Not Feeling Well? Pharmacy, Family Doctor, Walk-In Clinic or Emergency Room? 安省看病怎么选？药房、家庭医生、Walk-in 还是急诊

You can use all of them — the key is knowing when. In Ontario, feeling unwell doesn't have to mean choosing between waiting for your family doctor and sitting in an emergency room. 医疗选择不一定只能选一个，关键是知道什么时候该用哪一种。在安省，身体不舒服不一定只有"等家庭医生"或"去急诊"两个选择。

Ontario is continuing to expand access to community-based health care. Today, eligible pharmacists at Shoppers Drug Mart and other participating community pharmacies can assess and prescribe certain medications for 28 designated minor ailments. At the same time, family doctors, walk-in clinics, Urgent Care Centres, emergency departments and virtual physicians each serve different needs. You don't have to rely on only one of them — the right option depends on the situation. 安省正在逐步扩大社区医疗服务。现在，包括 Shoppers Drug Mart 及其他参与服务的社区药房在内，合资格药剂师已经可以评估并为 28 种指定轻微病症开具部分药物。与此同时，家庭医生、Walk-in Clinic、Urgent Care Centre、急诊室和在线医生，各自适合不同情况。您不必只依赖其中一种——选择哪一个，取决于具体情况。

The challenge is that when symptoms appear unexpectedly, many people aren't sure which point of care to use. And even after seeing a doctor, there may still be prescriptions, lab work, imaging, specialist referrals and follow-up appointments to manage. 问题是，当身体突然出现信号时，很多人并不知道应该选择哪一个入口；即使已经看过医生，之后仍可能需要处理处方、化验、影像检查、专科转介及后续预约。

Careby isn't intended to replace Ontario's existing health-care services. It's designed to be a health-care partner that helps members connect with and navigate those services more efficiently — so the next step after a medical visit is clearer. 康伴不是要取代安省现有的医疗服务，而是希望帮助会员更有效地连接及使用这些资源，让看医生之后的下一步更加清楚。

Ontario is expanding the health care pharmacists can provide安省正在扩大药剂师可以提供的医疗服务

Ontario first authorized pharmacists to assess and prescribe for 13 designated minor ailments on January 1, 2023. The scope expanded again in October 2023. As of July 1, 2026, nine additional minor ailments were added, bringing the total that eligible pharmacists can assess and prescribe for to 28. 安省从 2023 年 1 月 1 日起，首次允许药剂师为 13 种指定轻微病症进行评估和处方。2023 年 10 月，适用范围进一步增加。自 2026 年 7 月 1 日起，安省再新增 9 种轻微病症，令合资格药剂师可以评估及处方的轻微病症总数增加至 28 种。

This authority isn't limited to Shoppers Drug Mart — it applies to eligible pharmacists across Ontario. Individual chain and independent community pharmacies decide whether to offer these services, so it's best to confirm what's available, and whether an appointment is required, before visiting. 这项权限并不限于 Shoppers Drug Mart，而是适用于安省所有合资格药剂师。不同连锁药房及独立社区药房可自行决定是否提供有关服务，因此前往之前应先确认服务范围及是否需要预约。

Source: Government of Ontario and the Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP).资料来源：安省政府（Government of Ontario）及安省药剂师学院（Ontario College of Pharmacists，OCP）。

Which 28 minor ailments can Ontario pharmacists treat?安省药剂师可以处理哪 28 种轻微病症？

As of July 1, 2026, Ontario pharmacists can assess and prescribe eligible medications for the following designated minor ailments. 截至 2026 年 7 月 1 日，安省药剂师可以评估并为以下指定轻微病症开具合资格药物。

