New standards imposed on walk-in clinics by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC have been met with concerns and confusion from both patients and doctors.

The new rules are meant to connect more patients to primary care doctors since an estimated 200,000 B.C. residents are actively looking for a family doctor. They’re also meant to ensure walk-in clinics provide the same high standards of care as traditional medical practices where patients make appointments to see a doctor.

Since the tougher rules came into effect three weeks ago, some walk-in clinics have turned patients away because of onerous rules ordering them to offer ongoing care to patients after their first drop-in visit.

Doctors of BC, which represents more than 12,000 physicians, says it has also heard concerns about the revised guidelines and is seeking a meeting with College representatives.

“Doctors of BC believes in the importance of longitudinal care; patients have the best health outcomes when they have a long-term relationship with their family doctor. Doctors of BC was not consulted during the development of the revised guidelines, however we are hearing from doctors that they have a number of concerns,” said Dr. Charles Webb in an emailed statement.

Susan Prins, spokeswoman for the College, which licenses and regulates doctors, concedes it has received at least a dozen calls in the past few weeks and, as a result, the College has posted an “addendum” on its website to help clarify the new standards. The most controversial rule pertains to patients who visit a walk-in clinic the first time; the College says if they need and want the clinic to be their “medical home of record,” the clinic must take them in. Formerly, there was an expectation that clinics would be considered a patient’s primary care clinic of record after three visits.

One walk-in clinic in Surrey, Hilltop Medical, has posted signs after a story about the changes appeared in The Vancouver Sun two weeks ago. One of them states:

“Due to new regulations with the College of Physicians and Surgeons we will no longer be able to see patients who are not registered with one of our family physicians. Our walk-in clinic will only see our own patients.”

No doctor working at the clinic would speak about the matter Wednesday.

When Prins was asked whether the College rules may be having an unintended, opposite effect if clinics are turning patients away, she said compliance with new rules is mostly about creating and keeping better patient charts and “there should be no need to turn patients away.”

But the College also states in one of its clarifications that if walk-in clinics are short-staffed, they should alert new patients that they don’t have the capacity to absorb additional patients. Clinics must do exactly what Hillside did, in other words: ensure clear communications with patients by posting signs or sending letters.

At the same time, patients must not fall through the cracks, so “if possible, do your best to provide alternate ideas for how they can access care,” the College advises doctors online.