Alan ‘Bo’ BorensteinFeeling under the weather as a kid? Not so bad – it often means a day off school. Feeling sick as an adult, though? A different story entirely. It’s stressful, inconvenient, and often leads to endless hours of searching for the right doctor.
We realized this recently when a persistent cough wouldn’t go away. Finding a primary care doctor in Vancouver who could provide the care I needed took some effort.
Thankfully, with a bit of help, we managed to narrow down the best options. Here are the top primary care doctors in Vancouver who stood out!
| How Much Do Primary Care Doctors Charge in Vancouver? Services of primary doctors in Vancouver are covered by the Medical Services Plan (MSP) of British Columbia (BC). This means that you don’t have to pay for your appointments. However, take note that you must have a BC Services Card in order for MSP to cover your doctor’s services. |
How we chose the Best Primary Care Doctors in Vancouver
1. Dr. Lawson Baird
Address: 2190 York Ave, Vancouver, BC V6K, Canada
Phone: +1 604-733-9110
Business hours:
- Monday: 9:30am to 3pm
- Tuesday: 9am to 4:30pm
- Thursday: 9am to 4:30pm
- Friday: 9am to 12pm
Dr. Lawson Baird is a prominent primary care physician in Vancouver. He’s impressively well-versed in a wide range of health issues, making him an ideal family doctor.
Some of Dr. Baird’s specialties include immunizations, flu, chronic disease management, cold, and headache.
He also offers expert advice on the ideal frequency for physical exams and wellness assessments, as well as the timing for medical tests and screenings.
From what we’ve seen, his clinic stays current with the latest technological advancements and medical innovations, reflecting his dedication to providing state-of-the-art care.
He also understands the importance of a holistic approach, addressing all aspects to help his patients make informed medical decisions and maintain their overall health.
In fact, many of his patients seem to have had him as their family doctor for years. We believe that this makes him one of the best primary doctors in Vancouver.
Pros
- Able to treat a wide range of health issues
- Quick response to inquiries
Cons
- No clinic on weekends
Customer Reviews
Best doctor in West End
“The Best Doctor in West End. He listened, studied, carefully, accurately treated all my health issues. From my personal and emotional struggles, my hormonal and thyroid issues…”
-Mr. Carlos, Google Review
Takes the time to ensure he understands
“He takes the time to ensure he has gotten everything he needs to understand. He also keeps great notes (in an electronic format), so he always is able to refer back in real time to get context and history…”
-Mr. Sharman, Google Review
2. Dr. Simon Ko
Address: 110 Keefer St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1X4, Canada
Phone: +1 604-688-9795
Business hours:
- Monday to Friday: 9:30am to 4:30pm
- Saturday: 9:30am to 1pm
Dr. Ko’s clinic is located just west of the main entrance of Chinatown Plaza, with a convenient street entrance.
His specialty is reviewing and interpreting all diagnostic imaging tests, such as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans, to provide accurate diagnoses for his patients.
Dr. Ko joined the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as an experienced radiologist, highly qualified to review and interpret all diagnostic imaging tests. He also currently supervises activities at the Mira Clinic location.
Additionally, we appreciate that he can converse in multiple languages, including English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Korean. This ability to communicate with a diverse patient population enhances the quality of care he provides.
He is also a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, further demonstrating his expertise and dedication to his field.
Pros
- Multilingual services
- Accessible clinic
Cons
- Limited range of services
Customer Reviews
Thoughtful and nice to every patient
“The staff are kind and the the service is excellent, especially, Dr.Simon Ko is quite thoughtful and nice to every patient!”
-Mr. Chen, Google Review
Very professional and personable
“Dr. Simon is one of the most kind and excellent characters. Mr. Dr. Simon is very professional and personable, very kind and capable.”
-Mr. Wahidyar, Google Review
3. Dr. Shahsavan of Mountain View Health and Wellness
Address: 237 E Columbia St #103, New Westminster, BC V3L 3W4, Canada
Phone: +1 604-544-5062
Business hours:
- Monday to Friday: 8:30am to 7pm
- Saturday: 12pm to 5pm
With over 18 years of experience, Dr. Shahsavan is a family physician and emergency doctor who has worked in and outside Canada.
