Sharbot Lake Family Health Team

Dr Cunic and the team at Sharbot Lake Medical Centre provide a great standard of care — thank you!

I LOVE this office. They offer all in one services for everything from medical, mental health, community programs, smoking cessation. You don't normally have to wait long for appointments. They have a dispensary for medication, which is very convenient. All the staff are friendly and helpful. If you are in the area and in need of a family doctor, look no further.

This morning I visited the Family Health Centre in Sharbot Lake. I had lived and worked in Sharbot Lake from 1988 until 2004 and during that time had been a patient at the clinic. We still have a cottage in the area and I have been to see either their nurse practitioners or Dr. Bell over the years even though I no longer live there year round. Over the weekend I had been bitten by a tick and was unsuccessful in totally removing the whole tick and the bite area was inflamed. I had timed my visit so I could be there right at 9 a.m. There were no other patients waiting when I arrived and only one other who arrived before I left. The receptionist was polite but firm … they would not see me because I was not a current patient and oh … they were ‘down’ one doctor, leaving the clinic with only one doctor and two nurse practitioners. I asked what they would do over the summer with the major influx of tourists to the area. She said she didn’t know. As I sat waiting in the Perth Hospital ER waiting room, I ran into a couple from Sharbot Lake. Their granddaughter had also been refused care in Sharbot Lake. After many years as patients of the Sharbot Lake Clinic, both Mr. & Mrs. had changed doctors (one to Perth, the other to Verona) because of their dissatisfaction with the S. L. clinic. For a centrally located medical facility serving central & north Frontenac townships, this is a sad state of affairs, especially for those with limited ability to travel elsewhere either for emergency care or to find other medical professionals.

Ruth G and Ally Bs reviews are a joke dont take them seriously. This is a health clinic, NOT A HOSPITAL. If you require immediate care like you know, a serious tick bite, go to a hospital. If you are not a patient for the clinic dont expect to be "seen" as they book weeks if not months out for their patients. Allys comment about her child sitting in a soiled diaper is more on her as a parent... Why would you not get your husband to take your child out to your car and change them? Dont expect a tiny clinic to cater too your every whim. That all aside (i Hate people who review small town clinics like they are hospitals or have the funding to provide luxaries. You can easily change a babies diaper in a car. ) The doctors and staff have always treated me well. They help me with my issues and was able to get registered as a patient of dr cunic fairly quickly. He asks me detailed questions and even helps me wirh my anxiety/dépression. I have a had terrible family doctor in pembroke before this, but I habe to say dr. Cunic is great. Just remember this is a small town clinic not a hospital. If something urgent happens go to perth or kingstons hospital. A clinics duties are to their registered patients first...delays can happen. They are only human and patients sometimes take longer or issues arise. If you are in a rush or bringing your soiled children in...its best you deal with those issues first. Like seriously, dont keep your child in soiled diapers because there isnt a change table. Go and change them or get your spouse too! I appreciate they take their time. I have never felt rushed or pushed when I go and yes sometimes I have to wait a little longer so i download some books on my phone or play phone games while I wait. If its an emergency or urgent I go to the hospital. Problem solved.

Sharbot Lake "Family" Health Team is a joke. They don't even have any sort of change table or station in the building.. My child had to sit in her dirty diaper while I waited. I didn't even get to see Dr. Bell or any other health provider there due to the miserable treatment I received from the Staff. The older woman at the desk was rude and seemed like she really hated her job. I waited for over 40 minutes and was told after sitting there for that time in pain, with a crying and soiled baby that there was an emergency and they were running late. Why she didn't have the courtesy to tell me that before I walked out is unknown, as I would have sure let the person with the crabby, crying and soiled child know that they were going to be waiting hours to see a doctor. My husband complained to the woman at the desk and she tried to lie and say, "she's only been here 10 minutes.." When she did acknowledge she was wrong, she couldn't even be bothered to offer an apology. This was not a walk in clinic and my appointment was booked a week and a half previously.. it was my first time there and I showed up early to make sure I could complete any paperwork before my appointment time. Contrary to what their website states, they would be the last place I would want to seek mental health services from as they made me feel subhuman the entire time I was there. I would also not recommend taking children there as they have poor facilities and a single toy. (Not that they should have a bunch of toys, but I was expecting more than a single toy, two kid sized chairs and no change tables/areas/station from a places that advertises as for families.) I will be going to a hospital for my injury and will seek out a much more professional medical center and 'health team'.

We are so fortunate to have this clinic in our area. Dr. Cunic and Dr. Bell work together to meet the needs of each other's patients. During Covid they have continued to provide care through phone consultations and parking lot assessments when needed. They are responsive to the needs of the community.

I had search for years for a Doctor for my son because we had to use clinics because our family Doctor retired. My son is agoraphobic and had not left the house in over 10 years. With the help and support of the Doctors Nurses and Staff my son is now in College, has his drivers licence and I couldn't be more thankful or appreciative of such an amazing place! Thank you all for saving my sons life.

The Family Health Team and all the volunteers did a tremendous job organizing and providing flu shots to the community at GREC on October 31st. I imagine a flu shot clinic is a challenge under the best of circumstances and delivering one during a pandemic more so. Great job everyone!