Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) is resuming walk-in only service for outpatient general X-ray services to improve access and flexibility for both patients and referring healthcare providers.
X-rays, like most medical exams or tests, require a referral and requisition from an ordering healthcare provider, generally doctors and nurse practitioners. Referring providers send an electronic requisition directly to the hospital and/or give a hard copy of the requisition to the patient to bring to their X-ray exam.
Walk-in visits are not pre booked. Through a walk-in only service patients who have been referred to have an outpatient X-ray will arrive at any of the three X-ray locations operated by MAHC without a booked appointment. Patients will be seen in order of arrival. Please note there could be delays in accommodating the X-ray if the healthcare provider has not completed all required parts of the requisition.
Walk-in practice was stopped in 2020 to meet patient safety requirements during a time of great uncertainty during early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are pleased to resume walk-in only X-ray services, and will no longer schedule X-ray appointments with patients. Resuming the walk-in practice means a patient can direct their own care more efficiently,” says Cheryl Harrison, President and CEO. “For example, a patient could leave their healthcare provider’s office with a completed requisition sent electronically to the hospital or in hand hard copy and go straight to one of our locations for the X-ray the same day.”
Walk-in X-ray services are available Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Huntsville District Memorial Hospital site and the South Muskoka Memorial Hospital site.
Walk-in X-ray services are also available at the Almaguin Highlands Health Centre in Burk’s Falls on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.