Skin and common external conditions皮肤及常见外部症状

• Mild acne轻度痤疮（Acne — mild）
• Calluses and corns胼胝及鸡眼（Calluses and corns）
• Canker sores (aphthous ulcers)口腔溃疡（Canker sores）
• Cold sores (herpes labialis)唇疱疹（Cold sores）
• Dandruff (seborrheic dermatitis)头皮屑（Dandruff）
• Dermatitis — eczema, allergic or contact湿疹、过敏性或接触性皮炎（Dermatitis）
• Diaper dermatitis尿布疹（Diaper dermatitis）
• Head lice (pediculosis)头虱（Head lice）
• Impetigo脓疱疮（Impetigo）
• Insect bites and hives (urticaria)昆虫叮咬及荨麻疹（Insect bites and urticaria）
• Jock itch (tinea cruris)股癣（Jock itch）
• Ringworm (tinea corporis)体癣（Ringworm）
• Warts — common and plantar, excluding the face and genitals疣，但不包括面部及生殖器部位（Warts）

Eye, nasal and allergy conditions眼睛、鼻腔及过敏问题

• Allergic rhinitis过敏性鼻炎（Allergic rhinitis）
• Conjunctivitis — bacterial, allergic or viral细菌性、过敏性或病毒性结膜炎（Conjunctivitis）
• Dry eye干眼（Dry eye）
• Nasal congestion from viral rhinitis or rhinosinusitis病毒性鼻炎或鼻窦炎引起的鼻塞（Nasal congestion）

Digestive, reproductive and urinary conditions消化、妇科及泌尿问题

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)胃食管反流（GERD）
• Hemorrhoids痔疮（Hemorrhoids）
• Dysmenorrhea (period pain)痛经（Dysmenorrhea）
• Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy妊娠期恶心及呕吐（Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy）
• Oral thrush (candidal stomatitis)口腔念珠菌感染（Oral thrush）
• Pinworms and threadworms蛲虫或线虫感染（Pinworms and threadworms）
• Uncomplicated urinary tract infections无并发症的尿路感染（Urinary tract infections）
• Yeast infection (vulvovaginal candidiasis)外阴阴道念珠菌感染（Yeast infection）

Pain, minor injuries and preventive treatment疼痛、轻微受伤及预防性处理

• Mild tension-type headache轻度紧张型头痛（Mild headache）
• Musculoskeletal sprains and strains肌肉骨骼扭伤及拉伤（Musculoskeletal sprains and strains）
• Tick bites — preventive treatment after exposure, to prevent Lyme disease蜱虫叮咬后的莱姆病暴露后预防性处理（Tick bites）

The pharmacist will review your symptoms, medical history, allergies, current medications and any warning signs. Whether the condition is appropriate for pharmacist care, and whether a medication should be prescribed, remains a matter of professional judgment. 药剂师会了解患者的症状、病史、过敏情况、正在使用的药物及是否出现危险信号。是否适合由药剂师处理，以及是否开具药物，仍由药剂师根据专业判断决定。

Source: Ontario College of Pharmacists — the complete minor-ailments list under the regulations made under the Pharmacy Act, 1991.资料来源：安省药剂师学院根据《药剂法》相关法规公布的完整轻微病症清单。

Why a pharmacy can be a convenient first stop到药房看轻微病症有什么方便之处？

For a designated minor ailment that's mild and has no obvious warning signs, a community pharmacy may be a convenient first point of care. The advantages can include: 对属于指定范围、症状较轻及没有明显危险信号的健康问题，社区药房可能是方便的第一站。药房的使用优势包括：

• Many locations within local communities社区内地点较多
• You may not need a family-doctor appointment first不一定需要先取得家庭医生预约
• Some locations are open evenings or weekends部分地点晚上或周末仍然营业
• When appropriate, a pharmacist can prescribe within the authorized scope情况适合时，药剂师可直接开具授权范围内的药物
• Eligible assessments at participating pharmacies generally have no additional assessment fee for people with a valid OHIP card有效 OHIP 持有人在参与计划的药房接受合资格评估，一般无需另付评估费用

However, pharmacies aren't required to offer all 28 services. Before going to Shoppers Drug Mart or another pharmacy, it's worth calling or checking online first. And if your symptoms fall outside the pharmacist's authorized scope — or you need a physical examination, lab testing, imaging or further diagnosis — the pharmacist may recommend that you contact a physician or use another health-care service. 不过，不是每间药房都必须提供全部 28 种服务。前往 Shoppers Drug Mart 或其他药房之前，最好先致电或网上确认。如果症状不属于药剂师的授权范围，或者需要体格检查、化验、影像检查或进一步诊断，药剂师可能建议患者联系医生或使用其他医疗服务。

