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Unity Health Toronto - Caring Hearts. Leading Minds.Home

Family Health Teams

Family Health Teams (FHTs) are interprofessional teams that provide comprehensive primary care services. They are made up of family physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, social workers, dietitians and other health professionals who work together with clerical and administrative support teams to ensure patient needs are met.

We have two Family Health Teams at Unity Health:

The Family Health Teams at Unity Health work together to provide a safe and seamless experience for patients of all ages and their families. Our Family Health Teams provide comprehensive care, services and specialty programs devoted to areas like mental health, nutrition, HIV and much more. We are committed to supporting the diverse communities of Toronto by providing the best care possible.

As a teaching network affiliated with the University of Toronto, Unity Health works collaboratively with family medicine residents, medical students and other interprofessional health learners. Research and quality improvement are also important elements of our Department of Family and Community Medicine because they helps us to improve your care.

Increase in Upper Respiratory Illnesses (URIs)

To better support you and your family with Upper Respiratory Illnesses (URIs) please watch this video or see our most recent patient updates with information about how to manage upper respiratory illnesses in children.

 

Family Health Teams at St. Joseph's Health Centre

Online Appointment Booking

Our patients can book the following types of in-person appointments online:

  • Urgent Care – For patients who want to book an appointment to address an urgent new or worsening health care concern
  • Pap Clinic – For patients who want to book a cervical cancer screening (PAP smear) appointment.
  • Routine primary care for Rebecca Sytnyk’s patients – For patients of Rebecca Sytnyk (Nurse Practitioner) only.

Book at the hospital (30 The Queensway)
Book at our satellite clinic (27 Roncesvalles Ave.)

Alternatively, you can still call our office at 416-530-6860 or 416-530-6947 to book an appointment.

We are excited to present our Strategic Plan for 2020-2025. Click here to view/download the booklet to learn more about our strategy framework, goals and priorities for the next five years.

How do I contact the St. Joseph’s Urban Family Health Team/Family Medicine Centre?

We have two locations! Contact us at 416-530-6860 or 416-530-6947.

How do I become a patient?

If you reside within our catchment areas and you are interested in becoming a patient, please call us at 416-530-6860 for more information

How do I make an Urgent Care appointment?

If you are a patient of our clinic and you have a health concern which requires urgent attention, please call us at 416-530-6860 or 416-530-6947 and we will do our best to accommodate your request with one of our providers.

How do I cancel an appointment?

If you need to cancel an appointment, please call us at 416-530-6860 or 416-530-6947.
Note: As a patient you must provide us with at least 24 hours notice to cancel your appointment.

Does this clinic use email?

We use email for one-way transfer of information from your healthcare provider at St. Joseph’s Urban Family Health Team/Family Medicine Centre to you. An email may be sent to you (and would replace a phone call) for a variety of reasons including:

  • To inform or remind you of any upcoming appointments you may have
  • To send reminders about a test being done
  • To inform you of normal test results (but not abnormal results, and not all normal results)
  • To send you patient education materials or resources
  • To advise you of upcoming programs and services we will offer

Note: If you are interested in email communication, you will be required to sign a consent form. All email communication will become a permanent part of your electronic medical record at our office.

To view our email consent forms, click below:

What if I need medical care outside of regular hours of operation?

As an enrolled patient of our Family Health Team, you have access to the Health Connect Ontario. By calling Health Connect Ontario at 1-866-797-0007 or visiting https://healthconnectontario.health.gov.on.ca/ you can speak or chat with a nurse any time after hours. The nurse can also contact a doctor on call if necessary.

Note: In the event of a medical emergency, please visit your nearest Emergency Room.

How do I receive prescription refill?

To help us renew your prescriptions on time, please remember:

Review  your medication needs at each appointment. Bring your medications to each appointment with your Doctor or Nurse Practitioner.

Check  the amount of your medications between appointments to make sure you have enough.

If you run out of medications before your next appointment:

  • Call your Pharmacy. They will send us a fax if needed.
  • Allow up to three business days for us to respond to your Pharmacy.

How do I request a referral?

If you wish to be referred to a specialist, please book an appointment with your doctor or nurse practitioner to have the problem assessed. If you have a question regarding a current referral, please call our referral line at 416-530-6860 ext. 6241.

What services are not covered by OHIP?

