Programs and Services
Our team’s goal is to be there for our patients, their families and our community in times of need and partner with them on their journey to better health and wellness.
Working collaboratively with your physician, our team of allied health professionals can support you to achieve your health goals.
Upcoming Programs:
Diabetes Education Program page for 2024 Class Schedule is up
Please contact your family physician for program referral
Nutrition
-
Our team of Nurse Practitioners (NP) provide a home visiting program for episodic care to support patients residing in the North York region who may be experiencing:
• Mobility issues due to frailty
• Recent discharge from hospital
• Social determinants
i.e. accessible transportationThe NP visits the patient’s home to assess, order appropriate testing, prescribe medication and navigate patients to applicable FHT and community resources as needed. The NP collaborates with the patient’s family physician to maintain continuity of care.
NPs provide increased accessibility to health care needs for our patients that are not able to see their primary care physician in clinic.
Some examples of the care NPs provide:
• Physical examinations
• Assessments such as pap tests, breast exams, and elder care
• Administration of vaccinations
• Diagnosing and treating acute ilnesses, chronic diseases, infections and injuries
• Ordering and interpreting diagnostic and laboratory tests such as x-rays, ultrasounds and blood work
• Prescribing a broad range of medications
• Referring to specialists when required -
Cassandra Kwok – MN, NP-PHC
Jessica Lau – MN, NP-PHC
Seniors Health and Wellness
-
We are a team of Registered Dietitians that provide one on one support for a variety of nutrition-related concerns, such as:
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome,
Inflammatory Bowel Disease, GERD, Diverticulosis/
Diverticulitis
• Unintentional Weight Loss, Poor
Appetite
• Cancer
• Osteoporosis/Osteopenia
• Heart Health
• Kidney Health
• Pregnancy and Nutrition
• Infant, Child and Adolescent NutritionWe also provide these opportunities for group education.
Heart Health Program
Have you been told by your Health Care Provider that you have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or a family history of premature heart disease? Click HERE and learn how to make changes in your nutrition, physical activity, medications, stress and other aspects of our everyday living can play a role in improving our heart health.Mindfulness for Healthy Eating
This group program will benefit those who may be frustrated with years of dieting and are looking for a different approach. This 8-week interactive group program is run by a dietitian and a social worker and uses Intuitive Eating, Craving Change, Mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. By working through these approaches and practicing new tools, participants will begin to develop a more peaceful relationship with food and their bodies.ACT for Metabolic Health
A lifestyle management program utilizing diet and behavioural management interventions. Patients will have a plan created based on their metabolic disease and personal preferences which will include a whole food, low carbohydrate diet within time-restricted eating windows. This program is led by Physician consultant and in collaboration with NYFHT Registered Dietitians, Pharmacists and Social Workers. Follow up with the Physician consultant may be made at 6 months if necessary, which will require another referral from the Family Physician. -
Emily Cercado – RD
Jasmine Montreuil – MA, RD, CDE
Jennifer Otley – RD, CDE
Shima Davati – RD
Cathy O’Halloran – RD (Private Practice – not Ministry-funded) Marcela Navarro – Admin Assistant
Mental Health
-
Our Mental Health team provides a holistic and team-based approach to mental health care. We support patients experiencing difficulties with mental health challenges such as depression and anxiety. We offer the following short-term services: individual counselling, group programs, case management and psychiatric consultation. In addition, case management support is available to navigate financial and housing needs, as well as community resources. Individuals who are interested in accessing our program & services will require a referral from their healthcare provider.
