welcome
We are a vancouver island medical clinic specializing in respirology
My First Appointment
The secretary will call to confirm your appointment. If you’ve had a change of address or phone number, please call or email and update our information. The first visit tends to be longer-up to 45 minutes in some cases. Subsequent visits are shorter, 10 or 15 minutes. Your respirologist always sends a letter to your family doctor.
The initial visit is about understanding your story and what the breathing issues, cough, etc. is all about. Based on that visit, testing or treatments will usually be suggested. There can be different waiting periods for different tests and unless there is a specific urgency, your follow up visit will be after all tests have been completed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get Directions
We are located beside McDonald’s or across from the Tim Hortons on Bowen Road.
Mount Benson Medical
In order to see one of our doctors, you’ll need a referral from another doctor or nurse practitioner. We do not have spots for walk ins nor are there any family doctors working in our clinic.
We follow provincial guidance on mask use. We are a scent-free office, please do your best to limit exposure for our asthmatic patients.
Dr. S. Annie Oravec
Respirology
Dr. Blair Fulton
Respirology
Dr. John Ronald
Respirology
Sara
Medical Office Assistant
Whitney
Medical Office Assistant
Katy
Medical Office Assistant
Helpful Resources
BC Cancer Agency
UpToDate
A non Pharmaceutical medical website with patient level information.
American Cancer Society
Canadian Asthma Society
BC Lung Foundation
The Canadian Lung Association
Using your inhaler
Contact Us Today
Monday to Thursday 9-3, Friday closed.
Our clinic is open and phones are answered during these hours. As all our our doctors also work in the hospital, your doctor may not be available during these hours. We are closed all statutory holidays and when our doctors are working remotely or in the hospital. Please call the clinic if you need to stop in outside of your appointment time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my wait time so long?
Our Doctors see adults and sometimes teenagers about respiratory problems from a large geographic area.
Canadian health care is known for its waiting lists. Specialist appointment requests are triaged and sorted by urgency. For example, a suspected lung cancer would be seen very soon and a chronic cough may wait longer. Wait times vary by demand. If you feel your problem is urgent, ask your family doctor to speak with one of our Doctors directly.
What is a bronchoscopy?
Bronchoscopy is a day-care surgery procedure that takes about 15-30 minutes. You will be at the hospital for about 2 hours. You will need to come to the hospital with an empty stomach–that means nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before. You may take your medications with a sip of water on the morning of your test. When you arrive you will check in at admitting.
You’ll be taken into the endoscopy area. You will get changed on top into a gown. An IV will be placed. Dentures will be removed. You will have a numbing agent sprayed in the back of your throat. Once you’re in the endoscopy suite, you will have a bite block placed. You will receive sedating medications. An oxygen mask will be applied. The physician will then perform the procedure.
The majority of patients will not remember their procedure. You will be taken from the endoscopy suite to the recovery room where you will spend approximately one hour.
The physician will have taken samples in most cases which will be sent off to the lab. The amount of time it takes to receive results varies depending on the test but the majority of test results will be available within two weeks.
Are there other Doctors I could see?
Depending on the problem, your doctor could also choose to refer to a different type of specialist. For example, for lung cancer, a thoracic surgeon or an oncologist. For sinus issues, ENT. For sleep, the sleep lab. For shortness of breath, an internist or cardiologist. Each of these doctors will have wait lists of their own.
Breathing tests or Bronchoscopy location in Nanaimo?
Going for breathing tests or a bronchoscopy?
Head to NRGH – for directions see Google Map
Park in Ambulatory Care Parking lot
Don’t forget to pay for parking
Enter in Ambulatory Care entrance.
Look for admitting desk and they will get you all settled.