Please note: You may have to pay for services not covered by OHIP. Common examples include:

  • Notes for work or school
  • Travel advice
  • Insurance forms
  • Release of medical records
  • Cosmetic procedures

Generally, you will need to book an appointment with your doctor or nurse practitioner to discuss these services. For more information please visit this link: OMA Uninsured Services

How do I change my personal information?

In order to be able to contact you with important information, it is essential that you keep us informed of any changes to your address, telephone numbers, health card, and email address. Please call us at 416-530-6860 or 416-530-6947 if there are any changes to your personal information.

Family physician

  • Provides all aspects of primary medical care.
  • Acts as mentor to medical residents and students and conducts research to help improve medical practices in primary care.

Family medicine resident

  • Under the supervision of a staff doctor, provides all aspects of primary medical care.

Family medicine registered nurse

  • Provides comprehensive and collaborative health care with emphasis on health promotion, education, disease prevention and chronic disease management. We provide assessments, treatment and counseling for all of our patients in person or on the telephone.
  • Care is provided to you and your family throughout the entire life span.

Pharmacist

  • Has expertise in medication and medication therapy. Patient care is provided through medication assessments and education to ensure safe, appropriate and effective use of prescription medications, over-the-counter products, vitamins and herbal remedies.
  • Works together with patients, their family members and the family medicine team to promote patient health and maintain wellness.

Social worker

  • Provides psychosocial assessment and psychotherapy for individuals, families and groups. Psychotherapy is an interactive process to help people deal with issues that are preventing them from living more fully.
  • Collaborates with patients and the healthcare team to coordinate care and to facilitate connections to community supports and resources.

Dietitian

  • Counsels on diet and lifestyle changes, working with each individual patient to establish the best nutrition plan for them.
  • Focuses on the prevention and management of chronic diseases, as well as a multitude of other health conditions in all age groups.

Nurse practitioner

  • Provides comprehensive primary care services independently and in collaboration with physicians and other members of the team.
  • Focuses on disease prevention and health promotion, as well as diagnosing and treating episodic illness and managing chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.

Behaviour change and health promotion specialist 

  • Provides psychotherapy to individuals and groups. Psychotherapy is an interactive process to help people deal with issues that are preventing them from living more fully.
  • Helps individuals to make conscious choices about health information and behaviours which support optimal health.

Community mental health worker

  • Provides support, resources, assessments and referrals to individuals who have severe and persistent mental illness.
  • Works in collaboration with other members of the clinical team and clients to navigate the psychiatric system and assess resource needs for referrals to hospital services and community agencies.
  • Maintains/creates community partnerships and engages in education of team members, students and community members in treatment of mentally ill, system navigation and systemic barriers to recovery.

Administrative team

  • Brings experience and knowledge to their respective roles in order to provide the best patient and client service possible.

Addictions registered nurse

  • Responds to all clinical enquiries related to addiction medicine services.
  • Completes the initial assessments of Rapid Access and T-CUP clinics.
  • Coordinates collaborative care with internal and external resources to ensure smooth, timely and appropriate referrals to ongoing supports for patients seen by the addiction medicine team.
  • Participates in education opportunities to create awareness through in-hospital presentations to nurses and staff on screening, assessment and treatment of signs and symptoms of substance withdrawal and addiction.

Community addictions worker

  • Provides clinical care for addiction shared care patients. This includes bio-psychosocial assessments, therapeutic counselling, treatment planning and case management.
  • Coordinates all concurrent disorders services, facilitates mindfulness-based relapse prevention groups.

Is your employer or child’s school requesting a medical note in order to return to work or school?

The Ontario Medical Association recommends that you complete the COVID-19 Self-Attestation Form to assess whether it is safe and/or prudent to return to work or school according to COVID-19 clearance guidance from the Ontario Ministry of Health.

Use the Ontario COVID-19 screening tool if you are sick to determine if a visit to the hospital assessment centre is necessary. Please visit covid-19.ontario.ca to complete the questionnaire about your symptoms. A virtual nurse will help triage your next steps if necessary.

Try the Community Resources for Patients and Families online tool – A guide to crisis, financial, abuse, housing, mental wellness and newcomer related community services offered outside of Unity Health Toronto.

