Go to getmaple.ca/medavie to create an account. After creating your account, use Maple’s free app on your smartphone or tablet (iOS / Android), or access their website (www.getmaple.ca) on your desktop or laptop computers, using Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge and IE 11.

Assuming you’ve created your account already, when a medical need arises, log in to Maple’s app or website. If you haven’t created your account, follow the directions in the previous question. Then, click the “See Doctor” button to start the consultation process. You will be asked if the visit is for you or someone else, then you’ll be prompted to enter the symptoms and any additional details to help explain your concern to the doctor.

You will be matched with a doctor who will review your information. You will receive a message from the doctor and the virtual consultation begins in a chat room. You can choose to continue in text mode or move the consultation into a video chat or phone call.

Maple physicians can prescribe medications during your consultation. Once you accept a prescription, you’ll have the option to pick it up from any pharmacy in Canada or have it delivered to your door at no additional cost.

Online Doctors is not intended for medical emergencies. If you believe you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911 or proceed to your nearest emergency room. Also, Canadian laws prevent virtual prescriptions for narcotics or controlled medications so those are not available through Online Doctors.

No. While general practitioners on the Maple app can help with many common medical requests, the service is not intended to replace the care of a family physician. We strongly advocate for all patients to have a relationship with a family doctor. Maple can act as a helpful stopgap for those that do not have one, and for those that do, we can help provide a way to manage urgent primary care issues that arise when you cannot get in to see your family doctor.

Yes! Maple is available globally for Canadian residents. This means patients who are traveling outside of Canada can use the service anywhere in the world to connect with a Canadian physician. There is a limitation with prescriptions, as Canadian physicians do not have jurisdiction to prescribe outside of Canada. Not every medical issue requires a prescription (only approximately 40% do, which is aligned with physician office visits). However, Maple can still be a very valuable service for Canadians when they are out of the country. Many times, travelers will be unsure whether or not their ailment actually needs to be seen by a local doctor immediately or not. Maple’s service can potentially prevent an unnecessary trip to a foreign medical provider, and the associated cost of that visit, or confirm that the condition does need to be seen by a local doctor and in what timeframe.

In addition, countries vary in their regulations about which drugs require a prescription and which can be sold over the counter. So even if a drug may require a prescription in Canada, it may not require one in whichever country you are visiting. In addition, the general practitioner may be able to recommend over the counter treatments likely to be available in that country.