Important information for Patients:
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How To Find Us
Pacific Parkinson's Research Centre
UBC Hospital
2221
Wesbrook Mall
Vancouver, B.C.
V6T 2B5
Centre Fax 604-822-7866
Travelling by car
To get to UBC by car, drive westbound along either 4th Avenue, 10th Avenue, 16th Avenue, or 41st Avenue (which turns into SW Marine Drive). You may find that one street is easier or more direct for you than another, but one way or the other, they all lead to UBC. Click here to view and print a location map and driving directions.
More about driving to UBC can be found at Trek UBC
Parking
Parking is available :
- behind the hospital in the parkade (pay hourly)
- in front of the hospital (~$2.00 each 30 min)
- in B1 lot ($4.50/day: see UBC Parking Rates)
- on the street (metered)
- Parking may be limited when university classes are in session.
Public Transit
From Vancouver and the Lower Mainland:
- take any bus that states UBC as its destination -- in Vancouver, bus routes #4, #9, #17, #25, #41, #43, #44, #49, #99 B-Line, #258 and #480 from Richmond will all take you to UBC
- Skytrain passengers can get off at Broadway Station and then transfer onto the #99 B-Line bus to UBC
- note that some routes service the UBC campus only during peak hours
For more information about traveling to UBC by bus, please visit: UBC Directions. Full bus, Skytrain (rapid transit), and Seabus route and schedule information, including bus frequency listings and route maps, are also available on the Translink web site, or call 604.953.3333.
Finding the clinic
The clinic address is room G42– 2221 Wesbrook Mall. This is located at UBC Hospital in the Purdy Pavilion, which is right next door to the main hospital. The clinic is on the ground floor, one floor down from the main floor where you enter.
UBC Hospital is comprised of three buildings (Detwiller, Koerner & Purdy). The Purdy Pavilion is located to the left and behind the main building (Koerner Pavilion) and is distinguished by its red panels
If you are facing the emergency room (Urgent Care) entrance of the Koerner Pavilion take the path to the left of the building until you reach the Purdy Pavilion which will be on your left.
Neurologists:
Dr. A. Jon Stoessl, Director
604-822-7967
Dr. Martin J. McKeown, Clinical Director
604-827-5136
Dr. Silke Cresswell
604-822-7754
Dr. Joseph Tsui
604-822-7682
Hours:
8:30 am– 4:30 pm Monday to Friday
INFORMATION ABOUT THE CLINIC
The Pacific Parkinson’s Research Centre is a multidisciplinary program located at the University Hospital, UBC. The Centre is dedicated to the diagnosis and management of Parkinson’s and other related disorders, such as tremor and dystonia, and has been designated as a Center of Excellence by the National Parkinson Foundation in the US.
In addition to treatment of patients, we conduct a strong research program that spans preclinical, clinical and population studies. Under the direction of Dr. Stoessl, an internationally recognized expert on Parkinson’s disease, the centre has the largest peer-reviewed research program in Canada on Parkinson’s disease.
The staff at the Centre includes three full-time academic movement disorder neurologists; two full-time nurse coordinators; three full-time research coordinators; and a part-time physiotherapist and social worker. With this team in place, it is possible for patients and family members to see one or more members of the team when they come for their clinic visit. The Centre thus serves as the major referral Centre for Parkinson's within the province of British Columbia.
REFERRAL INFORMATION
To be seen at this clinic, you will need to have had a referral from either your family doctor or another specialist. If you haven’t been seen for the past year, the Medical Services Plan requires that your family doctor re-refer you.
APPOINTMENTS
Once we receive a new referral, your doctor will be contacted with an appointment time. Our clinic may be booked from 6 months to a year in advance. If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please give us as much notice as possible so that we may give your appointment to another patient.
Your appointment time is set aside especially for you. Failure to cancel within 2 working days or failure to keep a scheduled appointment may result in your being billed for the missed appointment. Please arrive 15 minutes early for your appointment. If you are late arriving for your appointment, it may be necessary to reschedule your visit for another date. When you arrive for your appointment, a receptionist will greet you. Please check-in and review your personal information with her. This will include your address, phone number, family physician, and your referring physician.
If you need to make a follow-up appointment, please book it on the day of your clinic visit to ensure that an appointment is available within the appropriate time frame.
THE CLINIC VISIT
The clinic address is room G42 – 2221 Wesbrook Mall. This is located at UBC Hospital in the Purdy Pavilion, which is right next door to the main hospital. The clinic is on the ground floor, one floor down from the main floor where you enter. There is pay parking in the parkade directly behind the hospital.
Please remember that your consultation may take some time. Your first visit with the doctor will include a full medical history and a neurological and general physical examination. You may have the opportunity to see other team members at the visit including the nurse, physiotherapist, and social worker. While we do want to address all your pertinent problems, please remember that the focus of this clinic is your movement disorder and other problems of a more general nature may be more appropriately dealt with by your family doctor. As this is a teaching Centre, you may be seen first by a resident (a fully qualified physician who is doing further specialty training) or a fellow (a fully qualified specialist who is doing further sub-specialty training in movement disorders). As research is an important component of our activities, research staff or trainees may, with your permission, also attend your visit.
Take your medications as you normally do on the day of your appointment. Also, please bring with you all the medications you are currently taking, and if possible, a list of medications previously taken. You are encouraged to bring family members to your visit. They may provide us with unique information about your symptoms.
RESULTS OF INVESTIGATIONS
Unless there are exceptional circumstances, results of investigations will NOT be communicated over the telephone. All results are routinely sent to your referring physician (usually your family doctor.) In some instances, we will arrange a follow-up visit with you to discuss the results of your investigations and make further recommendations.
REPORTS
A full report of your visit will be sent to the physician who referred you to this clinic, and often to the other physicians involved in your care. Progress reports will be sent at the time of each return visit.
PRESCRIPTIONS
We require at least one-week notice for prescription renewals, and you can arrange this by calling your own pharmacy. To keep telephone prescriptions to a minimum, please try and refill all your medications at one time.
QUESTIONS
If you need to discuss your medication or any other problems that you might be having in between your appointments with your doctor, please call the office and give the secretary the pertinent details so that she may pass the message to the appropriate staff member. We strongly discourage e-mail communication for a number of reasons, including maintaining strict confidentiality. While we will always do our best to address problems you may be experiencing, we cannot take responsibility for e-mail to either staff or physicians. We encourage you to call and speak to one of our staff directly.
BOTULINUM TOXIN (BOTOX)
For those patients receiving Botox, you will need to go to the University Pharmacy to make arrangements for payment at your first visit. The address of the pharmacy is 5754 University Boulevard, which is an approximate 5-minute walk from the clinic. If you have questions regarding insurance coverage for Botox, please contact the pharmacist at 604-224-3202 to try to answer any questions you might have.
If you need to have forms completed, please leave them with us - they will not be completed during your visit due to time restraints. Please ensure that you have signed the form giving us permission to release your medical information. There may be a nominal charge for this service.