COVID Care at Home

General Resources

  • Canada’s Food Guide — nutrition resources from Health Canada
  • Canadian Diabetes Association — programs, services, publications and resources from The Canadian Diabetes Association
  • Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care – information about preventative health screening guidelines in Canada
  • Canadian Hearing Society – arrange a hearing test for adults and children
  • Choosing Wisely Canada — a campaign to help physicians and patients engage in conversations about unnecessary tests, treatments, and procedures
  • Eat Right Ontario — nutrition and healthy eating information, including free access to dietitians
  • Fertility – Website written by Canadian fertility doctors addressing numerous questions around getting pregnant and fertility
  • Heart and Stroke Foundation — programs, services, publications and resources including healthy eating, healthy weight and physical activity
  • Living with Arthritis — programs, services, publications and resources from The Arthritis Society
  • Online Health Library — Unity Health – easy to read health information and was created specifically for patients, their families and members of our community. Online Health Library will link you to handouts and other resources that you can use to manage your health
  • Ontario Physiotherapy Association — information from The Ontario Physiotherapy Association, including a link to locate a physiotherapist near you
  • Osteoporosis Canada – recommendations for calcium and vitamin D intake as well as a dietary calcium calculator
  • Sexuality and U — information on sexual health from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
  • Smokers’ Helpline — tools to help with quitting smoking from the Canadian Cancer Society
  • Toronto Central Health  — health related resources/ services and events by region
  • Toronto Public Health — information on breastfeeding, pregnancy, child development, parenting, immunization, etc.; includes free online information and programs

Parenting Resources

  • City of Toronto – We all want to be good parents and caregivers, and raising children is not always easy. These pages include information and tips on common topics related to parenting.
  • Nobody’s Perfect – is a facilitated parenting program for parents of children from birth to age five. Its goal is to improve participants ‘capabilities to maintain and promote the health of their children.

Women’s Health Resources

  • HPV Info  — information on HPV from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
  • Menopause and U — information on menopause from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
  • Pelvic Health Solutions — information on pelvic health and the role of pelvic floor physiotherapy

Mental Health and Substance Use Resources

Pregnancy Resources

Pediatrics

Primary health care for all ages

  • Preventative health care, including screening tests for colon, cervical and breast cancer, etc.
  • Health check-ups
  • Diagnosis and treatment of common illnesses and injuries
  • Support in managing chronic conditions
  • Referrals to health-care specialists
  • Primary pediatric care

Low risk obstetrics

We provide low risk antenatal and intrapartum care for our patients and we also accept referrals from external providers. For more information on the obstetrical care we provide, visit our St. Joseph’s Toronto Primary Care Obstetrics website.

Home visit program for frail home-bound patients

We provide primary health care services to stable and frail home-bound patients who meet certain criteria living within our local catchment area.

Cognitive behavioural therapy

We provide individual and group support to patients with anxiety, depression, chronic pain and other issues related to life transitions.

Well Baby/Child Clinic

Our team of family doctors, nurses and medical residents provides comprehensive care for children from newborns to those aged six and younger. These visits include counselling for families to improve language development and school readiness in young children. Our Reach Out and Read (ROAR) program encourages the development of literacy skills by providing appropriate books and connecting families to local resources.

Minor Procedures Clinic

We provide a specialized clinic for patients requiring the removal of skin lesions, gynecological procedures and joint injections.

Addiction medicine services

For more information about Addictions Services at Unity Health, please visit our Mental Health and Addictions page.

Inpatient palliative care consultative service

We provide palliative care consultations to inpatients at St. Joseph’s. For more information about palliative care at Unity Health please visit our Palliative Care page.

Mental Health Group Programs

We facilitate several psychoeducational groups for UFHT patients throughout the year, both in person and virtually to improve the daily psychosocial functioning of specific patient populations. These groups include Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Interpersonal Psychotherapy Group and the Mental Health for All (Mindful Eating Solutions).

Ground Floor East Wing
416-530-6860
Fax: 416-530-6160
Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm

Satellite Clinic Location
27 Roncesvalles Ave. Suite 101
416-530-6947
Fax: 416-530-2070
Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4:45 pm (closed each day 11:45 am to 12:45 pm)

After-hours access through main switchboard and calling 416-530-6860 for MD on call as well as through Health Connect Ontario: 1-866-797-0007 or https://healthconnectontario.health.gov.on.ca/

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Family Health Teams at St. Michael's Hospital

Construction alert

Our elevators at 61 Queen Street East are under construction. Please allow extra time to wait for the elevator. Construction will continue until Spring 2024. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Book your appointment online

Online appointment booking now available for some appointments in our clinics. Start your booking request.

