Fitness To Work?

[CanadianRN16]

Hello friends,

I've been hired at a new job (long-term care home, in Ontario) that requires I obtain a Fitness To Work assessment as a pre-requisite to starting orientation. I don't have a family doctor, and am expected to obtain my assessment at a clinic where it's a ~$150 cash-only expense.

After paying $55 to update my vulnerable persons checks I'll be spending over $200 just to start work...is this a normal occurrence where you work? After three months of working as a RN, I swear I've spent more money trying to get licensed and cover work-related fees than I've made -__-.

[loriangel14, RN]

I needed the police check as well plus my employer had me come in for a physical and bloodwork. Normal procedure I guess.

[CanadianRN16]

I needed the police check as well plus my employer had me come in for a physical and bloodwork. Normal procedure I guess.

That part is fine, it's the out of pocket cost for the physical that I meant to inquire about. I want to know if it's an institutional or provincial thing.

[loriangel14, RN]

Probably institutional. If you have no PCP then you will have to pay.

[CanadianRN16]

Probably institutional. If you have no PCP then you will have to pay.

I suppose that would help. I was told that it was because it's for a third party...and not covered under OHIP. I moved provinces last year, so I haven't gotten a GP here.

[loriangel14, RN]

Principal Care Provider - you have no doctor.

[Fiona59]

Nah, here in Alberta, you pay for employment requested stuff. Most GPs these days charge yo $25+ to touch any form.

[CanadianRN16]

Nah, here in Alberta, you pay for employment requested stuff. Most GPs these days charge yo $25+ to touch any form.

And here I thought I could avoid all that in Canada after living the in the U.S.

[Fiona59]

And here I thought I could avoid all that in Canada after living the in the U.S.

Universal healthcare was established to provide the basics. It was never intended to cover what people expect today. Don't for the love of all that's holy open the can of worms involving cosmetic procedures, ivf, etc

[CanadianRN16]

Universal healthcare was established to provide the basics. It was never intended to cover what people expect today. Don't for the love of all that's holy open the can of worms involving cosmetic procedures, ivf, etc

I was intending to make more of a joke here. I understand that the fitness to Practice is not an essential service, therefore not covered by OHIP.

[RPNtoRN]

I had an employer check my BP for a PSW position once. It was weird because that was all they did; no physical exam.

[milesims]

That's ridiculous. But I suppose it would benefit you more than anybody.

If you're injured on the job, you can refer back to your medical assessment and argue against the company. It's a good back up and worth the money.

I've seen this happen in many factories. They require a "fitness to work" assessment, which the company pays for most of the time. And once the worker gets carpal tunnel, the company is unable to argue that it wasn't received before they started working.