He’s licensed in both BC and SK in the field of Family Medicine, is board certified (CCFP), and is an active member of the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), CPSBC, and CPSS.
We were fascinated to know that he’s particularly passionate about family medicine. He shares that it’s because of the wide scope of practice that drew him to this specialty.
Speaking of specialties, his includes well-baby care, prenatal care, female and male health, adult and pediatric mental health.
We also liked that he’s able to cater to emergency cases, geriatric conditions, and chronic medical conditions such as asthma, COPD, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and diabetes.
Pros
- Able to attend to emergency cases
- Specializes in family medicine
Cons
- Limited patient capacity
Customer Reviews
Professional and courteous
“Professional and courteous. I’ve been coming here for a few months and it has been helping me feel better.”
-Mr. Loewen, Google Review
Very accomplished and accommodating
“My wife and I both had injuries from the wear and tears of life and responsibilities. When we came here, the staff were very accomplished and accommodating to our needs.”
-Mr. Paquin, Google Review
4. Dr. Frank Hou
Address: 888 W 8th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Z 3Y1, Canada
Phone: +1 604-872-5688
Business hours: Monday to Friday: 9:15am to 4:45pm
Dr. Frank Hou holds an impressively long experience, being a family physician since 1977. He first practiced as a family physician at Seymour Medical Clinic, and went on to start his own practice.
He founded Laurel Medical Clinic in 1991, which is a full-service family practice clinic with a team of family practitioners.
Dr. Hou is also affiliated with Vancouver General Hospital, St. Paul’s Hospital, Mt. St. Joseph Hospital, and B.C. Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
He has also taught medical students and residents and holds an appointment as a clinical associate professor in the medical school of the University of British Columbia.
Although we have received some complaints about missed appointments, we were pleased to learn that his patients appreciate his compassion during consultations.
With a long history in full-service family practice, including delivering hundreds of babies, we believe Dr. Frank Hou is one of the best primary care doctors in Vancouver.
Pros
- 46 years as a family physician
- Online booking system in place
Cons
- Some complaints about punctuality
Customer Reviews
Amazing and empathetic doctor
“Dr Hou is an amazing empathetic doctor. He takes the time to talk and understands your concerns…”
-Mr. T, Google Review
Compassionate and professional
“My husband and I have been patients of Dr. Hou for almost 2 years, and in that time, he has met our medical needs with compassion, professionalism and speed…”
-Ms. Magdanz, Google Review
5. Dr. Daniel Ezekiel
Address: 888 W 8th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Z 3Y1, Canada
Phone: +1 604-879-4555
Business hours: Monday to Friday: 9am to 4pm
Dr. Daniel Ezekiel is a family physician who has worked with multiple establishments like the Mile House, Summerland, Penticton, and Squamish, practicing family medicine and emergency medicine for five years.
In 1995, he opened his own family practice in Vancouver. Services at his clinic include allergy testing and treatment, pneumococcal vaccines, and treatments for smoking addiction.
Dr. Daniel Ezekiel specializes in managing chronic diseases and men’s health, making him a great choice for patients looking for comprehensive care for ongoing health issues and preventive care tailored specifically to men’s needs.
Most of the patients we interviewed praised him for being caring and knowledgeable as a family physician. They also noted that his office runs smoothly and efficiently, with minimal waiting times, which we appreciated.
Overall, we highly recommend Dr. Ezekiel as one of the best primary care doctors in Vancouver.
Pros
- Specializes in managing chronic diseases and men’s health
- Minimal waiting times for appointments
Cons
- No online booking system in place
Customer Reviews
Knowledgeable and efficient
“Dr Dan is a most Caring and knowledgeable family physician. His office runs smoothly and efficiently and I have never had a wait to see him…”
-Ms. Gilick, Google Review
A great doctor
“Dr Ezekiel has been my doctor for more than 20 years always identifies the problem and gets the appointments I need when I need them . Great doctor.”
-Mr. Harris, Google Review
