Ingrid Jarvis, MD, FRCPC, DABD

What can you really say about dermatologists in Toronto?
They’re few and far between, but you sort of have no choice to see them if you’re fair-​skinned and at all concerned about your exposure to the sun (which we all very much should be). So while I’m giving a less than stellar review here, I will mutter under my breath and keep seeing Dr. Jarvis, as I have been for the last 20 years. Dermatology is one field where seniority and patient loyalty have no bearing on the service that you receive…
I’m pretty sure Dr. Jarvis only works at this office 1 – 2 days per week and also takes a lot of vacation, so that may count for an explanation as to why it’s so hard to get an appointment.
The receptionist is beyond rude. One of the most sour and generally unfriendly greetings I’ve ever had the displeasure of encountering. I’m pretty sure she’s been working at that office for a century. One of those «I hate my job but hey, it’s been 20 years and I’m not exactly qualified to make a move to go elsewhere» types. What can you do except write a Unilocal review about it warning future patients not to expect a warm welcome?
More warnings:
* You will never, ever be seen on time. The closest to my actual appointment time I’ve been seen is one hour late. The longest was three hours.
* They don’t «do» appointment reminders. So either start using an electronic calendar or get someone who uses one to remind you about that January 19, 2012 appointment.
* After your appointment you’ll stupidly ask the receptionist if you can book your next year’s followup appointment (as you do, in vain, every year) and she’ll say «my calendar doesn’t go that far» and tell you to call closer to the date. So you’ll set yourself a reminder to call six months later, and then the line will be busy for weeks on end (I’ve used *66 for this and forgotten about it, then gotten a call two weeks later. TWO WEEKS.) and when she finally answers, will put you on hold and may or may not come back to you.
* Everyone in the waiting room is old and looks depressed (because they’ve been waiting hours and might ACTUALLY die before being seen). Seriously, if any filmmakers want inspiration for what it must have been like to grow up in war-​torn Bulgaria or toiling away in a Russian gulag, go check out the waiting room at 2917 Bloor Street West.