Source: Government of Ontario pharmacy-service information and Ontario College of Pharmacists practice guidance.资料来源：安省政府药房服务说明及安省药剂师学院执业指引。

When should you go straight to an emergency department?什么情况应该直接去急诊室？

Emergency departments are intended for serious, sudden or potentially life-threatening illnesses and injuries, including: 急诊室适合处理严重、突然或可能危及生命的疾病及受伤，例如：

• Chest pain胸痛
• Severe difficulty breathing严重呼吸困难
• Possible stroke symptoms — sudden one-sided weakness, facial drooping or difficulty speaking怀疑中风，例如突然一侧无力、面部下垂或说话困难
• Severe bleeding严重大出血
• Loss of consciousness失去意识
• Serious head injury严重头部受伤
• Severe allergic reaction严重过敏反应
• Symptoms that are worsening rapidly症状快速恶化
• Any other condition that may be life-threatening其他可能危及生命的情况

In these situations, don't wait for a pharmacy appointment, a virtual consultation or Careby coordination. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department immediately. 遇到这些情况，不应等待药房预约、在线问诊或康伴协调，应立即拨打 911 或前往最近的急诊室。

The advantage of an emergency department is direct access to hospital-based emergency treatment, lab testing, imaging and specialist resources. After you arrive, patients are triaged and treated according to how serious their condition is — not simply in the order they arrived. 急诊室的优势，是可以直接接入医院的紧急治疗、化验、影像检查及专科资源。但到达急诊后，病人会先接受分流，并按照病情严重程度处理，而不是简单按照到达先后次序看医生。

Source: Government of Ontario emergency-department information.资料来源：安省政府急诊室服务说明。

How long is the average emergency department wait in Ontario?安省急诊平均要等多久？

Emergency-department "wait time" can't be captured in a single number. Ontario Health's province-wide data page, updated July 23, 2026, reports the following averages: 急诊的"等候时间"不能只用一个数字表示。Ontario Health 于 2026 年 7 月 23 日更新的全省数据页面显示：

In other words, 1.7 hours is the average time to the first medical assessment. It isn't the average time to complete the whole emergency-department visit. 换句话说，1.7 小时是平均等到首次医疗评估的时间，并不是完成整个急诊过程的时间。

Actual times vary by hospital, region, time of day, severity of illness and bed availability. Patients with serious or potentially life-threatening conditions are generally prioritized, so concern about waiting should never delay emergency care. 实际等待时间会因医院、地区、到访时间、病情严重程度及住院床位情况而不同。真正严重的病人通常会被优先处理，因此不应因为担心候诊时间而延误急症。

Source: Ontario Health province-wide emergency-department performance data.资料来源：Ontario Health 的全省急诊表现数据。

Why you might still need a pharmacy after an emergency visit看完急诊，为什么可能仍要去药房？

The emergency department treats the immediate serious or acute problem, but being discharged doesn't necessarily mean the whole care process is complete. If the emergency physician decides you need prescription medication at home, an outpatient prescription may be issued — and you'll generally still need to have it filled at a community pharmacy. 急诊负责处理当下的严重或急性问题，但出院并不一定代表整个医疗过程已经完成。如果急诊医生认为患者需要在家继续使用处方药，医生可能开出门诊处方，患者通常仍需前往社区药房配药。

Depending on the situation, you may also need to: 根据具体情况，患者之后也可能需要：

• Book follow-up with your family doctor联系家庭医生复诊
• Complete blood work or other lab tests完成血液或其他实验室检查
• Complete an X-ray, ultrasound or other imaging接受 X 光、超声波或其他影像检查
• Wait for a specialist referral等待专科转介
• Follow up on test results跟进检查结果
• Keep monitoring changes in your symptoms继续观察症状变化

Even when the hospital has dealt with the most urgent part, the patient may still be responsible for completing several follow-up steps. 因此，即使医院已经处理了最紧急的部分，患者仍可能需要自行完成多个后续步骤。

