Searching for Finding A Medical Professional

Access to government funded home care services and long-term care homes

• help to navigate the array of community support and health agencies in the community
• information and referral to supportive local service agencies that help people live independently at home

In-Home Services

• Care Coordinator determines needs of client, coordinates and continually evaluates needs
• nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech language therapy
• social work, dietetics, medical supplies and equipment
• personal support, help with bathing or dressing

Placement Services

• centralized access for long-term-care homes, nursing homes and homes for the aged
• manage waiting lists
• assist with applications as the needs of the client determine, including applications from hospital
• arrange for short stay in a facility for caregiver relief

Click here to search Central East Healthline

Ontarians can receive assistance finding a family physician or nurse practitioner accepting new patients through the phone service (not available over chat).

Register for Health Care Connect and a nurse will search for a doctor or nurse practitioner who is accepting new patients in the local community. To sign up: Name, health card number and some basic health information will be needed that will help determine health needs. Priority is given to people with greater health needs as decided based on an established clinical process. Health Care Connect does not guarantee a match with a doctor or nurse practitioner.

How to sign-up for the service:

Register online or call Health811 at 811 (TTY: 1-866-797-0007) 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Once registered, the request will be given to a Health Care Connect nurse in local community and they will:

• review the request
• try to find the right family health care provider in the local community who is accepting new patients
• contact if a provider is found, and give their contact information

If a provider is found, contact them as soon as possible. In the case of not registering with the provider and for Health Care Connect to keep looking, it is required to register again.

For health care professionals:

To join Health Care Connect or speak with the Care Connector in the local community, contact the local Home and Community Care Support Services organization.

Free, secure and confidential service Ontarians can access by calling, chatting online or visiting the service's website 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Through the service, Ontarians can receive health advice from qualified health professionals, such as registered nurses, locate local health services and find trusted health information. Health811 is for non-emergent issues only. For emergencies, call 911 immediately.

Health811 does not provide medical diagnoses, renew or order prescription medications and is not a substitute for touch points with a health care provider.

The service is also available in French, which includes the phone service, online chat and the website. Translation support is available for Health811's phone service and can be requested in more than 200 languages. Translation support is available for Health811's phone service and can be requested in more than 200 languages.

Formerly Telehealth Ontario

Services offered by Health811 include:

Health Advice and Mental Health Information: Call or chat online with a registered nurse to receive health advice about non-emergent symptoms you may be experiencing or general health questions. Users can also connect to mental health information through Health811.

Access to Health Professionals: Connect with health professionals, such as registered nurses, registered dieticians, lactation consultants, and smoking cessation coaches.

Symptom Assessment Tool: An artificial intelligence-powered symptom assessment tool guides users through a series of questions to suggest possible reasons for their symptoms and provides care options, as well as a downloadable symptom report.

Find a Service: Find health services and health care providers by keyword, specialty, location, or postal code.

Medical Library: Medical library with common conditions, symptoms, treatments and prevention. The content has been vetted and approved by clinical experts.

ColonCancerCheck Program: Access information about colorectal cancer * FITs for colorectal cancer screening can be requested by eligible Ontarians through the phone service only.

Health Care Connect - Ontarians can receive assistance finding a family physician or nurse practitioner accepting new patients through the phone service (not available over chat).

Dietitian Counselling Service - Call or chat online to request a touch point with a dietitian for advice and information on nutrition and healthy eating

Refugee HealthLine - Refugees can connect with health care providers who deliver transitional health care and services, including primary care, specialist care and mental health supports. Transitional care includes initial assessments, care and referrals to other health services.

Placement services determines eligibility for admission and prioritizes and manages the admission process to long term care facilities. Provides support and information to both applicants and their families prior to and during the admission process. Determines eligibility for Convalescent Care and Short Stay in a long term care facility.

Health care services offered at home, at school, and in the community, as well as access to supported living programs and long-term care * care coordinators work with people in the community or leaving the hospital to determine what help is needed and arrange for care

Services may include:

• nursing
• nurse practitioner
• personal support
• physiotherapy and occupational therapy
• speech and language therapy
• social work
• nutrition and food counselling (dietitians)
• palliative care
• medical supplies and equipment
• access to long-term care homes
• access to supported living (adult day programs, supportive housing, retirement homes and assisted living)
• health support in the school
• specialized services for people living with specific health conditions
• referral to other community supports

Information and Referral - thehealthline.ca provides online access to health care information and services in Ontario, or call the referral phone service at 310-2222 - in English or 310-2272 - in French

Placement Services - Placement services determines eligibility for admission and prioritizes and manages the admission process to long term care facilities. Provides support and information to both applicants and their families prior to and during the admission process. Determines eligibility for Convalescent Care and Short Stay in a long term care facility.

Self Management Program - Offers various workshops in the community that supports both patients and their caregivers in their journey of managing chronic health conditions like chronic pain, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, cancer and lung disease * Participants and their caregivers develop new tools and skills to help them manage the emotional, social and physical aspect of living with a chronic condition, or supporting someone with a chronic health condition.

