New Patients
Care here begins with a referral from your family physician or nurse practitioner. This practice provides specialist care in three areas: perimenopause and menopause, disease-specific consultation for cardiometabolic and related conditions, and prehabilitation before surgery. This care is delivered virtually across British Columbia. It works alongside your primary care rather than replacing it, and your referring provider receives a summary of every visit.
Most care is delivered through group medical visits, which are covered by MSP at no cost to you.
How to get started
1. Ask your provider for a referral. Your family physician, nurse practitioner, or specialist can fax a referral to 778-729-1243. Forms are on the Referral Forms page. Print one and bring it to your appointment, or send your provider the link. Once your referral arrives, our office will email you with dates and next steps.
2. Complete your intake forms. You will receive secure intake forms by email before your visit. Please include your current medications, any recent test results, and the concerns that matter most to you, and return them at least one week ahead so there is time to review everything properly before we meet.
The forms are long, and that is deliberate. The conditions seen here are commonly missed in short appointments precisely because they cross several systems at once. A detailed picture at the outset means the time we have together goes toward answering your questions rather than gathering basic history.
3. Attend your group medical visit. Every patient starts here. A group medical visit is a physician-led session covering assessment, diagnosis, and evidence-based treatment for your condition. This includes the reasoning behind each recommendation, so you can weigh your own options. It is covered by MSP. There is no fee.
4. Individual consultation, if your case calls for it. Most people find the group visit answers what they came for. If your presentation turns out to be unusual or complex, a private one-on-one consultation is available afterward. This step is optional, applies only where it is clinically warranted, and is not offered for prehabilitation patients, whose care is delivered entirely through group visits.
What a group medical visit is actually like
If the idea gives you pause, you are not alone — and it is likely different from what you are picturing.
A group medical visit is structured teaching and clinical discussion, not a session where you recount your personal history in front of strangers. Sharing is entirely optional, and everyone present agrees to keep what is discussed private. You are welcome to listen, ask questions, or say nothing at all.
What most people find is that hearing from others is the unexpected benefit: the reassurance of learning how much is shared, and the questions they would never have thought to ask.
The model is well established elsewhere in medicine. In diabetes, chronic disease, and prenatal care, group visits show high patient satisfaction and outcomes comparable to or better than one-on-one care. Its use in menopause is newer, and early studies find it feasible and well received.
What to expect from your care
• A thorough specialist assessment, with enough time to understand what is actually driving your symptoms
• Explanations you can follow — including where the evidence is strong, and where it is genuinely uncertain
• Care that complements your family physician's work rather than duplicating it
• Clear documentation sent to your referring provider, and to you if you would like a copy
Fees and coverage
Group medical visits. Covered by MSP for referred, eligible patients. No fee.
Individual consultations. Private, billed at $350 per hour, pro-rated to the length of the session (typically 60 minutes for an initial visit, 30 for follow-up). Reduced-rate options are available if cost is a barrier — please ask.
Labs and supplements. Not included in any fee, though most recommended testing is evidence-based and often covered by MSP.
Cancellations. Private appointments require 48 hours' notice to change or cancel. Reminders are sent by text or email beforehand.
Common questions
Do I need a referral?
Yes — from your family doctor, nurse practitioner, or specialist. This keeps your care coordinated with the rest of your team.
I don't have a family doctor. Can I still be seen?
A referral from a nurse practitioner or any specialist involved in your care also works. If you have no provider at all, email us and we will tell you what options exist.
Will this replace my family doctor?
No. This is consultative care. Your primary provider stays responsible for your ongoing care, and receives a summary of every visit.
Do I start with a group visit or one-on-one?
Everyone begins with a group medical visit. Individual consultation follows only if your case proves complex or atypical, and is not offered for prehabilitation.
How long is a group visit, and how many people are in it?
Typically 90-120 minutes and number of attendees varies between 5 and 25 people.
Is it on video? Do I have to have my camera on?
You do not need to have your camera on at all.
What if I need a prescription?
This would be done through one-on-one care only.
Do you see patients outside British Columbia?
No. All visits are virtual and limited to BC residents with active MSP coverage.
Ready to begin
Bring a referral form to your next appointment. Download it, hand it to your family doctor or nurse practitioner, and they can fax it to 778-729-1243.
Questions before you start? Email care@shannonlockhartmd.com