No payment is required for any of the services that are provided by the Dufferin Area Family Health Team. All programs and services are funded through the Ministry of Health. Please note that depending on location of your services, you may have to pay for parking.
Our services are provided to individuals who belong to the Dufferin Area Family Health Team. Referrals are made by your primary care provider although individuals who belong to the Dufferin Area Family Health Team can self enroll in some of the programs. Please ask any member of the Family Health Team if you are interested in our programs/services or call 519-938-8802 extension 314.
- In order to get the most out of your appointment we suggest you ask questions and seek clarification when you do not fully understand something.
- Write down any questions or concerns and bring them with you to your appointment.
- If you take medications, please bring your most up to date medication list or bring all of your medications and supplements with you to the appointment. Please bring any other relevant medical reports/information with you. For example if you have recently been discharged from the hospital, you may have been given a Final Progress note and Medication reconciliation form to give to your family doctor. Please bring them with you to your appointment.
- During your regular office visit, please inform your doctor if you need any prescription renewals.
- If you have difficulty remembering information, please bring a friend/family member/caregiver with you to the appointment.
- If you are interested in a DAFHT program or service that is available, please inform your health care provider.
- Through the week, there are after hours clinics available to all DAFHT patients. To find out more, phone your doctor’s office and they will let you know the times and location of the after hours clinic that day.
- Headwaters Hospital Emergency Department
- Public Health: 1-800-265-7293
- Poison Control: 1-800-268-9017
- Contact Telehealth Ontario - Telehealth Ontario is a free, confidential telephone service you can call to get health advice or general health information from a Registered Nurse. That means quick, easy access to a qualified health professional, who can assess your symptoms and help you decide your best first step. They can help you decide whether to care for yourself, make an appointment with your Family Physician, go to a clinic, contact a community service or go to a hospital emergency room. Free Access to a Registered Nurse:24 Hours a day, 7 days a Week 1-866-797-0000; TTY : 1-866-797-0007
- For more information contact the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care http://www.health.gov.on.ca
Highlands Health Network: First 15 minutes is free. The cost for 15 - 30 minutes is $2 and over 30 minutes the cost is $3. Please remember to bring the parking ticket into the office for validation.
Orangeville Family Medical Centre: Cost for parking is $3.00. (You will require $2, $1 and 0.25 cent coins). A change machine is available in the office lobby.
DAFHT main location at One Elizabeth St. lower level, Suite 100: Cost for parking is $3.00. (You will require $2, $1 or 0.25 cent coins). A change machine is available in the upper level office lobby at the front of the building.
Grand Valley – Free parking
5th Avenue – Free parking
Shelburne Centre For Health - Free parking.
Credit Creek – Free Parking
When you contact a health care provider's office you should ask if they are accepting new patients.
Ask a friend or family member if their doctor is accepting new patients.
Register with Health Care Connect
You can register with this program by filling out an online form: https://www.ontario.ca/page/find-family-doctor-or-nurse-practitioner or call: 1-800-445-1822 (TTY 1-800-387-5559).
Use the Doctor Search found on the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario website. This search is helpful for finding doctors that speak your language or have a specialization you may need: https://doctors.cpso.on.ca
Your doctor will send a referral to a member of the health care team when you have expressed an interest, or if they feel you would benefit from the DAFHT services/programs. Sometimes, we may even refer to additional DAFHT services/programs and/or connect you with appropriate community services. Together, along with you, we provide high quality care to better meet your specific needs.
Primary care teams offer a wide range of education and support programs / services to promote health and manage chronic disease.
You will always have coverage by a physician, even when your family Dr. is away. You also have ongoing support by any member of the Family Health Team to whom you have been referred.
Family Health Teams are primary health care organizations that include a team of family physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, social workers, dietitians, and other professionals who work together to provide primary health care for their community.
We also collaborate with and promote awareness of local community services/organizations in our community.
We would like to reinforce how much we value our patients, and wish to provide you access to urgent care within the clinic to the maximum extent possible. Whether you see your own family physician, or another family physician or nurse practitioner here, we believe that this is the best place for you and your family to be treated. Our primary care providers offer after hours care clinics Mon-Fri from 5:00-8:00pm. These appointments are reserved for same day, acute care needs only and are accessed by calling the office below that day.
If your doctor is listed here:
- Dr. C. Mills
- Dr. C. Candusso
- Dr. D. Josephson
- Dr. K. Sandhu
- Dr. D. Stenning
- Dr. K. Derksen
- Dr. M. Palad
- Dr. J. Van Der Ham
- Dr. B. Sandhu
- Dr. M. Hall
Call (519) 938-8000 the next time you need after-hours care.
If your doctor is listed here:
- Dr. P. Akula
- Dr. B. Brar
- Dr. H. Bedi
- Dr. E. Clendinning
- Dr. K. Dhir
- Dr. R. French
- Dr. C. Joyce
- Dr. E. Gucciardi
- Dr. N. Locas
- Dr. K. Maag
- Dr. L. Ostrowski
- Dr. J. Ponke
- Dr. M. Rodriguez
- Dr. S. Salholtra
- Dr. N. Singh
- Dr. A. Stoianov
Call (519) 941-6937 the next time you need after-hours care.
If your doctor is listed here:
- Dr. A. dela Cruz
- Dr. T. Sumabat
- Dr. I. Chatta
- Dr. G. Soor
- Dr. A. Bhamber
- Dr. M. McCann
- Dr. R. Owen
Call (519) 925-0017 the next time you need after-hours care.