The St. Michael’s Academic Family Health Team (FHT) operates out of five clinic locations across downtown Toronto and provides comprehensive team-based primary care and several specialized services and care programs.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency please call 911 for immediate assistance.

Our regular clinic hours are Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with some exceptions. Please note our clinics and phones are closed from noon – 1 p.m. and our phones close for the day at 4:30 p.m.

You can choose to schedule either a virtual appointment or an in-person appointment. Please see our virtual care guidance document for patients. Please let us know if your medical concern is urgent.

Instead of walking in, whenever possible please continue to call to book an appointment for medical care.

After-hours urgent care clinics for registered St. Michael’s FHT patients run Monday to Thursday, 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Last patient registration is 30 minutes before the clinic closing time and weekend clinics are closed from noon to 1 p.m. for lunch.

If you need urgent medical care after-hours when our urgent care clinics are closed you can call Health Connect Ontario at 1-866-553-7205. This service will connect you with a nurse who will provide you with advice over the phone. This service is for urgent health issues that are not an emergency.

Visit the get medical care section for more information about how to access regular and after-hours urgent care.

We are committed to providing our community with high quality and compassionate care throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We are making every effort to protect patients, the public and staff. We will ask you COVID-19 screening questions before you enter the clinic in order to determine if additional precautions are required for your visit.

We are excited to present our Strategic Plan for 2020-2025. View/download the summary to learn more about our strategy framework, goals and priorities for the next five years.

Online Appointment Booking available for some health-care providers in our clinics. To check if your provider has online appointment booking available, please click the booking link under your home clinic and follow the instructions.

Step-by-step instructions for patients

61 Queen
Online appointment booking link

80 Bond
Online appointment booking link

St. Lawrence Health Centre
Online appointment booking link

Sumac Creek Health Centre
Online appointment booking link

Wellesley – St. James Town Health Centre
Online appointment booking link

If you are experiencing a medical emergency please call 911 for immediate assistance.

Use the links below to locate the information you need.

Booking appointments during regular hours

Our regular clinic hours are weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with some exceptions. Clinics and phones are closed noon to 1 p.m. Last patient registration is 30 minutes before clinic closing time. Phones close at 4:30 p.m. See Clinic Locations and Contact Information to find the regular hours and contact information for your clinic.

Instead of walking in, whenever possible please continue to call to book an appointment for medical care.

Please let us know when you call if your medical concern is urgent.

If you arrive at the clinic without an appointment, we will ask you some health questions. If your concern is not urgent, you may be given an appointment for a later date.

Booking appointments after hours

If you are experiencing a serious life-threatening medical emergency, go to your nearest emergency department or call 911 immediately. Our Urgent care clinics run Monday to Thursday, 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Please use the telephone numbers below to  access our urgent care clinics. It is generally preferred that you come in-person to the clinic for your urgent issue, though we do still ask that you call ahead. If you are not sure if your concern is urgent, please call. We are happy to help you find the best way to get care.

Monday 5 to 8 p.m. (last patient registered at 7:30 p.m.)

Location: Health Centre at 80 Bond

416-864-3011

Tuesday 5 to 8 p.m. (last patient registered at 7:30 p.m.)

Location: St. Lawrence Health Centre

416-864-6000

Wednesday 5 to 8 p.m. (last patient registered at 7:30 p.m.)

Location: Wellesley St. James Town Health Centre

416-864-3096

Thursday 5 to 8 p.m. (last patient registered at 7:30 p.m.)

Location: Wellesley St. James Town Health Centre

416-864-3096

Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Phones are open from 9 – 11:15 a.m. and 1 – 3:30 p.m. Last patient registered at 3:30 p.m.) Clinic is closed noon to 1 p.m. for lunch

Location: Wellesley St. James Town Health Centre
416-864-3096

Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Phone are open from 9 – 11:15 a.m. and 1 – 3:30 p.m. Last patient registered at 3:30 p.m. Clinic is closed noon to 1 p.m. for lunch

Location: Sumac Creek Health Centre
416-864-3022

All other times

If you need urgent medical care after-hours when our clinics are closed you can call Health Connect Ontario at 1-866-553-7205. This service will connect you with a nurse who will provide you with advice over the phone. This service is for urgent health issues that are not an emergency.

If you are experiencing a serious life-threatening medical emergency, go to your nearest emergency department or call 911 immediately.

