Health Wellness

Allied Health Team

Our multi-disciplinary team includes rehabilitation services, chiropody, nutrition, Diabetes education, and Asthma education. As well as providing individual and family services, the team participates in Health Centre activities and community based programs.

 Rehabilitation Services

The Health Centre has offered rehabilitation services to the North End Community since 1990.

Who is eligible to receive rehabilitation care (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, kinesiology) at NHCHC?

• Individuals that live within our geographical catchment area
• Individuals living with diabetes that are currently being seen by our NHCHC diabetes team
• Newcomers to Canada that do no speak English
• Women and children living in a shelter
• Potential clients who are eligible based on the criteria above may self-refer for our services, or be referred by another health care professional

What are the hours of operation and contact information for the rehabilitation department at NHCHC?
We are open from 8am to 5pm Monday to Thursday, and 8am to 4pm on Fridays. Our department's phone number is (905) 523-1184. Ext 3060 We are located on the 2nd floor of NHCHC.

Our rehabilitation department also places great importance on our role in teaching future health care professionals. We act as clinical preceptors for students from occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and physiotherapy-assistant programs from McMaster University, Mohawk College, other Ontario Universities, and D'Youville College in Buffalo. Our team mentors nearly 20 students each year!

If you are in need of our services or would like more information, please give us a call!

Physiotherapy

What is Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapists are regulated primary health care professionals, skilled in the assessment and management of a wide range of conditions that affect the musculoskeletal, circulatory, respiratory, and nervous systems.

Our physiotherapists participate in regular on-going learning and professional development activities, with current research findings and 'best practices' incorporated into evidence-based client care.

If you wish to learn more about physiotherapy, please visit the Canadian Physiotherapy Association's website for a wealth of information: http://www.physiotherapy.ca

How can the physiotherapists at NHCHC help me?
We have three physiotherapists on staff who can assist you in a variety of ways:

• We can address the physical challenges associated with musculoskeletal injuries such as back and neck pain, arthritis, repetitive strain injuries, etc.
• We can provide care for sports injuries, and provide advice on strategies for prevention.
• We collaborate with our kinesiologists to help create an individualized general conditioning program that can be performed safely and comfortably in the presence of a musculoskeletal injury or other medical condition.

Occupational Therapy

What is an Occupational Therapist?
Occupational Therapists are health care professionals who assist individuals in developing or maintaining life roles and activities at home and in the community when the individual's ability to function independently has been challenged by accident, disability, disease, emotional or developmental difficulties.

Our Occupational Therapist participates in ongoing learning and professional development activities and is committed to providing collaborative, evidence-based service to clients in North Hamilton. If you would like to learn more about Occupational Therapy, please visit the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists website for more information: www.caot.ca

How can the Occupational Therapist at NHCHC help me?

• Increasing independence in self-care or home management activities (retraining, recommendations of adaptive equipment, etc).
• Assessing home safety.
• Environmental adaptations / accessibility issues.
• Education regarding optimizing performance, energy conservation, joint protection, falls prevention, stress management, and more.
• Return-to-work issues.
• Linking to community resources and home supports.
• Functional mobility.
• Splinting for upper extremity injuries/conditions.

Kinesiology

What is Kinesiology?

Kinesiology is a sience of human movement. It focuses on how the body functions and moves . Kinesiologists focus on the prevention and wellbeing by developing exercise programs for people and helping them get and stay fit.

At NHCHC we have a diabetes Kinesiologist as well as a Student  Kinesiologist.The diabetes Kinesiologist designs both individual and group excercise programming with a special focus on monitoring your diabetic needs.

In partnership with the University of Waterloo, a Kinesiology student is hired for four months at a time, to maintain the fitness program and provide assistance to the registered kinesiologist and physiotherapists on staff.

Following an initial fitness assessment, a personal gym program is designed for each individual, based on their interests, goals, and limitations. Several orientation sessions provide the individual with the necessary education on safe equipment technique and the benefits of regular exercise. The gym facility includes a variety of cardio and strengthening equipment.