Services and Programs:

• Nursing Clinic - Scarborough East
• Nursing Clinic - Scarborough North
• Scarborough Health Network, Birchmount Site
• Scarborough Health Network, Centenary Site
• Scarborough Health Network, General Site
• School Health Support Services

Regulating body of the profession * investigates complaints * directory of dietitians available on website

COVID19 -- in-person programing is paused, many programs are being offered remotely; contact organization for updates

• complementary therapies (online)
• children and youth support programs including Young Carers (online)
• bereavement one on one support and group support (online)
• caregiver one on one support and group support (online)
• daily programming for palliative clients (online)
• expressive arts group
• referrals to hospice programs outside catchment area

Programs and Services

• practical assistance and personal care
• emotional and social support
• respite for caregivers
• complementary therapies
• children and youth support programs including Young Carers (see separate entry)
• bereavement support
• expressive arts group
• referrals to hospice programs outside catchment area

Regulating body of the profession * investigates complaints against massage therapists * provides general information about massage therapy to the public * database of registered massage therapists section available on the website

COVID19 -- registered nurse on site, but regular drop-in medical clinic hours have been suspended until further notice


CATCH (Co-ordinated Access to Care for the Homeless) --for persons who are homeless and not connected to services, with or without mental health or addiction problems, referrals through Medical clinic -- call for details

AApricot (Addiction Assessment Psychotherapy Referral in Community of Toronto) program

• assess, motivate and refer underserved substance users to appropriate services
• operates in partnership with Fred Victor (see separate entry) and community physicians

Housing workers/resettlement/crisis intervention counselling -- Monday-Friday, by appointment only

Gambling Addiction Program -- case management and support groups for adults struggling with both homelessness and problem or pathological gambling (temporarily closed, call for details on re-opening of program)

Veterans Housing Navigation Team

• intensive case management for veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
• contact Veterans' Transition Worker

Pastoral Care Program -- counselling and support to meet spiritual needs

Member agency of Toronto Drop-in Network (TDIN)

Provides information, referrals, supportive counselling, case management, advocacy * walk-in and outreach services for newcomers, families and homeless people

Provincial regulating body of the profession * investigates consumer complaints * a directory of members is available on the website

Represents midwives and midwifery in Ontario * maintains a list midwifery practices, available online * continuing education * resources for health care professionals

Regulating body of the profession * investigates complaints * website features a listing of dental surgeons practicing in Ontario

Regulating body of the profession * investigates complaints * website offers chiropractor search

Provincial regulating body for registered nurses (RNs), registered practical nurses (RPNs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) * investigates complaints * online public directory of nurses allowed to practice in Ontario

COVID19 - Nurse-staffed 24 hour telephone line available to assist victims/survivors and service providers with service navigation during the COVID19 pandemic; call 1-855-628-7283 or visit website for details, or to find a local Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centre in Ontario

Provides representation, leadership and support to 36 hospital-based sexual assault and domestic violence treatment centres collaboration in research, education and training activities to establish standardization in service provision

Information on health options and centre locations for victims/survivors of violence

• direct services for victims/survivors provided by member centres
• online training modules for service providers
• resource library

Find a Centre -- online searchable directory of sexual assault/domestic violence centres in Ontario; map available to download

Provincial medical regulatory board * investigates complaints relating to doctors' services or conduct * physician search available on website

Regulating body of the profession representing chiropodists and podiatrists * investigates complaints * website offers membership directory by name or location

Regulating and registering body of the profession * investigates consumer complaints * optician search available on website

Helps hospitals and community-based programs connect people with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) to the services they need * single point of entry to outpatient ABI rehabilitation and ABI community services such as recreational, vocational and supportive housing programs * central source of ABI information for patients and families to help them find and access health care and social services * navigation support to find and access inpatient and community-based rehabilitation and support programs * assist individuals with complex ABI needs to access services

Regulating body of physiotherapy in Ontario * investigates consumer complaints * maintains a list of currently registered physiotherapists on the Find a Physiotherapist website * Physiotherapy Information Advisor is available to answer patient questions

Health care services offered at home, at school, and in the community, as well as access to supported living programs and long-term care * care coordinators work with people in the community or leaving the hospital to determine what help is needed and arrange for care

Services may include:

• nursing
• nurse practitioner
• personal support
• physiotherapy and occupational therapy
• speech and language therapy
• social work
• nutrition and food counseling (dietitians)
• palliative care
• medical supplies and equipment
• access to long-term care homes
• access to supported living (adult day programs, supportive housing, retirement homes and assisted living)
• health support in the school
• specialized services for people living with specific health conditions
• referral to other community supports

Information and Referral - thehealthline.ca provides online access to health care information and services in Ontario, or call the referral phone service at 310-2222 - in English or 310-2272 - in French

Provincial regulating body of pharmacists and pharmacies * investigates consumer complaints and concerns * pharmacist and pharmacy search available on website

Note: Contact a pharmacist directly for drug-related questions

Regulating body of the profession that will investigate complaints * current list of registered occupational therapists is available on the website