Source: Government of Ontario community-pharmacy and prescription-service information.资料来源：安省政府社区药房及处方服务资料。

If you have a family doctor, why can it still take time to get an appointment?有家庭医生，为什么预约仍可能没有想象中快？

A family doctor is a core part of long-term health management, and is particularly well suited to: 家庭医生是长期健康管理的重要核心，特别适合：

• Managing chronic conditions长期病症管理
• Routine health assessments定期健康检查
• Persistent or recurring symptoms持续或反复出现的症状
• Multiple medications and complex medical histories多种药物及复杂病史
• Following up on test results检查结果跟进
• Long-term prevention and health planning长期预防及健康规划

But having a family doctor doesn't always mean you can get a same-day or next-day appointment. According to 2024 national survey data published by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), only 26.8% of adult respondents reported being able to see a health provider on the same day or the next day for a non-urgent primary-care need. 但拥有家庭医生，不一定代表每次都能在当天或第二天获得预约。加拿大卫生信息研究所（CIHI）公布的 2024 年全国调查数据显示，只有 26.8% 的成年受访者表示，他们曾就非紧急基层医疗需要，在同日或翌日见到医疗提供者。

That measure includes family doctors, general practitioners, specialists, nurse practitioners and other health professionals, and covers both in-person and virtual care. It's a Canada-wide figure, not an Ontario-only statistic. 这项数据包括家庭医生、全科医生、专科医生、执业护士或其他医疗专业人员，也包括面诊及在线问诊。它属于加拿大全国数据，并不是安省单独统计。

Source: CIHI. Data updated January 2026, based on Statistics Canada's 2024 survey.资料来源：CIHI，数据于 2026 年 1 月更新，调查资料来自 Statistics Canada 的 2024 年调查。

Does a walk-in clinic guarantee same-day care?Walk-in Clinic 是否一定可以当天看医生？

Walk-in clinics mainly provide non-urgent medical care for people who don't have a family doctor, or who temporarily can't reach theirs. They're commonly used for short-term infection symptoms, rashes and other skin concerns, minor injuries, short-term pain, and some non-urgent problems that may need an in-person assessment. Walk-in Clinic 主要为没有家庭医生，或者暂时无法联系家庭医生的人，提供非紧急医疗服务。一般适合处理短期感染症状、皮疹或其他皮肤问题、轻微受伤、短期疼痛，以及部分需要面诊的非紧急问题。

Walk-in clinics usually don't require you to register as a long-term patient first, but that doesn't mean every clinic has enough capacity every day. You may still need to: Walk-in Clinic 通常不要求患者预先登记成为长期病人，但不代表每一间诊所每天都有足够名额。患者可能仍需要：

• Find a nearby clinic that's currently accepting patients查找附近正在接诊的诊所
• Confirm whether same-day spots are still available确认是否仍有当日名额
• Travel to the clinic and register前往现场登记
• Arrange transportation or take time away from work安排交通或请假
• Wait in the waiting room在候诊室等候
• Explain your medical history again to a new clinician重新向医生说明病史
• Follow up on prescriptions, tests or referrals yourself自行跟进处方、检查或转介

For a health issue that may seem relatively minor, the full process can still take up a significant part of a workday or family schedule. 对于一个看似不大的健康问题，整个过程仍可能影响半天工作或家庭安排。

Source: Government of Ontario walk-in clinic information.资料来源：安省政府 Walk-in Clinic 服务说明。

How Ontario's common health-care options compare安省常见医疗服务怎样比较？

Urgent Care Centres can treat some illnesses and injuries that need faster attention but are generally not life-threatening. Available services vary by location. Urgent Care Centre 可处理部分需要较快处理、但通常不危及生命的疾病及受伤。具体服务范围因地点而异。

Source: Government of Ontario information on walk-in clinics, Urgent Care Centres, emergency departments and Health811.资料来源：安省政府 Walk-in Clinic、Urgent Care Centre、急诊室及 Health811 资料。

Careby doesn't replace Ontario's health-care system — it helps connect the pieces康伴不是取代现有医疗系统，而是帮助您把它连接起来

