FAQ

Do you accept walk-in visits? 

No. As a consultative practice, visits are available by appointment only. You will need a referral from your family physician or nurse practitioner in order to be seen in the clinic. If you are a patient already in the practice, you will still need an appointment to be seen. Please do not show up to the clinic without an appointment. 

What is the difference between my family doctor and a pediatrician? 

Family physicians and specialists serve distinct but equally important roles in the care of your child. Your family physician will provide you and your family with longitudinal primary care. They will see you for routine check ups and also the majority medical issues that come up. A family physician may make a referral to a specialist, such as a pediatrician, for a second opinion or advice on management of specific conditions. If a referral to a specialist is made, the specialist will consult on the specific referral question. Your family physician will remain your primary care provider, even if you are seeing a specialist. A pediatrician does not replace a family doctor. 

For example,

During a routine visit with your family physician, you raise concerns about your child's learning. Your GP makes a referral to Dr. Tsai for consideration of ADHD or a learning disability. Dr. Tsai then diagnoses your child with ADHD. Going forward, any concerns regarding ADHD management or learning challenges will be followed by Dr. Tsai. If your child develops a new issue such as constipation, stomach pain, fever, or pain with urination, you should still see your GP as they are still your primary care provider. 

What if I do not have a family physician? 

Dr. Tsai does not provide primary care and cannot be your child's family physician. Options include walk in clinics, virtual health, registering to be on the waitlist for a GP through your local Divisions of Family Practice, or the website www.findadoctorbc.ca or register at Health Connect Registry | HealthLink BC . 

I have been referred to Dr. Tsai. Why is the waitlist so long? 

Unfortunately in B.C., the high demand for pediatric specialist care often exceeds supply. Waitlists are an unfortunate byproduct of this. We sympathize with families waiting to seek care and this is indeed a regrettable situation. However, the status of the physician workforce in BC is beyond Dr. Tsai's control. 

Dr. Tsai takes his time to address his patients' concerns and does not compromise efficiency for quality. Dr. Tsai's waitlist is comparable or shorter than other pediatricians in the area. Referrals are triaged based on urgency, determined by the referral sent in by your family physician. If you feel your child needs to be seen sooner than your place on the waitlist, please speak to your family doctor regarding options. For example, if there is a change in status since the initial referral, your family doctor can send an update to our office which will affect the triage priority. Alternatively, your family doctor can suggest other avenues to seek specialist care if you feel your needs are not being met by our clinic. 

Information about the Disability Tax Credit Form

Your child's medical condition may qualify you for a Disability Tax Credit. Please note that it is the CRA that adjudicates the applications, and that approval is based on the degree of functional impairment, and not the diagnosis itself. For example, a child with ADHD who is well managed with medications, is unlikely to be approved. On the other hand, a child with severe ADHD with daily functional impairment despite optimal medication treatment will have a better chance of being approved. Please review the following website for more information about the DTC form Who is eligible - Disability tax credit (DTC) - Canada.ca  

If you wish to apply for the DTC, you will need to complete Part A of the form. Dr. Tsai will complete Part B. Completion of the DTC form is time consuming and is not an MSP insured service, and so a fee will be charged. Presently the fee is: $150. If you wish to proceed, please follow the instructions below:

1. Leave a voicemail under Dr. Stephen Tsai's mailbox indicating you have read the instructions about the DTC and wish to proceed. Dr. Tsai will then send you an online eForm through the OceanMD portal. 

2. Complete the eForm with information about your child. 

3. Once the eForm is complete, please provide payment using the following link. Please leave a voicemail after you have paid indicating your child's name, and the name of the person making the payment, so that Dr. Tsai can match the payment to the correct child's application. 

https://square.link/u/msREUuRX

4. Once the eForm and payment have been complete, Dr. Tsai will send you a copy of the Part B of the DTC within 3 weeks. Please contact the office if you have not received the completed application within this timeline. 

5. Please note that Dr. Tsai does not take responsibility for rejected DTC applications.