Our Team
Case Worker
There are times in a person’s life when they are not sure where to go for help or how to access services and supports. Case Workers help people find resources that are available in the community for issues that greatly impact a person’s life. These problems can relate to health, home care, retirement, emotional well- being, family issues, housing, finances or nutrition.
At the North York Family Health Team, the Case Worker collaborates with other health care professionals for a seamless transition connecting to both health care and community services. Our Case Worker offers support within the Mental Health and Cancer Survivorship programs.
Child and Youth Social Worker
Child, youth and family counselling sessions are offered for patients 18 years of age and under who could use the support of 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 Based Therapy, Expressive Arts and others depending on the approach best suited for the patient and 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
Parenting
Emotional regulation
Stress
Social emotional regulation for teens
ADD/ADHD
Anger management
Behaviour issues and concerns
Peer relationships
Relationship issues
School concerns
Chiropodist
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.
Here at the NYFHT 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.
Please speak with your physician or any member of the NYFHT allied health team if you would benefit from being seen by our Chiropodist.
Nurse Practitioner
Our NPs work in partnership with Physicians and the interdisciplinary team to improve your health.
One NYFHT program that is NP-led is our Colorectal Cancer Survivorship Program. Patients who have completed active cancer care at North York General Hospital are followed for the usual 5-year period by our NPs. Cancer Care Ontario guidelines are followed for care. Strong links with our local oncologists, surgeons and family physicians make this program a success.
Some examples of the care Nurse Practitioners provide in our NP led Homebound Program are:
Conducting physical examinations
Performing assessments such as pap tests, breast exams, prenatal care, elder care and well baby check-ups
Delivering vaccinations
Diagnosing and treating acute illnesses, 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
More information about Nurse Practitioners can be found on the Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario website: www.npao.org
Pharmacist
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?
Please speak with your Physician, or contact the NYFHT receptionist to request an appointment, if you wish to see one of our pharmacists
Registered Dietitian
A Registered Dietitian (RD) is a health professional who has completed a 4-year university degree specializing in food and nutrition. In addition they do practical training in a hospital and/or community setting. The RD designation is a protected title and is regulated in this province by the College of Dietitians of Ontario. Registered Dietitians are licensed professionals, uniquely trained to provide advice on food and nutrition in many diverse institutions, such as health care, industry, government and education.
At NYFHT, our Registered Dietitians provide education and counselling for a variety of nutrition related health conditions. We offer both individual appointments and a number of group programs, where participants learn new tools and strategies and have the opportunity to share their experiences. We collaborate with other health care providers at NYFHT to help you achieve your best health.
Currently, our RDs offer the following group programs:
Heart Health
Mindfulness for Healthy Eating
ACT for Metabolic Health
Registered Nurse
Our primary care Registered Nurses (RNs) provide nursing services in your Family Physician(s)’ clinic within the North York Family Health Team. Your RN works together with Physicians and other health professionals, such as Dietitians, Social Workers and Pharmacists, to provide quality care and to help you achieve your best possible health.
Our RNs provide patient and family centered care focusing on chronic disease management, disease prevention, health promotion and care coordination, which includes:
Health education on a variety of issues such as blood pressure, cholesterol and osteoporosis
Diabetes counselling
Counselling for chronic diseases such as congestive heart failure
Well baby/child counselling
Smoking cessation counselling
Immunization counselling
Diagnostic test result review and counselling
Cancer screening
Screening for depression and anxiety
Falls risk screening
Cognitive testing
Wound care: staple and suture removal
Administration of the flu vaccine/coordination of office flu clinics
Social Worker
Our Social Workers help individuals achieve optimal psychosocial functioning by providing individual counselling and/or group psycho-education programs to FHT patients struggling through difficult times.
The Social Worker team provides short-term therapy using a variety of treatment modalities such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness, Solution-Focused Therapy and others. Social workers provide assessment of psychosocial problems, treatment, education, advocacy and referrals for a variety of presenting concerns. They work in collaboration with your Family Physician, Nurse Practitioner and allied health professional to provide comprehensive care.
Social Workers provide treatment for a variety of presenting concerns including:
Depression
Anxiety
Stress Management
Self-Esteem and Assertiveness
Coping with Illness
Work and/or School Related Problems
Grief
Relationship Problems (interpersonal stress, family dynamics, caregiver challenges)
Some of the psycho-educational groups offered include:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for Depression and Anxiety
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy
Our FHT Social Workers are registered in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW).
Physician Assistant
Physician Assistants are highly skilled health professionals who support Physicians and allied health team members to provide evidence based care to patients in many different settings.
Within NYFHT Physician Assistants support patients by working in a shared care model with Physicians, and allied health team members providing quality primary care focusing on chronic disease management, episodic and preventative care.
Some examples include:
Providing chronic disease visits for diabetes, and blood pressure management.
Providing same day or next day episodic visits for urinary tract infections, respiratory illnesses, and dermatological issues.
Conducting physical exams for both episodic and preventative care
Ordering, and interpreting investigations such as imaging and blood work to investigate a patient concern
Delivering vaccinations
Prescribing a limited number of medications in conjunction with a physician or through medical directives
Providing post discharge from hospital stay follow up