Careby isn't designed to ask members to give up their family doctor, pharmacy, walk-in clinic or hospital. It's designed to help members use Ontario's existing health-care resources more effectively. 康伴的理念，并不是要求会员放弃家庭医生、药房、Walk-in Clinic 或医院，而是希望帮助会员更有效地使用安省现有的医疗资源。

When new symptoms appear, the question may not simply be "where do I see a doctor?" You may also need to know: 当身体突然出现信号时，您需要面对的可能不只是"去哪里看医生"，还包括：

• What are my options if my family doctor doesn't have an appointment that works?家庭医生没有合适时段，还有什么选择？
• Would a virtual physician be a reasonable first step?是否适合先使用在线医生？
• How does a prescription get sent to my preferred pharmacy?处方应该怎样送到常用药房？
• Where do I complete a lab requisition the doctor ordered?医生开出的化验单应该去哪里完成？
• How do I arrange an X-ray or other imaging?X 光或其他影像检查应该怎样安排？
• Has my specialist referral actually been sent?专科转介是否已经送出？
• Has the clinic received the information it needs?诊所是否已经收到所需资料？
• Who is following up on the next step?下一步由谁跟进？

Careby's role is to help members connect with physicians, organize the next steps, and cut down the time spent repeatedly searching for and contacting different health-care providers. 康伴的作用，是帮助会员连接医生、整理下一步，并减少在不同医疗机构之间反复查找及查询的时间。

How Careby provides more connected support康伴如何提供更连贯的医疗支持？

1. Connect with a licensed physician online1. 连接持牌医生进行在线问诊

Members can book virtual physician appointments seven days a week. Same-day and next-day video appointments are typical; exact availability is shown during booking. For Ontario residents with a valid OHIP card, eligible physician visits may be covered by OHIP, depending on the service provided and the applicable billing rules. 会员可以预约在线医生问诊，服务时段覆盖每周七天；当日或次日视频问诊属于常见安排，具体可用时间以预约系统显示为准。持有效 OHIP 的安省居民，符合资格及相关计费规则的医生问诊，可按实际服务安排由 OHIP 承保。

2. A licensed physician determines the appropriate next medical step2. 由持牌医生判断下一步医疗需要

During a virtual consultation, the physician assesses your individual situation and determines whether you need: 在线问诊期间，持牌医生会根据个别情况进行评估，并判断是否需要：

• A new or renewed prescription, when appropriate开具或续开合适的处方
• Blood work or other lab testing安排血液或其他实验室检查
• An X-ray, ultrasound or other diagnostic imaging申请 X 光、超声波或其他影像检查
• A specialist referral作出专科转介
• An in-person medical assessment建议患者接受面诊
• Urgent Care or emergency-department assessment建议前往 Urgent Care 或急诊

Whether a prescription, lab test, imaging or specialist referral is needed is determined by the licensed physician responsible for your care, based on the clinical situation. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) requires physicians providing virtual care to maintain the applicable standard of care. If a physical examination or in-person assessment is necessary, the physician must arrange or direct the patient to appropriate in-person care. 是否需要处方、检查、影像或专科转介，由负责个案的持牌医生根据临床情况决定。安省内外科医生学院（CPSO）规定，医生提供在线医疗时仍须维持适用的医疗标准；如医生认为需要体格检查或面诊，必须安排或引导患者获得合适的实体医疗服务。

Source: CPSO Virtual Care Policy.资料来源：CPSO Virtual Care Policy。

3. A Careby coordinator helps manage the follow-up3. 健康管家协助处理后续安排

For many people, the hard part isn't finding a doctor. It's knowing what to do after the medical visit. A Careby coordinator can reach you by phone, text or email, and help with administrative and coordination tasks such as: 很多人的困难，并不是完全找不到医生，而是看完医生之后，不知道下一步应该怎样进行。康伴健康管家可通过电话、短信或电邮与会员沟通，并协助处理相关行政及协调工作，例如：

