Island Foot Clinics – Courtenay - Courtenay, British Columbia

Carol L.

I appreciate Dr Shah’s help with my toe but his office manager was one of the rudest persons I have dealt with. I asked for a rax receipt which every other professional has given me within two minutes. I was rudely informed the office was much too busy to print off receipts and it would take ten business days to send it. Yes, I realize I should have kept my receipts but the attitude of the business manager was totally unacceptable.

J. W.

Dr. Shah asked me a few questions… 15 minutes later foot pain that I had for 5 years was gone. Super efficient and a very helpful nurse. Thanks so much.

Boomer W.

After living with so much pain in my pinky toe for "way" too long I came in to see Dr. Shah. I honestly thought I was stuck with my pain. In no time at all he had used a few instruments and my pain has gone! To say I am satisfied is an understatement. Thanks Doc, to you and your assistant.

Matt G.

I booked an appointment to have an ingrown toenail removed at Island Foot Clinics' Courtenay clinic. After being told the cost was over $500 and wasn't covered by MSP, I decided to look elsewhere.

I ended up having the same procedure done for $45 in North Vancouver. The doctor there explained to me that the procedure is covered by MSP but doctors can opt out and charge whatever they want.

Today I spoke with Island Foot Clinics and let them know that when patients balk at the cost of the a procedure (or even before that), they should be letting them know that other doctors may do it for less if they're opted in to MSP. The receptionist I was speaking with got very agitated and told me it's not their responsibility, "there's a shortage of podiatrists on the island and we can set whatever price we want" and finally "I don't care." Her take was that me saying the words "that's not cool" was me coming after her.

Short version - podiatrists are indeed obligated to tell patients if they've opted out of MSP: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/practitioner-professional-resources/msp/podiatrists

Podiatrists who are opted-out of MSP are permitted to charge patients more for a service than is set out in the applicable Payment Schedule. Before providing services, practitioners must inform patient:
- that the practitioner has opted out;
- how much the patient will be reimbursed by MSP; and
- how much, if any, the patient will be paying in addition to the MSP fee.

Island foot clinics didn't even tell me I could be paritally reimbursed by MSP. They told me it wasn't covered. That's just not a good way to do business, let alone practice in health care.

Len P.

I asked Island Foot Clinics what Dr Shah would charge to perform surgery on an ingrown toenail. In Courtneay, Dr Shah would charge $665 for the initial consultation and the surgery itself. This compares with $90 to $287 for well-reviewed podiatrists in the Nanaimo and Duncan areas.

I am told by the B.C. Podiatric Medical Association that podiatrists can charge what they want, and Dr Shah has decided to charge at the top of the range --- WAY at the top. I hope he serves drinks and hor d’oeuvres as part of his service.

Island Foot Clinics then replied as follows, with my response at the end.
"Our pricing is based on various factors, including the expertise and qualifications of our medical professionals, the quality of our facilities, and the comprehensive care we provide.

We understand that there may be differences in pricing between different clinics and areas. We continually review our pricing structure to ensure that it aligns with industry standards and enables us to provide the highest level of care to our patients.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us directly. We value your feedback and appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns."

My response:
Based on Google reviews, there is reason to think that other podiatrists (in Nanaimo and Duncan) also provide a high level of care, yet their prices are considerably below Dr Shaw’s price. Are you suggesting that Dr Shah provides a considerably-higher level of care that justifies his considerably-higher price?

What are the “industry standards” you refer to? The B.C. Podiatric Medical Association says there is no price standard, and ALL podiatrists must meet the same professional standard, so – again – it is not clear why Dr Shah’s price is so much higher than his competitors’ prices. The only reason I can think of is that Dr Shah is the only podiatrist in Courtenay-Comox, and his patients prefer not to drive to Nanaimo.

Angus M.

I have dealt with Dr. Shah and his associate, Shauna for the past two years, first in Campbell River and later in Courtenay. Dr. Shah is very professional in his approach, yet very caring and is very easy to converse with. And Shauna is very much the same. They make a good team and I would recommend them to anyone.

Ginny V.

Problems included: orthotics not properly fitted to my shoes, created holes in expensive footwear; always have to wait 3/4 hour minimum after set appointment start time; right orthotic has resulted in right foot becoming deformed; I've gone back to wearing old left orthotic; consulting with doctor on problems with orthotics they've created is always at my expense. This in spite of the doctor's assurances "we'll take care of you"

Margie W.

Thank you Dr.Shah and Shauna! You both are so amazing and awesome 🥹 I’m so grateful for your professionalism and care for me and what my needs were, I appreciate your services and the non judgmental atmosphere 💯💯💯💯👌🏽