The St. Michael’s Academic Family Health Team recognizes that there are many individuals in the community who do not have a family doctor or nurse practitioner. We try to balance that need with the needs of our existing patients to access timely and quality care.

At times we do have family doctors and nurse practitioners that accept new patients who:

  • Live in our catchment area (see map)
  • and do not already have a family physician

If you do not have a family physician or nurse practitioner (NP), you can contact one of our clinic sites. If at the time of your call we do not have any family doctors or NPs taking new patients, we will refer you to Health Care Connect. You can register with Health Care Connect by calling 1-866-243-0061 or registering on-line at ontario.ca/healthcareconnect. They will try to assist you in locating a family physician or NP close to where you live. We do not keep waiting lists.

61 Queen Family Practice Unit

3rd Floor 61 Queen St. E.
North: 416-867-7426
South: 416-867-7428

Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m.
Last patient registered at 4:30 p.m.
Phones close at 4:30 p.m.

Health Centre at 80 Bond

80 Bond St.
416-864-3011

Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Last patient registered at 4:30 p.m.
Phones close at 4:30 p.m.

Monday Evening Urgent Care Clinic (please phone before coming in: phones open 5 to 8 p.m. Last patient registered at 7:30 p.m.)

St. Lawrence Health Centre

140 the Esplanade, Unit 3
416-864-6000

Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Last patient registered at 4:30 p.m.
Phones close at 4:30 p.m.

Outpatient blood lab hours: Laboratory Medicine – Unity Health Toronto

Tuesday Evening Urgent Care Clinic (please phone before coming in: phones open 5 to 8 p.m. Last patient registered at 7:30 p.m.)

Sumac Creek Health Centre

3rd Floor 73 Regent Park Blvd.
416-864-3022

Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Last patient registered at 4:30 p.m.
Phones close at 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 8 p.m. Last patient registered at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday Urgent Care Clinic (please phone before coming in: phones open 9 – 11:15 a.m. and 1 – 3:30 p.m.)

Outpatient blood lab hours: Laboratory Medicine – Unity Health Toronto

Wellesley – St. James Town Health Centre

The formerly separate clinics St. James Town Health Centre and Health Centre at 410 integrated and moved into this new joint clinic – Wellesley – St. James town Health Centre – in March 2021.

1st and 2nd Floor 95 Homewood Ave.
416-864-3096
Fax: 416-864-6035

Monday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 8 p.m. Last patient registered at 7:30 p.m.
Phones close at 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Last patient registered at 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday and Thursday Urgent Care (please phone before coming in: phones open 5 to 8 p.m. Last patient registered at 7:30 p.m.)
Saturday Urgent Care Clinic (please phone before coming in: phones open 9 – 11:15 a.m. and 1 – 3:30 p.m.)

Monday: Health Centre

80 Bond St.
416-864-3011
To access our urgent care clinics, please call before coming in. Phones open 5 to 8 p.m. Last patient registered at 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday: St. Lawrence Health Centre

140 the Esplanade, Unit 3
416-864-6000
To access our urgent care clinics, please call before coming in. Phones open 5 to 8 p.m. Last patient registered at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday & Thursday: Wellesley – St. James Town Health Centre

1st and 2nd Floor 95 Homewood Ave.
416-864-3096
Fax: 416-864-6035
To access our urgent care clinics, please call before coming in. Phones open 5 to 8 p.m. Last patient registered at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday: Wellesley – St. James Town Health Centre

1st and 2nd Floor 95 Homewood Ave.
416-864-3096
Fax: 416-864-6035
To access our urgent care clinics, please call before coming in. Phones open 9 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. and 1 – 3:30 p.m.
Last patient registered at 11:30 a.m. for the morning and 3:30 p.m. for the afternoon. The clinic is closed for lunch from noon – 1 p.m.

Sunday: Sumac Creek Health Centre

3rd Floor 73 Regent Park Blvd.
416-864-3022
To access our urgent care clinics, please call before coming in. Phones open 9 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. and 1 – 3:30 p.m.
Last patient registered at 11:30 a.m. for the morning and 3:30 p.m. for the afternoon. The clinic is closed for lunch from noon – 1 p.m.

If you need medical care after hours you can call Health Connect Ontario at 1-866-553-7205. This service will connect you with a nurse who will provide you with advice over the phone. When you call, please tell them your patient’s names and clinic location and that you are a patient of the St. Michaels’ Family Health Team. This service is for urgent health issues that are not an emergency.

