Walk-In Clinics

BCML Walk-in clinic makes it easy to get both the medical care and prescriptions you need all in one convenient location. We offer an expansive range of non-emergency medical care right in the heart of downtown Toronto, including prescriptions from our onsite pharmacy.

Whether you need antibiotics for strep throat, require medication to manage a chronic condition, or have any other prescription needs, BCML is here for you. In this post we will look at everything you need to know about getting your prescriptions filled at Toronto’s BCML walk-in clinic.

To order prescription delivery or refills now, contact us at 416-640-7700.

Ways to Get Your Walk-In Clinic Prescriptions in Toronto

In-Person: BCML pharmacy is located onsite at our downtown Toronto location. We stock hundreds of the most common prescriptions to make getting your medications fast and easy.

Auto-Refill: Sign-up for our auto-refill option to have your prescriptions automatically filled on time. Note that prescriptions will require physician approval before being filled. If you do not have any refills left, you will need to contact your doctor. You may also call our pharmacy to have us contact your physician but it is often better for patients to contact their doctors personally.

Prescription Delivery: Make auto-refill even more beneficial by combining it with our prescription delivery service. BCML offers free local Toronto prescription delivery throughout the GTA.

Pharmacy Hours

BCML strives to maintain hours that fit the needs of our patients. If the hours below do not suit your needs, we encourage you to sign up for our free delivery options.

Mon-Thurs:

8AM – 8PM

Friday:

8AM – 6PM

Saturday:

9AM – 3PM

Sunday:

CLOSED

Why Choose Prescription Auto-Refill and Delivery

Auto-refill and prescription delivery are the best ways to ensure you always have the prescriptions you need to stay healthy. Here are the top benefits you can expect from auto-refill and delivery:

Prescriptions When You Need Them

If you have ever had to make an emergency trip to the pharmacy for a prescription that has run out, you already understand the benefits of auto-refill and delivery. With these combined services you will never have to worry about missing a dose due to an unfilled prescription.

Free Toronto Prescription Delivery

BCML offers 100% free prescription delivery anywhere in the greater Toronto area. Get your prescriptions shipped in time so you never run out. Your prescriptions arrive right at your doorstep making it easier than ever to stay on top of your health needs.

Affordable Prescriptions and Time Savings

Along with keeping drug costs affordable, delivery also means never having to waste time or gas on getting your prescriptions. This is part of BCML’s commitment to helping our patients stay healthy while also making medical care as cost-effective and convenient as possible.

Reminder Alerts

Auto-refill options can be used to alert you to when your next refill is due and if you have refills left. Most prescriptions will need to be re-approved by your physician after a certain amount of refills. Reminders help further ensure you are not left without your necessary prescriptions.

Note, some restrictions may apply to auto-refill and delivery. Certain prescriptions may not be deliverable and a doctor’s approval will be required for additional refills. Speak with your physician about refill approval and your requirements for continued approval. For example, many prescriptions require you to have an in-person visit with your doctor at least once a year in order to qualify for a prescription renewal.

Do I Have to Choose Delivery for Auto-Refills?

While many patients do combine our delivery and auto-refill options, they do not have to be used together. Patients will sometimes choose auto-refill as opposed to delivery since they prefer picking up their own prescriptions. If you live or work close to the BCML clinic, in-person pick-up is a fast and convenient option.

Why Get Prescriptions Filled at a Walk-In Clinic?

One of the biggest benefits to getting your prescriptions from a walk-in clinic like BCML is that you are often able to receive a diagnosis of common ailments and get your medication at the same time.

All the Care You Need in One Place

Since our campus also includes dental services, physical therapy, family medicine, and diagnostics you can often get your prescriptions filled on the day they are prescribed while you wait. This is particularly convenient when you have any condition that requires antibiotics or pain medication.

Our other services include:

• Physiotherapy
• Dental care
• Family practice
• Optometric centre
• Nuclear cardiology
• X-ray and Ultrasound lab
• Hearing assessment and hearing aids
• Vaccines including COVID-19 and flu shots

Experienced Pharmacists

BCML’s pharmacists are experienced and knowledgeable about a wide range of drugs and drug interactions. Whether you come in to get your prescription or choose delivery, our pharmacists are here to answer all of your medication questions. Ask our pharmacists when you come in or call 416-640-7700 to speak to a pharmacist during business hours.

Fast Relief

When you are in pain or have a contagious illness, it is important to get medication as quickly as possible. Our onsite pharmacy makes that easier than ever.

Healthier for You and the Community

Convenient prescriptions always make it easier for patients to stay on top of their health. Additionally, it is also better for the community as it can lower the risks of spreading contagious illness.

Being able to receive a medication at the same location where you are diagnosed means less traveling to other locations and coming into contact with fewer people. Though you must still be careful with contact whenever you have a contagious illness, this is one small way to reduce risks.

Order Your Prescriptions Now

Take the stress out of getting the prescriptions you need with convenient refill and delivery options from BCML. We also offer walk-in clinic services and service by appointment.