Individual Counselling for Adults
NYFHT social workers provide individual short-term counselling, education, advocacy and referrals to FHT patients struggling through difficult times. The social worker provides assessment of psychosocial problems, suggests treatment, provides education and advocacy and navigates referrals. The social worker also collaborates with the interdisciplinary team and physicians to formulate individualized care plans, when required. The social worker makes an effort to create a safe space to help patients develop their ability to increase their social and mental well-being by exploring their thoughts and feelings regarding their concerns. The goal of these visits is to help develop patients’ skills and resources to improve their current feelings/mood.Some areas the social work supports include:
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Stress
• Emotion regulation
• Interpersonal difficulties
Individual Counselling for Children & Youth
Children & youth counselling sessions are offered for patients 18 years of age and under who feel they would benefit from working with a social worker. The social worker provides short-term therapy, comprehensive and integrated care for children/caregivers requiring additional resources and systems navigation using a variety of treatment modalities such as cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness, solution-focused therapy, play therapy, expressive arts and others depending on the approach best suited for the patient and their family. The social worker provides an assessment of psychosocial problems, suggests treatment, provides education and advocacy and navigates referrals to external agencies. The social worker also collaborates with the interdisciplinary team and physicians to formulate individualized care plans.Some areas the child and youth social worker supports include:
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Social emotional regulation for
teens
• Interpersonal difficulties
• School concerns
Case Management
There are times in a person’s life when they are not sure where to go for help or how to access services or supports. Case managers help patients find community resources that can help improve their quality of life. These problems can relate to physical health, home care, retirement, mental health and emotional well-being, family issues, housing, finances and nutrition, among many others.At the North York Family Health Team, the case manager collaborates with other health care professionals for a seamless transition connecting patients to both health care and community services. Our case manager also offers support within the Mental Health and Cancer Survivorship programs.
Mental Health Group Programming
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for Depression and AnxietyThis 7-session group program is designed to help patients struggling with depression and anxiety develop a greater understanding of their experience and learn techniques to manage their mood now and in the future.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)
This two-tier group program includes a CBT-I Program and a Deprescribing Initiative. CBT-I is a 6-session program which helps patients who have been struggling with insomnia. This program provides a protocol that improves sleep quality and provides an effective alternative to sleep medication.For those already taking a sleep medication, as part of the Deprescribing Initiative, pharmacists will discuss the pros and cons, and offer guidance to patients interested in gradually coming off their sleep medication safely.
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy
MBCT is a 10-session group program to help patients struggling with depression, anxiety, emotional distress and physical pain. Through meditation and mindfulness informed practices, patients will learn to cultivate awareness of their inner experience in order to develop emotional resilience. The practices learned in this program help participants maintain emotional wellness and reduce depressive relapse.
Mindfulness for Healthy Eating
The mindfulness for healthy eating group program will benefit those who may be frustrated with years of dieting and are looking for a different approach. This 8-week interactive group program is run by a dietitian and a social worker and uses intuitive eating, craving change, mindfulness and cognitive behavioural therapy. By working through these approaches and practicing new tools, participants will begin to develop a more peaceful relationship with food and their bodies. -
Ariel Weber – MSW RSW
Carol Ma – MSW RSW
Diane Petrofski – MSW RSW
Emerald Lacaille – MSW RSW
Laura Michell – MSW RSW
Sara-Marie Skovjberg – MSW RSW
Shanee Hutchinson – MSW RSW
Dr. Victor Feder - PsychiatristRose Martin – Admin Assistant
Diabetes Education
-
We offer a publicly-funded program available to all Ontarians which supports adults that are newly diagnosed or have been managing Pre- or Type 2 diabetes. We offer education in both individual and group settings and we are committed to a collaborative and patient-centred approach. Areas of focus of counselling include nutrition, physical activity, blood glucose monitoring and medication management.
-
Kate Carey – Registered Nurse/Certified Diabetes Educator
Jasmine Montreuil – Registered Dietitian/Certified Diabetes Educator
Jennifer Otley – Registered Dietitian/ Certified Diabetes Educator
Caddie Sze – Registered Pharmacist
Eric Lui – Registered Pharmacist
Rita Ha – Registered PharmacistAmanda Clarke - Admin Assistant
Nursing & Physician Assistant
-
Our primary care nurses consist of Registered Nurses (RNs) and Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) who provide primary care in your family physician’s clinic within the North York Family Health Team.
The nurses work closely with your physician, and other allied health providers (dietitians, social workers, pharmacists and chiropodist), to collaborate on your care.