As a patient of this family health team, you are welcome to attend our free classes. Speak with your health-care provider about which classes would be good for you. To sign up, please call 416-864-6060 ext. 8367. Please note all classes are currently being offered virtually due to COVID-19.

Social Work Classes

  • Skills for Life
    • Separate for men and women, a six-week behaviour group that gives patients tools to manage emotions and interpersonal relationships – individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder are usually a great fit for this group. This class will require a referral from your provider.
  • Getting Connected
    • Finding resources to reach your goals. A four-week group class to give patients resources to get out and do things that are meaningful to them and help them to establish goals and objectives for themselves. It will incorporate tools for working on self-esteem. Individuals who are lonely and desire connection or a path for themselves are a great fit for this group.
  • Facing Fears
    • Skills for dealing with anxious thoughts. This is a six-week course for learning strategies to cope with anxious thought patterns, focusing on the concept of exposure and non-avoidance. Individuals looking to work on their anxious thought patterns are a great fit for this group.
  • MAST
    • Mindful Awareness Stabilization Training is a five-week mindfulness group class for practicing care and learning to understand feelings, thoughts and sensations.
  • Life after Trauma
    • With separate groups for men and women, this 10-week group class is for individuals who have experienced childhood trauma and live with symptoms. The program agenda applies skills and activities to reflect on current life dynamics, core beliefs, thinking patterns, how dynamics of trust, anger, shame and guilt impact relationship with self and others.
  • Move your Mood
    • This course comprises six educational sessions on exploring core beliefs, the connection of our thoughts, emotions, behaviours and creating action plans to improve one’s mood. Recognizing thought patterns and emotion cycles of low mood and depression.

Psychology Classes

  • Beating the Blues
    • This 12-week series of group treatment sessions offered in fall and spring incorporates behavioural interventions, relaxation, and some anxiety work, depending on group needs in combination with depression. A psychology referral is required.
  • Mindfully Managing Pain
    • Mindfully Managing Pain uses both mindfulness-based practices and cognitive behavioural techniques to assist patients who are living with chronic pain. It is a group that meets for eight weeks, for one and a half hours. Patients who attend this group have the opportunity to learn mindfulness practices that they can use to help manage their pain. During group, cognitive behavioural techniques are introduced that are helpful in raising awareness about the way you think and behave as a result of your chronic pain and to make changes that continue to support your efforts on coping with your chronic pain. A psychology referral is required.
  • Engaging in Recovery
    • A six-week group class for those with addictions to explore the idea and meaning of change in their lives. Helping clients move through the stages of change as they examine their values and strengths, and challenges of making changes around addictive behaviour. Referrals are made through addiction services.
  • Pathways to Recovery
    • A 12-week, skills-based group class to help newly recovering clients learn ways to change their thought and behaviour patterns, and better understand how these are connected to their substance use. Referrals are made through addiction services.

Nutrition Classes

  • Craving Change Program
    • The Craving Change Program is designed to assist people who are trying to discover their problematic eating triggers and learn new healthier ways of managing them. The main ideas that the Craving Change Program teaches include:
  • Understanding why it’s hard to change eating behaviour
  • Identifying personal triggers for problematic eating
  • Learning to respond to triggers differently
  • Maintaining these changes

The Craving Change Program comprises four two-hour sessions. To participate in the program, you will need to commit to attending all four sessions. There is no cost for this program. Patients may self-refer.

Diabetes Classes

  • Pre-diabetes Workshop
    • This workshop is for individuals who have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes or impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or glucose intolerance (IGT). Offered monthly, this workshop is three hours long and requires a referral. Topics covered include:
  • Definition and diagnosis of prediabetes, IFG and/or IGT
  • Basic pathophysiology of diabetes
  • Risk factors for Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes
  • Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes
  • Importance of exercise
  • Introduction to healthy eating
  • Label reading
  • Diabetes 101 Workshop

The Diabetes 101 workshop is for individuals who have been newly diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes or individuals who have diabetes and are interested in a refresher class. This workshop is three hours long, offered monthly and provides ongoing support individually or in a group setting as required. This class will require a referral from the provider. Topics covered include:

  • Definition and diagnosis of diabetes
  • Risk factors for diabetes
  • Basic pathophysiology of diabetes

Nutritional services

Our Registered Dietitians can answer your questions and help you make changes in what and how you and your family eat through nutritional assessments, support and counselling.

