Telephone Tips
Telephone Tips
The MS program receives a high volume of phone calls every day. We need your help to offer an easy and rapid telephone access to you and your families.
We encourage you to read and follow these telephone tips.
The clinic is open Monday to Friday from 9h00 to 16h00
Tel.:( 514) 398-1931
Please note that phone calls are taken between 9h00 and 12h00 and 13h00 and 15h00.
You may leave a message on the answering machine. We pick up messages regularly during the clinic hours but after 15h00 it will be taken the next day.
If you feel your situation requires evaluation and you have difficulty reaching us, call Info Sante at your CLSC.
If it is an absolute emergency go to the emergency room of the nearest hospital.
For regular follow-up appointments call several months in advance as appointments fill up quickly.
To make an appointment with a neurologist or a nurse, please call between 9h00 and 12h00 and 13h00 and 15h00.
When you call, have your hospital card, a pad and pencil to write down instructions.
If you have to cancel your appointment, please advise us preferably in advance.
For a first visit, please plan 2 hours since you will meet the neurologist and the clinical nurse specialist.
If you wish to meet with a clinical nurse specialist or social worker at your clinic visit, please contact the clinic in advance to arrange an appointment.
Calls about a relapse, symptom or other health concern.
You should contact your family doctor if you have an acute problem (such as an infection) or have concerns about other medical illnesses (such as diabetes, high blood pressure, etc...)
Some conditions, such as an infection or the flu, may make your MS symptoms temporarily worse. In such situations, you should still see your family doctor first to have your medical condition treated. For these reasons it is very important to have a family doctor.
You can call the MS clinic if you experience any new or worsening MS symptoms.
Please note that the receptionist will take a short message and will transmit it to the appropriate person. Please leave a phone number where you can be reached at specific times of the day.
As much as possible please call early in the workday and before Friday.
Before calling the MS clinic, take a moment to organize your thoughts in case you are asked the following questions:
-What is the problem?
-When did it begin?
-If you have pain, what kind of pain it is? Is it constant or does it come and go? Does anything relieve it or provoke it?
-Do you think you may have an infection? (cold, flu, fever, urinary changes). If so, please contact your family doctor.
-Have a list of your medications with you.
How to get a prescription refilled?
Prescription should be renewed at your regular clinic visit.
The physician will review your chart to see whether the medication is still needed, whether the dosage should be changed and so on. Such a review makes medical care safer.
For emergency renewals only:
-When calling for a prescription refill, know the phone number of your pharmacy.
-The request should be made during clinic's hours and before you are down to the last pill (expect a delay of few days to get your prescription).
-For prescription renewals for special therapies (Avonex, Betaseron, Copaxone, Rebif) please call one month in advance to make sure you will be on time to renew your medication.
Forms can be brought to a clinic visit or they can be sent by mail.
As there are a large number of forms to be completed, we are unable to give information about the status of your form by phone
You can download our Telephone Tips Pamphlet: download (pdf 37kb)