Core Care Family Health Team

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COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS)

Office Updates and Availability

IMPORTANT: COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS) INFO


May 25, 2020 - the following changes are in effect.  Please check the website regularly for updates.


Our office is open and we are offering several options to meet your needs and keep you safe during this time (see options below).  Effective immediately, we are not booking any non-urgent appointments.  This includes all appointments with Melissa (our Physician Assistant) and all of our second floor staff (Sandy, Jaclyn, Jessica, Ryan, Dr. Kates, and James).  If you have an appointment already, you will be contacted to discuss alternatives.  The office is still open and will support your needs through advice, medicine refills, and appointments if felt to be appropriate for a family doctor's office.


Injection clinics are also closed.  Injections will be available by appointment if you feel it is necessary.


We will continue to support patients that require forms. Email may be temporarily required in some circumstances to facilitate this or supplement a telephone or virtual visit. We would like to remind patients that email is not secure and a form of one-way communication.


Please check our web site for updates.  Updates will be posted here first.  


Your doctors are trying to prevent the spread of this virus - particularly to vulnerable and high risk patients.  We thank you for your co-operation in helping keep our population safe.


Patient Public Health Line for COVID-19 inquiries: 905-974-9848

Office Visits

If your concern is urgent, and felt to be appropriate for a family doctor's office, we may see you in the office for an appointment.  If you are booked to see the doctor and plan on bringing someone to accompany you to the visit, please limit this to 1 person only.


Our office will continue to see obstetric and well baby visits in person. We encourage only 1 visitor with a child. The following visits are encouraged to be in-office visits due to immunizations: Newborn to 2 weeks, 2 month, 4 month, 6 month,12 month,15 month, and 18 month visits.

Alternatives to Office Visits

As we try to reduce face to face in-office visits, we will be implementing the use of phone visits, virtual visits, and email.  

Patients should expect a blocked number or unidentified caller for their telephone visit with the physician, PA or allied staff.

If you have been given the option of email communication with us, please be aware this email is not secure. At this time we are trialing the use of email for paperwork that would not require a face to face visit. We will do our best to respond but if your concern is not appropriate for this format we reserve the right to not reply.


If you have been offered a Virtual Visit, click here to learn more.

Prescription Renewal Requests

During these exceptional circumstances with COVID-19, we ask that if you need prescription renewal you contact your pharmacy and have them fax our office. You do not need to call our office to ask for one. Our usual policy will likely take into effect once the COVID precautions are lifted which is an annual check in for medication review in person with your physician.

How can I get tested for COVID-19?

COVID-19 and Mental Health Concerns

Self Assessment

How Do I Self-Quarantine?

How to Apply a Face Mask

Blood Work and X-ray/Ultrasound Locations

During the COVID outbreak, many locations will have decreased hours and some locations may be closed.  We recommend that you check the web site for your preferred location to learn about closures, changes in hours, and any instructions the location may have to keep you safe.  


(Note: as of March 25, 2020, only urgent x-rays and ultrasounds will be done.  Click here for more information.)

Single Session Mental Health and Nutrition Workshops Running During COVID-19 (Hamilton Family Health Team)

Non-Medical Resources

COMMUNITY RESOURCES - Food & Necessities

541 Eatery and Exhange Bagged Lunch Program
(currently still running)
Mondays-Saturdays at 11am Sack lunches being handed out at the door to the people in our community who have been cut off from their support system due to COVID-19. Will of course need to stop if Public Health's recommendations change. fivefortyone.ca
Donations can also be made online to support efforts.

Food Banks and hot meal programs were still running in Hamilton as of March 17 update (with modifications in how they're distributing).

For up to date info from Hamilton Food Share: www.feedthehammer.com

Where to get food in Hamilton list with contact phone numbers:
*call first as changes are happening daily

Good Shepherd Centre
Provides personal care items and feminine products at their emergency programs. Their Marketplace (food bank) requires pre-registration and that info can be found here: https://www.goodshepherdcentres.ca/food-bank-clothing-room

PALZ Trading Zone Hamilton
this is a very active FB group with over 20 000 members where only trades (no cash) is allowed. May not be first choice for folks but I have seen people trade for gift cards, edibles, necessities here. "Porch pick ups"  and "swaps" are a norm here so social distancing is an option.