Have you been removed from your family doctor's patient list for visiting an Ontario walk-in clinic?

Some Ontarians are expressing frustration after they said that they were removed from their family doctor’s patient list for visiting a walk-in clinic in a process being called “de-rostering.”

Multiple people told Newstalk 1010’s Jerry Agar last week that after seeking care at another clinic they discovered their family physician had removed them from the patient list.

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One individual from Brampton, Ont. said his family doctor is in downtown Toronto and he doesn’t go unless his need is great. Instead, he visits a walk-in clinic near his home.

When he required a document signed and went to his family doctor, he was informed he was “de-rostered.”

“They went on the computer and they're like, oh we don't even have you on here anymore,” the caller told Newstalk 1010.

“I didn't get a letter or anything.”

Similar stories were shared throughout the Newstalk1010 segment, of patients who were informed after the fact that they would no longer be a patient at their primary care office following multiple walk-in clinic visits. In some cases the patient was given a formal letter and in other cases the patient found out when they tried to make an appointment.

None of the patients knew this was a possibility, although one Newstalk 1010 caller said that some clinics have started putting signs up in their office.

The process of de-rostering is specific to physicians associated with a Family Health Organization or Network. According to the province, these doctors are compensated through a combination of fee-for-service and pay per patient. When a patient receives care outside of the network, the ministry deducts that cost from a potential bonus payment that can be earned.

A spokesperson for the minister of health confirmed this practice, saying in a statement that “in certain circumstances, when a patient receives care from more than one health care provider, an enrolling physician may decide to de-enroll a patient.”

The spokesperson said the physician can continue to provide services to the patient on a fee-for-service basis through the Ontario Health Insurance Plan.

CTV News Toronto wants to hear from you. Have you been removed from a physician’s patient list for using an outside service? How were you informed and what impact has this had on you or your family’s health?

Share your story by emailing us at [e-mail] with your name, general location and phone number in case we want to follow up. Your comments may be used in a CTV News Toronto story.