Ontario
MRI Wait Times
Ontario has one of the longest wait times in the country for MRI scan. If you are just getting diagnosed and your doctor requests an MRI you may find waiting months to be unbearable. There ways to speed things up:
- Wait times vary significantly from hospital to hospital so check the Ontario Wait Times website and see if you can schedule your MRI at a nearby hospital with a short wait.
- Request an MRI after hours, between midnight and 7am. MRI's in some cities (such as Ottawa) run around the clock to keep up with demand. Ask the nurse or person booking your MRI about scheduling your MRI at night to get it sooner.
- Go to a private MRI clinic and get it done the next day. There are some in Gatineau, Quebec (near Ottawa) or if you live near the US boarder you might be able to find one close. Cost is approximately $750-$1000 depending on what is required.
See Current Ontario Wait Times
Ontario Drug Benefit: Trillium Drug Program
Treatment of pituitary conditions often requires expensive prescription drugs. The Trillium Drug Program is a provincially funded program that may cover some of your prescription drug costs. In short, if your drug costs are more than 4% of your household income then you may qualify for coverage.
Finding an Endocrinologist
Not surprisingly, the best Endocrinologist in Ontario (and maybe the country) are located in Toronto. If you are within driving distance of the city my recommendation is to find one of those rare doctors that specializes in pituitary endocrinology.