Primary Care Clinic

Physicians from ICHA provide scheduled and as-needed comprehensive primary care to enrolled patients. The physicians assess, diagnose, and manage acute and chronic health conditions, prescribe medications, and complete specialist referrals. They collaborate closely with other health professionals to ensure patients receive holistic, team-based care.

Nurse Practitioners provide comprehensive primary care including assessment, diagnosis and management of acute and chronic health conditions, prescribe medications, and order and interpret diagnostic tests. They collaborate closely with other health professionals to ensure patients receive holistic, team-based care.

RNs collaborate with Inner City Family Physicians and Psychiatrists, our Nurse Practitioner, the rest of the interdisciplinary team and community and shelter staff to provide primary nursing care, including health education.

• Monitors vital signs and health status
• Screens for chronic diseases
• Provides wound care and dressing changes
• Immunizations
• Smoking Cessation
• Performs point-of-care testing
• Sexual Health
• Care coordination

Our counselling team offers accessible, compassionate support for a wide range of mental health and substance use concerns. We provide both scheduled appointments and drop-in care to ensure flexibility and ease of access.

We support clients with:

• Anxiety and mood disorders
• Trauma and PTSD
• Substance use and harm reduction
• Coping strategies and emotional regulation
• Mindfulness and stress management
• Family conflict and relationship challenges
• Service navigation and advocacy

Our team uses evidence-based practice guided by a commitment to social justice and is informed by narrative therapy, anti-oppression, cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness, upholding a trauma-informed approach and client-centred approach. Clients can access appointments quickly with no limit to the number of sessions needed, ensuring a barrier-free, flexible and client-driven service.

Foot Care Our Chiropodist provides a full range of quality foot care services to ICFHT clients, including the assessment and treatment of acute pathological foot conditions, surgical procedures, and preventive and palliative foot care. It is common for people who have experienced homelessness to experience foot and mobility issues caused by exposure to harsh weather, inadequate footwear, poor nutrition, and ongoing health issues.

We support clients with:

• Diabetic foot care and foot screenings
• Wound care and prevention
• Custom Orthotics
• Fungal infections (e.g., athlete's foot, fungal toenails)
• Corns and calluses
• Ingrown, thick or long nails
• Foot Pain
• Education on foot hygiene and footwear

Our health promoter works to increase physical and cognitive functioning and health for ICFHT clients through a variety of stimulating programs. These serve to remove barriers that prevent clients from participating in meaningful leisure, and facilitate learning about the physical, social and emotional benefits of recreation, to maintain quality of life for clients despite illness and disability. The health promoter works closely with clients and team members to address the social determinants of health, reduce health inequities, and promote healthier lifestyles through workshops, outreach, and community partnerships.

A neuropsychologist is a licensed psychologist with advanced training in how brain function impacts thinking, emotions, and behaviour. At ICFHT, our neuropsychologists offer in-depth cognitive and psychological assessments to support patients with complex health needs.

We support clients with:

• Cognitive assessments for individuals with brain injuries, developmental disabilities, or severe mental health challenges
• Functional assessments for housing support, disability claims, or care planning
• Support with applications to:
  • Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
  • Developmental Services Ontario (DSO)
  • Canada Disability Tax Credit
  • Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPP-D)
• Collaboration with the care team to provide integrated, team-based support

Working in close collaboration with family physicians, nurse practitioners, and other team members, the neuropsychologist helps identify how neurological conditions, mental health challenges, or developmental issues may be affecting day-to-day functioning. This informs diagnosis, treatment planning, and access to services.

Psychiatric assessments are available to enrolled patients of ICFHT through referral from a physician. In addition to direct consultations, the psychiatrist works collaboratively with the allied health team to support the management of mental health conditions across disciplines. This collaborative approach enhances the capacity of the entire care team to provide integrated, trauma-informed, and evidence-based mental health care.

The memory clinic is a multi-disciplinary program providing cognitive testing for clients suspected of having mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia. The team meets to review each case and provides recommendations to primary care provider. Training for memory clinic assessments is provided by the Centre of Family Medicine.