful and welcoming environment. With a special focus on accessible care, he offers both scheduled appointments and walk-in availability. He values preventive medicine, clear communication, and mutual respect as foundations of the physician-patient relationship.