If your doctor is listed here:
- Dr. N. Gill
- Dr. A. Catania
- Dr. S. Caruso
Call (226) 259-9000 the next time you need after-hours care.
Things to bring to the appointment:
- Health card, personal identification - you will be asked for your OHIP card at each visit
- Any updated information regarding changes in address, phone number, work number or new OHIP card info
- If it is your first visit with us, please make sure you bring details of your previous family physician (name, address, phone number/fax number) and arrive 10-15 minutes early, as there will be paperwork for you to fill out
- A list of all medications you're currently taking, including prescription drugs and non-prescription medications, as well as any vitamins, supplements, herbal and homeopathic remedies. If in doubt, bring in all your medications in a bag so that your physician can review them.
- A list of other health professionals you've recently consulted, why you went to see them, and what they told you
Before you arrive, be sure you know:
- Which doctor you will be seeing
- Why you are coming to see them
Some appointments (such as physicals, prenatal visits, certain bloodwork) will require preparation such as fasting, or may require you to provide us with a urine sample – please ask the receptionist at the time of booking your appointment if this applies to your visit.
Unfortunately the clinic is no longer consulting or prescribing for travel health issues if the destination in question is exotic. Exotic places would include countries outside of North America or the Caribbean and places that would require RX for malaria and typhoid. The clinic has never and will never administer immunization against Yellow Fever. We are, at the moment, continuing to prescribe and administer Hep A and Hep A+B vaccines only if there is space available. Due to the high volume of patients last minute injections before travel cannot always be accommodated and we recommend contacting a clinic that specializes in travel medicine.
View a complete list of travel clinics in Ontario: https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/health-safety/clinic
One of the most important jobs physicians have is trying to prevent disease before it starts, or catching it early enough to treat it easily. That is why we recommend certain tests or immunizations in order to keep our patients healthy.
Screening Tests Generally Considered Useful
While many different types of tests exist, not all are useful at detecting disease accurately and early. That is why only certain types of tests are recommended by physicians. It is important that you come to your physician regularly for general physical examinations, as it is difficult to fit in discussions on screening tests into your regular visit.
TESTS FOR WOMEN
Mammogram
This is a screening test to detect breast cancer. This test is recommended every 1-2 years for all women over the age of 50 (earlier in some women who have a family history of breast cancer, especially at young ages, or for those who have had breast problems at a younger age). It is best combined with an annual physical so that a physician can check the breasts for growths or masses.
Please click on the link below for a good summary regarding breast cancer and screening tests:
https://www.cancercareontario.ca/en/types-of-cancer/breast-cancer/screening
Pap Smear
This is a screening test to detect cervical cancer. This test is recommended every 1-3 years for all women from the age of sexual activity to age 70. Most forms of cervical cancer are caused by a virus that is very commonly found in society, and a vaccine is now available.
Please click on the link below for a good summary regarding cervical cancer and screening tests:
https://www.cancercareontario.ca/en/types-of-cancer/cervical/screening
Stool Occult Blood Testing
This is one type of screening test for the detection of colorectal (bowel) cancer. This test of a stool sample is recommended every 2 years for both men and women over age 50. Patients with first-degree relatives who have had colorectal cancer, or polyps of the bowel should forego this testing and have a colonoscopy instead. This is true also of patients with inflammatory bowel disease and other types of bowel abnormalities. Please speak with your physician to decide which type of screening is best for you.
Please click on the link below for a good summary regarding colorectal cancer and screening tests:
https://www.cancercareontario.ca/en/types-of-cancer/colorectal/screening/fit-instructions
TESTS FOR MEN
PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) Testing
This is one method screening test for the detection of prostate cancer. This blood test is offered annually to men over age 50 (and younger if there is a positive family history). However, this test is controversial. It is not as accurate as some of the other screening tests, therefore there is a risk of undergoing unnecessary investigations for a false positive test (or, having a false sense of security from a false negative test). It is for this reason that the Ontario government does not cover the cost of this test. There is also controversy because many older men may have prostate cancer but will ultimately die of another illness. It is therefore difficult to know if the treatment for prostate cancer (which has its own side effects) is truly warranted.
The PSA test is best combined with an annual rectal examination by your physician. Please speak with your physician to decide whether PSA testing is a good choice for you. Click on the link below for a good summary regarding colorectal cancer and screening tests.
https://www.cancercareontario.ca/en/types-of-cancer/prostate
Stool Occult Blood Testing
This is one type of screening test for the detection of colorectal (bowel) cancer. This test of three separate stool samples is recommended every 2 years for both men and women over age 50. Patients with first-degree relatives who have had colorectal cancer, or polyps of the bowel should forego this testing and have a colonoscopy instead. This is true also of patients with inflammatory bowel disease and other types of bowel abnormalities. Please speak with your physician to decide which type of screening is best for you. Please click on the link below for a good summary regarding colorectal cancer and screening tests:
https://www.cancercareontario.ca/en/types-of-cancer/colorectal/screening
You are an enrolled patient if you have filled out a form and have given it to the receptionist at your doctors office. If you're not sure if you are an enrolled patient, ask the receptionist.
If you have enrolled in our Family Health Network, we want you to see one of our doctors or nurse practitioners. We have access to your medical records, we know your medication history and allergies and we will always forward a note from your visit to your family doctor. This will not happen if you go to a walk-in clinic.
If you do not have a family doctor, you can register via the Health Care Connect website. This service assists you to find a physician in the community. For more information, call 1-800-445-1822.