Childrens’ nutrition

Check out these great educational videos to help your child eat well.

Managing and preventing constipation

Managing iron deficiency

Prediabetes

The following video gives you information on how you can lower your blood sugars to prevent diabetes.

Cholesterol

The following video gives you information on how you can lower your cholesterol to prevent heart disease.

Addictions services

Our Addictions Services include short-term counselling, skills-based addictions groups, referral to treatment programs and more.

Chiropody

Chiropodists are health professionals who specialize in feet and ankles. We can help prevent injury and disability and promote proper foot health.

Chiropractic care

Chiropractors treat muscle and joint pains and problems that make it hard for you to perform your normal activities.

Dental care

We offer dental services including exams, x-rays and teeth cleaning to adults who do not have private dental insurance.

Diabetes education and management

This program supports people with diabetes to use goal setting and basic tools to help them self-manage their diabetes care.

Health justice legal advice and advocacy

The Health Justice Program provides legal information, referrals and brief services to low-income patients who have legal issues affecting their well-being.

HIV care

This group of internationally renowned HIV specialists help guide and maintain care for people living with HIV and those at risk of infection with HIV or other blood-borne illnesses.

Income security health promotion

As part of your health care, our aim is to improve the income security of our patients who are facing financial difficulties by providing assistance in applying for social benefits and grants, informal credit counselling, personal budgeting information and more.

Mental health care

The family health team has social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists that can provide you and your family members with the mental health support you need.

Pharmacy

Our team of pharmacists includes three primary care pharmacists and one HIV pharmacist who can check your prescriptions and teach you the best and safest ways to take your medicines.

Pre-natal care

When you’re pregnant, you feel different from your usual self. Your family health team can help you navigate pregnancy and any symptoms you may be feeling throughout.

Quit smoking

Our Smoking Cessation Program provides therapy and support to help you stop smoking. If you are interested in taking part in this program or have recently been referred, please watch this video below before your first smoking cessation counseling appointment.

Reach Out and Read

In January 2015, we launched a Reach Out and Read initiative for physicians and nurses to offer parents advice about childhood literacy and provide children ages zero to six with books and information on local resources.

Social work

A social worker is a counsellor that helps you with your problems, provides you with information, and connects you to other services such as healthcare or social services. Our social workers can provide you with personal counselling sessions, group programs and more.

Transgender care

We provide care to all patients, including those who identify as trans, gender non-binary and gender non-conforming. Our aim is to help you access primary health care and a trans sensitive provider.

Tests, labs and imaging

We offer on-site bloodwork at four of our family health team locations. Please visit our Laboratory Medicine page for more information.

Social Determinants of Health

Social conditions, such as income, employment, education, housing status, gender, race, and early childhood experience have a greater impact on health than genetics or access to health services.

In 2013 the St. Michael’s Hospital Family Health Team created a committee to address these factors. The goal is to improve the health of patients and our community. The Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) committee includes physicians, nurse practitioners, social workers, patient advisors, and other members of the health care team.

Green Team

The health impacts of climate change and managing heat

This patient and community webinar took place on May 31, 2022. It was hosted by St. Michael’s Family Health Team in collaboration with Toronto Environment Alliance (TEA) and Community Resilience to Extreme Weather (CREW). This webinar is the first of three which will focus on climate change and its impact on health. The information shared in this webinar is general health information. Please consult your doctor or nurse practitioner for personal health information or before changing or stopping any medications.

Benefits of time spent in nature

This patient and community webinar took place on July 26, 2022. It was hosted by St. Michael’s Family Health Team with speakers from the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) and Sick Kids. This webinar is the second of three which will focus on climate change and its impact on health. The information shared in this webinar is general health information. Please consult your doctor or nurse practitioner for personal health information or before changing or stopping any medications.

Benefits of a plant-rich diet in the context of climate change and health

This patient and community webinar took place on Sept. 27, 2022. It was hosted by St. Michael’s Family Health Team with speakers from members of our dietitian team and a family physician with the Hamilton Family Health. This webinar was the final in a series focused on climate change and its impact on health. The information shared in this webinar is general health information. Please consult your doctor or nurse practitioner for personal health information or before changing or stopping any medications.

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Last updated May 29, 2023