How do I switch ADHD clinics in Canada?
Quick answer
Switching ADHD clinics is straightforward: book with the new clinic, sign a records-release consent so your history transfers, and let the clinicians handle prescription continuity. Your new prescriber reviews your records and sends prescriptions directly to the pharmacy you choose, so you never carry paper scripts between clinics. The main thing to manage is timing, so start the records request before your current refills run low.
You can switch ADHD clinics whenever you choose
Patients switch ADHD clinics for ordinary reasons: a move, cost, appointment availability, a clinician who was not the right fit, or a clinic winding down. Canadian privacy law gives you the right to access your own health information, and clinics routinely transfer records to a new provider once you sign a consent form. Nothing about switching requires your old clinic's permission.
Switching also does not reset your clinical history. Your diagnosis, assessment report, and treatment records remain valid, and the new clinic builds on them rather than starting over, which is why the records-release consent is the single most important document in the whole process. The one thing switching does require is a little sequencing, because you want your records and your prescriptions to arrive at the new clinic in the right order, without a treatment gap in between. Done in order, most people complete a switch inside a few weeks without missing a dose or a follow-up.
The switching process, step by step
- Book an intake or transfer appointment at the new clinic. Mention that you have an existing diagnosis; many clinics, including Finding Focus, run a shorter transfer-style consultation for already-diagnosed patients.
- Sign a records-release consent. The new clinic usually provides the form and sends the request for you, or you can request a copy of your records directly from your current clinic.
- Ask for your key documents, especially the diagnostic report and recent treatment notes. A reasonable copying fee is sometimes charged.
- Attend the transfer consultation. Your new clinician reviews your history, checks how treatment has been going, and confirms or adjusts the plan.
- Have prescriptions redirected. Your new prescriber sends prescriptions directly to the pharmacy you choose.
- Confirm your follow-up schedule so monitoring continues on the same rhythm it had before.
Prescriptions transfer clinician-to-pharmacy, not hand-to-hand
Prescription continuity is the part people worry about most, and it is also the most systematized part. Once your new clinician takes over your care, they send prescriptions electronically or by fax directly to your pharmacy. The pharmacy also keeps your dispensing history, which helps the new prescriber see exactly what you have been taking and when.
Timing is the only real trap: check how much medication you have left and book the new clinic before you are into your final week of supply. Rules for controlled medications vary by province and regulatory college, and prescribers are careful about gaps and overlaps, so a small buffer keeps the handover boring, which is exactly what you want. How refills work at a virtual clinic is covered in how ADHD medication refills work with an online clinic, and you can usually keep your existing pharmacy; see whether you have to switch pharmacies.
Your pharmacist is a genuinely useful ally during a switch. Pharmacies handle transfers constantly: they can tell you exactly how much supply remains, flag when the new prescription has arrived, and contact a prescriber directly when something is missing. If you are changing cities as well as clinics, your pharmacy file can itself be transferred between locations, often within a day.
Switching to Finding Focus
If you already have an ADHD diagnosis, you may qualify for 50% off the initial consultation; the conditions are on the pricing page. The consultation happens over secure video with a licensed Canadian nurse practitioner, who reviews your records, discusses how your current plan is working, and sets up continuing care, with follow-ups available through the online treatment program. Adults are served in eligible Canadian provinces; the current list is on the locations page.
Continuing care is deliberately flexible: after the transfer consultation, follow-ups are available either through the Ongoing Care Membership at $29.99 per month or as individual check-ins at $74.99 each, so staying supported does not require a subscription. This article is educational; the exact transfer steps depend on your clinics and your province, and a licensed clinician can advise on your specific care.
Common questions
Related questions, answered
Usually not. With a documented diagnosis and transferred records, most clinics run a transfer or intake consultation rather than a full assessment. The new clinician always uses their own judgment, though, and may ask more questions if the records are thin or very old.
Clinics must give you access to your health information under Canadian privacy law, and they can charge a reasonable fee for copies. If a clinic is unresponsive, put the request in writing; unresolved access complaints can go to your provincial privacy commissioner.
Often a couple of weeks. Records transfers commonly take days to a few weeks, while intake appointments at virtual clinics are often available within days. Starting the records request and the booking at the same time keeps the two tracks in sync.
There is no obligation, but a quick note helps them close your file properly and respond faster to the records request. If you have upcoming appointments or refills scheduled, telling them prevents confusion during the handover.
Helpful next steps
References
- 1.Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. Your right to access your personal health information. View source ↗
- 2.Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance (CADDRA). Canadian ADHD practice guidelines and clinical resources. View source ↗
This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a licensed healthcare professional about your individual situation. If you are in crisis or thinking about self-harm, call or text 9-8-8, Canada’s Suicide Crisis Helpline, at any time.
Finding Focus uses AI tools to help research and draft some articles. Every article is edited and fact-checked by the Finding Focus team before publication.
