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Services Offered at Mentor Clinic

Mentor Clinic aims to provide as many of the primary care services that most patients require. The following services are available at no cost to patients:  

  • Proactive healthcare and health goal setting  

  • Ear Syringing 

  • Family Planning & Birth Control,

  • Well Women and Babies clinics

  • Pap tests

  • IUD insertion (the IUD device must be purchased by the patient).  

  • Immunizations/Vaccinations – flu, pneumonia (some immunizations are not covered – see Paid Services below).  

  • Rapid Strep Testing  

  • Appointments with all of our in-house Providers (see Our Team). 

  • Group Sessions (see our Groups page).  

Some services are not covered by the Nova Scotia government, and therefore we charge a fee for these services.  Our administrative team or your healthcare provider will let you know if there will be a fee for any services when you are booking your appointment.

The fees from all Uninsured Services go into our Patient Support Fund, which we use to assist patients in need of emergency support with items such as food cards, baby formula and diapers, transportation to appointments, assistance with healthcare aides such as walkers or canes, prescription medications, when no other community supports are available. Examples of services for which we charge a fee are:

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  • Examinations and Forms – for work, school, insurance, governments, etc.  (e.g. Driver medicals, disability forms)  

  • Some Immunizations (e.g. shingles vaccine)  

  • IUD’s – the device itself must be purchased by the patient.  

  • Removal of Warts and Non-Malignant Lesions 

  • Cardiopulmonary Testing (VO2 Max) & resting metabolic rate

For an updated list of uninsured service fee's click below.

VO2 Max testing – starting February 2025

The Mentor Clinic takes a proactive approach to your health and medicine and establish a new standard of care for Nova Scotians. We're proud to offer in-house VO2 and Resting Metabolic Rate testing using COSMED's laboratory-grade Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing equipment. These services are available to Mentor Clinic Patients and the general public.

Resting Metabolic Rate

Resting Metabolic Rate tests measure the number of calories your body needs to perform basic functions like breathing, circulating blood, and maintaining body temperature while at rest. It provides a personalized understanding of your metabolism, helping you to plan effective nutrition and weight management strategies.

 

RMR testing is valuable for anyone looking to optimize their diet, manage weight, or improve overall health by tailoring their caloric intake to their unique metabolic rate.

A man and a woman riding bikes
VO2 Max and Sub-Maximal

VO2 Max is a measure of the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use during exercise. It reflects how well your heart and lungs work together to take oxygen from the air, move it into the bloodstream and pump it to the muscles throughout the body. 

 

This is called cardio-respiratory fitness. A higher VO2 Max indicates better aerobic fitness, meaning your heart, lungs, and muscles can work efficiently for longer periods. Higher cardio-respiratory fitness has been associated with increased longevity, a lower risk of death from all causes and reductions in coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, cancer. (Mandsager et al., 2018)

Nutritional Cooking

VO2 Max Frequently Asked Questions

  • When doing a maximal VO2 test, you progressively exercise harder and harder until you reach the highest intensity you can handle. This usually takes between 7 and 12 minutes.

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    A sub-maximal VO2 test is performed the same way as a maximal test but you will be exercising at a lower intensity throughout. This test also lasts for 7 to 12 minutes and provides you with your VO2 max.

    1. Help you know how many calories to eat to achieve your weight goals

    2. Make it easier to plan healthy meals and snacks

    3. Better understand why you are losing, gaining or maintaining weight

    4. More accurately plan nutrition and dietary plans 

    5. Know what fuel sources you burn at rest (carbohydrates, fats, protein)

  • Everyone should know their VO2 max, whether an athlete or not. VO2 max helps you understand your overall fitness level and the health of your heart and lungs. It helps you set realistic fitness goals and can alert you of potential health issues early on.

     

    Personalized health information like VO2 max can motivate you to adopt a healthier lifestyle by providing a clear fitness baseline and showing improvements over time. Additionally, having a good VO2 max is linked to increased longevity and a longer health span, meaning you can live a healthier life for longer. 

  • Yes. With regular aerobic exercise, you can increase your VO2 max, at any age. This is why everyone should know their VO2 max, because of the ability to change it and the immense benefits associated with doing so at any age.

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What is the difference between max and sub-maximal testing?

When doing a maximal VO2 test, you progressively exercise harder and harder until you reach the highest intensity you can handle. This usually takes between 7 and 12 minutes.

​

A sub-maximal VO2 test is performed the same way as a maximal test but you will be exercising at a lower intensity throughout. This test also lasts for 7 to 12 minutes and provides you with your VO2 max.

What are the benefits of knowing your resting metabolic rate?

  1. Help you know how many calories to eat to achieve your weight goals

  2. Make it easier to plan healthy meals and snacks

  3. Better understand why you are losing, gaining or maintaining weight

  4. More accurately plan nutrition and dietary plans 

  5. Know what fuel sources you burn at rest (carbohydrates, fats, protein)

Do non-athletes need to know their VO2 max?

Everyone should know their VO2 max, whether an athlete or not. VO2 max helps you understand your overall fitness level and the health of your heart and lungs. It helps you set realistic fitness goals and can alert you of potential health issues early on.

 

Personalized health information like VO2 max can motivate you to adopt a healthier lifestyle by providing a clear fitness baseline and showing improvements over time. Additionally, having a good VO2 max is linked to increased longevity and a longer health span, meaning you can live a healthier life for longer. 

Yes. With regular aerobic exercise, you can increase your VO2 max, at any age. This is why everyone should know their VO2 max, because of the ability to change it and the immense benefits associated with doing so at any age.

Can you improve your VO2 Max?

What can I expect when I have my VO2 max tested?

Want to learn more?

Why VO2 max is the greatest predictor of lifespan, Dr. Peter Attia

Policies

We ask that you follow these policies to ensure a smooth and safe experience at our clinic: 

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  • Please arrive on time for your appointment, arriving late may result in longer wait times or the rescheduling of your appointment. If you miss your appointment and do not cancel or reschedule with at least 1 business day’s notice, you will need to pay the Missed Appointment Fee before you can book another appointment with any of our providers.

  • To help us provide the best patient care possible, please bring your health card and a list of current medications, allergies, and medical conditions to each visit.

  • Inform us of any changes in your personal information, such as your address, phone number or email address, or when you get a new health card.  

  • Please be sure to respect the privacy and confidentiality of all patients and staff by not taking photos, videos or recording conversations without permission.

  • Help us maintain a safe and clean environment by not bringing weapons or pets into the clinic.  We have a water cooler available, and we encourage you to bring your own water bottle to stay hydrated! 

  • Please be polite and respectful to our providers and staff by not using inappropriate or threatening language when in the Clinic.

  • If you bring children to your appointment, help us maintain the safety of everyone in the clinic by not leaving your child unattended and keeping them in sight when in the waiting or exam rooms.

  • Please be aware of your conversations and the volume of your voice while in the clinic. We would appreciate it if you silence your phone and avoid using it in exam rooms or when meeting with a healthcare provider.

  • Please don't smoke, vape, or consume alcohol or drugs while in the Mentor Clinic.

For a full list of patient rights and responsibilities, please click here

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