Who is Eligible

If you are living with type 2 diabetes in Hamilton you are eligible to attend and must be refered from a health care professional or if you live int eh North End catchment area you can self refer. Please cal ( 905) 523-1184 Ext.3060 for an appointment  or information .

Gym hours are Monday-Thursday 8am-5pm, and Friday 8am-4pm.

Chiropody

What is Chiropody?
Chiropody is the profession dealing with assessment and treatment of the feet in order to prevent or relieve diseases and disorders. This is done through therapeutic, surgical and palliative means.

What Does A Chiropodist Do At NHCHC?
Commonly treated conditions include toenail and skin problems (e.g. ingrown toenails), corns and calluses. These are often due to structural foot problems, so the Chiropodist may prescribe orthotics (shoe inserts) or special footgear (braces or shoes).

Who Is Eligible At NHCHC?
Eligible groups include:

• Clients with a Physician at NHCHC
• People who live within the catchment boundary (Queen St. to the west, Sherman Ave. to the east, and Barton St. to the south).

Clients may be referred by a health professional or may self-refer if they live in the North End. Call (905) 523-0090 for appointment information.

New Healthy Feet Checklist

For more information on chiropdy, and to meet the chiropody team, please go to the Feet First: Steps for Health page.

Nutrition/Dietitian Support

What is a Dietitian?
Dietitians are regulated health care professionals who have expertise in food and nutrition. They are essential members of the health care team that practice in a wide range of diverse workplaces.

Dietitians must complete an undergraduate degree specializing in nutrition from an accredited post secondary education institution, including a 1 year internship. Dietitians must also register with a regulatory body (College or Association) in the province in which they intend to practice. Most provinces require successful completion of the Canadian Dietetic Registration Examination (CDRE) for applicants to gain registration status.

Who is eligible to see a Dietitian at NHCHC:
- Any Hamilton individuals who have type 2 Diabetes or Prediabetes

- If the individual’s doctor is part of the Hamilton Family Health Team, the individual must ask for permission first

- Any individuals who’s doctor practices at NHCHC

How can a Dietitian help you?

The dietitian in our diabetes program can help you:

• design a meal plan that fits your lifestyle and needs
• understand how food affects diabetes
• prevent, manage or treat high cholesterol, hypertension and weight management
• identify other nutrition problems (ie - celiac disease, food allergies, cardiovascular disease

Our team of specialized diabetes educators includes a nurse, dietitian and pharmacist who are able to talk to you about your diabetes and address the following questions you may have

• What is diabetes?
• What are the symptoms?
• How is diabetes treated? (Do I need to take pills or insulin?)
• How can I manage my diabetes?

Diabetes Educators partner with patients, their families, and their family physician to teach diabetes self-management and help patients gain control of their disease. We will collaborate with other team members (physiotherapists, occupational therapists, kinesiologists, chiropodists and social work) to help treat, prevent, or maintain health status.

• blood glucose monitoring and how to handle sick days
• how to treat your diabetes when traveling across time zones
• how to recognize and treat low or high blood glucose
• how to begin an intensive diabetes program using insulin and other new technologies

Diabetes Nurses Educators have completed college or university requirements to practice as a nurse. They also have specialized training in diabetes and are nationally recognized as CDE's (certified diabetes educators).

Who is eligible to receive diabetes services at NHCHC?
• Any Hamilton individuals living with diabetes

What are the hours of operation and contact information for diabetes services at NHCHC?
We are available to see clients for appointments during the following hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday - 9:00am - 5:00pm
Wednesday - 1:00pm. - 7:30pm
Friday - 8:00am - 4:00pm

Our department's phone number is (905) 523-1184. We are located on the 2nd floor of NHCHC. If you are in need of our services or would like more information, please give us a call!

 Asthma Education Program 

Asthma education is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays for clients of the Health Centre on a self-referral or health care provider-referral basis.

The Asthma Coordinator sees patients for spirometry, education about their asthma, assessment with respect to triggers, environmental control, use and role of medications, pathophysiology of chronic disease, and self management strategies. The coordinator also works with at risk populations (i.e. smokers) on assessment using spirometry for early detection of lung disease.