Sample Emergency
This is a sample emergency. Real emergency text will go here.

Albany Medical Clinic

Send a NON URGENT Message or Send a Document

If you have received health care at the Albany Medical Clinic, you can send your family doctor or specialist a message – with or without a photo or you can send a document requiring completion by the family doctor or specialist through our secure encrypted messaging system called Ocean.   (File formats accepted:  PDF, JPG, PNG, TXT)

Before you send us a message or submit documents, please read the following (you’ll also see this when you message us or submit documents).

  • Do not message us this way if you are experiencing a medical emergency.  If you have an emergency, you should call 911 or go to your nearest hospital emergency  room or health care provider immediately.
  • Do not message us with urgent problems (where you need a response from us by a certain time).  If you have an urgent issue, you should make an appointment to see your Albany Medical Clinic healthcare provider or come to our Walk-in Clinic.
  • We do not read these messages 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  We cannot guarantee any particular response time for these types of communications.  If you require a response to a message you are sending, please call our Booking Center at 416-461-9471. 
  • Your message should be short.  If you have a problem that is complex – please call the Booking Center at 416-461-9471.
  • Your message may be read by more than just your health care provider.  Administrative staff supporting your health care provider and people providing coverage for your health care provider may also read your message.
  • You should not message us to tell us about sensitive health information.
  • Your message will form part of your health records depending on the content of the message.  As part of your health record, this message may be shared within the Albany Medical Clinic or third parties, with your consent or if we are permitted or required by law (including with other health care providers and insurance companies).

How to Take and Send Photos to Your Doctor

To help your doctor assess your health concern, use these tips to ensure your photos are clear and useful for your doctor.

  • Take photos in a brightly lit room or in daylight to avoid shadows.
  • Avoid using a flash.
  • Have someone else take the photo, when possible.
  • Hold the phone or camera steady to prevent blurry photos.
  • Point the phone or camera directly at the area of concern. Take 2 photos, one from 4 feet away (distance) and one from 6 inches away (close up).
  • Draw a dot on either side of the growth with a pen or marker before taking the photo. For rashes on the hands or feet, take photos that show both sides of both hands and/or both feet (including fingernails and toenails).

What to Include in Your Message

Please include the following details about your health concern with your attached photos:

  • Location. For example, “right arm between the elbow and the shoulder”
  • Size. For example, “about 2 inches wide.”
  • Color. For example, “light pink” or “dark red.”
  • Duration. How long you’ve had the problem, has it changed over time (size, shape, color).
  • Symptoms. Describe briefly. For example, “rash is bumpy and rough, swollen or inflamed, burning, itching, very sensitive, and painful.”
  • Attempts at treating. What, if any, home or other treatment you have tried? How successful were they?

Receiving a Message or Document from the Albany Medical Clinic (Physician or Staff)

As a Clinic, we use the same Ocean platform to send secure encrypted emails to you. These messages can be from your physician or from staff in our Clinic. These are generally one way message to you but there may be occasions where we ask you to reply.

I Would Like To Respond To My Physician

If you need to respond to a question posed by your physician, please check the email message to see if you can reply directly to the message you received. Your physician would have indicated in the email how they would like you to respond. If it is not clear, please send us a message, and please be sure to add context to your message!

Please keep in mind that we are not be able to supply our patients (or any third-parties) with a physician’s personal email address. Please correspond using the Ocean Message Portal to minimize the risk that correspondence is missed, your privacy is secure, and ensure questions are routed to the correct individual in a timely manner.

Send a NON-URGENT Message or Document

I have read all the tips and ready to send.

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