Order prescriptions and refills by calling us at 416-640-7700.  You can also schedule an appointment or inquire about other services by calling our walk-in clinic at 416-929-1900 or scheduling an appointment through our online appointment portal.

At the most basic level “walk-in” medical care is care you can receive without a prior appointment. Technically, this can describe a variety of medical facilities including retail clinics, urgent care facilities, community health centers, and emergency rooms. However, while both urgent care and walk-in clinics qualify under this definition, there are distinct differences between the two.

Overall, an urgent care facility has greater capabilities than a walk-in clinic while neither is as robust as an emergency room. Here we will look at the services typically offered at urgent care vs. walk-in clinics and when to visit each.

What is a Walk-In Clinic?

The term “walk-in clinic” refers to medical facilities that do not require an appointment and can provide care for many non life-threatening health concerns. However, walk-in clinic is sometimes used to refer to what is also known as a “retail clinic.”

While most non retail clinics are free standing facilities or part of larger medical complexes, a retail clinic is most often located inside a pharmacy. Originally intended to provide basic medical care in underserved communities, retail clinics can provide immunizations, prescription refills, and screening for common health concerns like high blood pressure. Some may also be able to diagnose and treat common illnesses like strep throat.

In contrast, a free standing walk-in clinic will provide everything a retail clinic does with the addition of services like blood testing, x-rays and treatment for a wider range of injuries and illnesses.

What is Urgent Care?

Urgent care has many of the same services as a walk-in clinic but has an emphasis on treatment for non life threatening, but urgent matters. This would include treatment for minor wounds, sprains, simple breaks, and burns. An urgent care will also have greater diagnostic capabilities than a retail clinic including blood testing, x-rays, and urinalysis. Additionally, urgent care will usually have a doctor on staff while a retail clinic will have a nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant.

When to Go to Urgent Care Vs a Walk-In Clinic

While urgent care and walk-in clinics have similarities, each is better for different situations. Things to consider before choosing include the severity of your injury, hours of operation, and if an emergency room or your primary care physician may be a better choice.

Immunizations: For vaccines and other routine shots, a walk-in clinic is likely to be your best option. However, your primary care physician is also a good choice if you can get an appointment.

Physical: A physical and other basic health screenings can be performed at a walk-in clinic like Bay College Medical & Lockwood Diagnostic. If you need specific testing, however; it is best to call ahead to ensure the clinic offers that service since walk-in clinics can vary greatly. At BCML we offer a full range of diagnostic services to help with regular check-ups and diagnosis of specific ailments.

Minor Infections or Illness: For health concerns such as strep throat, urinary tract infection, low grade fever, or small rash, a walk-in clinic is typically best. However, if any of these issues is severe, an urgent care may be a better choice. Similarly, for a high fever that will not break in 3 days or less it is likely time for an emergency room visit..

Bone Breaks: While an urgent care and some walk-in clinics can handle simple sprains and some fractures, this is usually a matter for the emergency room.

Major Accidents: Car accidents, burns, head injuries, chest pains, signs of stroke and any other potentially life-threatening condition should be treated at an emergency room. Urgent care may be able to help with some of these conditions but they are more likely to direct you to an emergency room so it is better to go there first.

Other Considerations

Hours of Operation: One major determining factor is when you need treatment. Generally, a retail walk-in clinic will be open the same hours as the pharmacy it is located in. An urgent care, on the other hand, will typically have extended hours into the later evening and on the weekend. However, even with extended hours, an urgent care may not be 24/7. If you need care in the middle of the night or during the weekend, an hospital emergency room may be the only option.

Where You Will Receive the Fastest Care: While an emergency room is the most likely to have the tools for just about any injury, it can pose the issue of extreme wait times.  Also, patients with the most severe issues will be seen first. Therefore, while you should always seek emergency attention when it is needed, try to utilize a walk-in clinic or urgent care whenever possible.

Should You Wait to See Your Primary Care Doctor: When your health concerns are not urgent or an emergency, a visit to your doctor may be more beneficial. Your physician will have your medical history on file and be better able to assess your overall health.  If possible, call your doctor to describe your symptoms and see what their recommendation is.

Virtual Doctor Appointments: Virtual appointments have some obvious limitations but they can be a convenient way to consult with your doctor quickly. In a virtual meeting, your doctor may be able to provide advice for at-home care of a variety of illnesses and injuries. They may also be able to diagnose some visible health concerns such as rashes.

Urgent Care & Walk-In Clinics Downtown Toronto

Both urgent care and walk-in clinics can treat and diagnose a wide variety of health concerns while allowing you to skip long wait times for an appointment with your doctor, or the emergency room.

If you need the services of a walk-in clinic in Toronto, Bay College Medical & Lockwood Diagnostic is here to help. Along with care for illness and injury, we also offer dental care, physiotherapy, cardiology, blood testing, hearing tests, and eye exams. For help with your total health, call BCML today at 416-929-1900.