Primary care nursing is focused on providing patient and family centered care that is evidence-based and follows applicable Clinical Practice Guidelines. This includes:
Preventive Health Screening and Counselling
o Blood pressure
o Cholesterol
o Chronic disease management for diabetes and congestive heart failure
o Cancer screening (cervical, breast and colon)
o Smoking cessation
o Healthy lifestyle (diet and exercise)
o Mental health
o Cognitive function
o Immunizations
o Osteoporosis
o Falls risk
o Medication and allergy review
o Well baby/child counselling
o Care coordination: referral to NYFHT services, or information on community resources
Episodic Encounters
o Triage
o Diagnostic test result review and counselling
o Wound care, staple/suture removal
o UTI assessment
o Ear syringing
o TB skin tests -
Ale Heddon – Registered Nurse (RN)
Ariella Loiterman – Registered Nurse (RN)
Assaf Goldberg – Registered Nurse (RN)
Barbara Dindial – Registered Nurse (RN)
Chris Damaso – Registered Nurse (RN)
Christy Starway – Registered Nurse (RN)
Dianne Adair – Registered Nurse (RN)
Elizabeth Stewart – Registered Nurse (RN)
Emily Law – Registered Nurse (RN)
Erika North – Physician Assistant
Jennifer Ballesteros – Registered Practical Nurse (RPN)
Joanne Yu – Registered Nurse (RN)
Kate Carey – Registered Nurse (RN)
Kelsee Stephenson – Registered Nurse (RN)
Lana Rusinek – Registered Nurse (RN)
Lindsay Manning – Registered Nurse (RN)
Patricia Antonini – Registered Nurse (RN)
Pooja Jain – Registered Nurse (RN)
Rebecca Lee – Registered Nurse (RN)
Rhyfany Fernandez – Registered Practical Nurse (RPN)
Salima Nensi, Registered Nurse (RN)
Shagana Danah – Registered Nurse (RN)
Shelly Manza – Registered Nurse (RN)
Stacie Bantin – Registered Nurse (RN)
Victory Ononokpono – Registered Nurse (RN)
Pharmacy
-
Our Pharmacists are the medication experts of the team. They offer evidence-based advice on how you can benefit the most from medications and how to minimize drug interactions and side effects. They can help personalize your medications to your specific conditions, needs and preferences. Our team of Pharmacists would be happy to talk to you if you are wondering about:
• How are my medications helping me?
• What are the alternatives?
• What are the side effects?
• Am I taking medications that I don’t need?
• Are there any drug interactions?
• When and how do I take my medications?
• What should I monitor for?
• Are my supplements and herbal products effective and safe?Our pharmacists are actively involved in other programs including the Diabetes Education Program, CBT for Insomnia, Smoking Cessation Program, and ACT for Metabolic Health.
-
Caddie Sze, RPh
Eric Lui, RPh
Rita Ha, RPh
Rose Martin – Admin Assistant
Chiropody
-
Chiropody is a branch of primary care that assesses and manages foot conditions. Our chiropodist works closely with your health care providers to help maintain and improve patient mobility, alleviate foot pain, provide health education, prevent future foot complications and thereby improving one’s quality of life.
Our chiropodist sees patients on an individual basis. Our chiropodist predominantly sees high risk patients, for instance patients with neuropathy, peripheral vascular disease, active ulceration or history of ulceration to help improve foot function and quality of life for this high-risk population group.
-
Tiffany Ng – Registered Chiropodist
Amanda Clarke – Admin Assistant
Smoking Cessation
-
We support individuals who are ready to make changes in their nicotine dependence from cigarettes, tobacco products or vaping products.
Our program offers:
• Individual counselling with a pharmacist or nurse
• Techniques and resources to improve success with smoking cessation
• Optimizing the use of smoking cessation aids if needed (e.g. Champix, Zyban, nicotine replacement therapy)
• Access to free nicotine replacement products (patches, gum, lozenges, inhalers) for up to 6 months, with enrolment into the STOP program administered by CAMH
-
NYFHT Nurses
NYFHT PharmacistsRose Martin – Admin Assistant
Colorectal Cancer Survivorship
-
Our NPs provide colorectal surveillance care for patients who have completed their active cancer care at North York General Hospital. They are monitored over a 5-year period in adherence of the Ontario Health - Cancer Care guidelines. Strong links with our local oncologists, surgeons and family physicians make this program a success.
Individuals who have received treatment for colorectal cancer (stage 1, 2, or 3) at North York General Hospital will receive one-on-one care by our NPs, who work collaboratively with the surgical and oncology teams at North York General Hospital.
-
Helen Frederickson – MN, NP-PHC
Jessica Lau – MN, NP-PHC