• Organizing the information needed for an appointment整理预约所需资料
• Helping members prepare relevant medical documents协助会员准备医疗文件
• Following up on the status of referrals or test requests跟进转介或检查申请状态
• Helping identify service locations and available appointment times协助查询服务地点及可用时段
• Reminding members to bring their health card, medication list or relevant reports提醒会员准备健康卡、药物清单或相关报告
• Reducing the need to call different offices repeatedly for status updates减少会员重复致电不同机构查询的需要

Careby provides connection and coordination. Diagnosis, prescribing, treatment, testing and referral decisions remain the responsibility of the licensed health-care professionals providing the clinical care. 康伴负责连接及协调；诊断、处方、治疗、检查和转介决定，仍由提供医疗服务的持牌医疗专业人员作出。

If you already have a family doctor, do you still need Careby?已经有家庭医生，还需要康伴吗？

Using Careby doesn't mean giving up your existing family doctor. Your family doctor remains an important health-care partner for long-term condition management, ongoing follow-up, and care that depends on a complete medical history. 使用康伴并不代表需要放弃现有家庭医生。家庭医生仍然是长期病症管理、持续跟进及综合病史管理的重要医疗伙伴。

Careby can work alongside your existing care arrangements — for example, when: 康伴可以作为现有医疗安排之上的补充，例如：

• Your family doctor doesn't currently have an appointment time that works for you家庭医生暂时没有合适预约时间
• Work or family responsibilities make it difficult to spend a long time waiting in person工作或照顾家人，不方便长时间现场候诊
• You'd like to start with a virtual physician assessment希望先通过在线方式接受医生评估
• You already have a test or referral request and need help managing the next steps已取得检查或转介申请，需要协助处理后续安排
• Different members of your household have different health-care needs家庭中不同成员有不同医疗需要
• You'd like a coordinator to help organize and follow up on the process希望有一个健康管家协助整理及跟进

This isn't a choice between your family doctor and Careby. It's an additional point of connection your household can use when you need it. 这不是在家庭医生和康伴之间二选一，而是为家庭增加一个可在需要时使用的医疗连接入口。

Why it helps to have support in place before you need it为什么提前拥有医疗支持很重要？

You can't predict when a new symptom or health concern will appear. It might be a rash that develops in the evening, an infection that starts over the weekend, or a test result that needs another step. When you actually need medical help is usually the most stressful time to start searching for a clinic, checking hours, booking a physician and tracking paperwork. 我们无法预测身体什么时候会出现新的信号。可能是晚上突然出现皮疹，可能是周末出现感染症状，也可能是一份检查结果需要进一步处理。真正需要医疗协助时，再临时寻找诊所、确认接诊时间、预约医生及追踪文件，通常也是压力最大的时候。

Careby is meant to give members a clear point of access: connect with a physician when you need one, understand the next step after the consultation, and have someone continue to help coordinate the follow-up. It sits alongside Ontario's public system — not in place of it — so members spend less time figuring out where to go, contacting providers over and over, and tracking progress on their own. 康伴希望为会员提供一个清楚的入口：需要时连接医生，问诊后了解下一步，并有人继续协助跟进。康伴不是取代安省的公共医疗系统，而是在现有医疗服务之上，帮助会员减少寻找方向、反复联络及自行追踪进度所花的时间。

Common questions常见问题

The goal isn't another option — it's a clearer path through the ones you already have结语：不是增加另一个选择，而是把现有选择连接起来

Ontario now offers more entry points into the health-care system. Pharmacies can manage more minor ailments, family doctors provide ongoing care, walk-in clinics treat non-urgent problems, Urgent Care Centres handle some more immediate but non-life-threatening conditions, and emergency departments treat serious and potentially life-threatening situations. 安省正在提供更多医疗入口。药房可以处理更多轻微病症，家庭医生负责持续健康管理，Walk-in Clinic 处理非紧急问题，Urgent Care 处理部分较急情况，急诊室负责严重及可能危及生命的情况。

For busy households, though, the real need may not be more choices. It may be a clearer, more connected process — connect with a physician when you need one, get help with the next step, and cut down on unnecessary travel and repeated follow-up. 但对于忙碌的家庭来说，真正需要的可能不只是更多选择，而是一个更清楚、更连贯的过程——需要时连接医生，需要下一步时继续协助，减少不必要的奔波及重复跟进。