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Your Health Care Team: Who are the key players?

Often called the gateway to the Canadian health care system, family doctors can refer you to other health professionals for more specialized care.

Family doctors are often called the gateway to the Canadian health care system. In addition to providing you with medical advice and the health care you need, they can also refer you to other health professionals for more specialized care. This means that your family doctor works within a network of health care professionals whose expertise may range from eye health to foot care. Getting the specific care you need may simply involve knowing the types of professionals that make up your doctor’s network and learning how to access them.

Have a minor health concern? Consider a nurse practitioner.
Worried about a complex medical issue? Consult a specialist.
Questions about your medication? Talk to a pharmacist.
Need supportive care? Consider an allied health professional.
Looking for more information? Contact a support group.
Want personal support? Appoint a health advocate.

Have a minor health concern? Consider a nurse practitioner.

Besides a family doctor, you can also opt to see a nurse practitioner (NP) for minor health issues. NPs are registered nurses who have undergone additional medical training. They can do much of what your family doctor would, and can refer you to more specialized care as needed. You can even visit an NP without a family doctor’s referral. Due to the doctor shortage in Canada, more and more NPs are supplementing the care of doctors. Learn more about what NPs do and contact your local nurse hotline or health authority to find one.

Worried about a complex medical issue? Consult a specialist.

Specialists are doctors who focus on one area of medicine and become especially skilled at diagnosis and treatment in that area. Although your family doctor will initially refer you to a specialist, you may end up seeing your specialist more often if you have a chronic condition. It is important to be able to communicate with him effectively, as this is the health care professional who will be responsible for determining major diagnoses and treatments. Find out more about specialist referrals, and learn which steps you can take to shorten the waiting period.

Questions about your medication? Talk to a pharmacist.

Pharmacists are highly trained medication experts. They often know more about a drug than the doctor who prescribed it. Pharmacists can provide you with detailed information on potential side effects, explain the best way to take your prescribed medication, and can answer any questions you may have about the drug. They can also provide this information to you in written form.

If you make it a point to go to the same pharmacist when you fill your prescriptions, you can build a prescription history that can help safeguard you against accidents, particularly if you take a number of medications or if your prescriptions change frequently.

Need supportive care? Consider an allied health professional.

Allied health professionals (AHPs) include providers such as physiotherapists, psychologists, dietitians, and podiatrists, to name a few. These health care providers work with you over longer periods with the goal of improving your condition over time. Although AHPs would not have graduated from medical school and, in most cases, cannot prescribe drugs, they do have specialized graduate level education in a particular area, such as nutrition or physiotherapy, and can develop a treatment plan and help you follow it.

Your family doctor can direct you to an AHP, or you may self refer (remember, if your insurance plan fully or partially covers services provided by AHPs, you may need a referral for claims purposes). Since the services of AHPs are typically not covered by your province’s medical plan, it is common to pay for these services out-of-pocket unless you have coverage as described above. To search for an AHP, visit the “allied health professionals” section of your provincial guide or read the allied health professionals article on this website.

Looking for more information? Contact a support group.

Moving beyond health professionals, you can often find a great deal of support from community support groups and health associations that are connected to your specific illness. The mission of these associations is often to pick up where the health care system has left off. This means that they can provide clients with help finding information, services, and support (e.g., financial support, transportation aids, peer counselling, etc.) not related to treatment. Some of these groups offer seminars, workshops, and information sessions that feature health care providers, such as doctors or nurses, or even individuals living with the condition. These events are a great chance to learn about your disease, including how to treat it and how to live with it.

Want personal support? Appoint a health advocate.

You need at least one advocate in your corner. This is a personal friend or family member who will go to bat for you when confronted with a challenging situation within the health care system. Your health advocate is also there to listen to your doctor when you are overwhelmed by information, ask questions when you are feeling confused, and take notes when you need clarification about your health concern.

Knowing who makes up your health team is important. This combination of professionals can help you find the care you need, quickly and easily. Don’t be afraid to tap into your family doctor’s network. Or, consider looking into the resources available to you through your community to find the appropriate care.

Key Websites:

• HealthForceOntario: Nurse Practitioners
• Human Resources and Skills Development Canada: Medical specialists
• Service Canada: Pharmacists

Related Articles:

• Allied Health Professionals: Expand your health network
• 8 Helpful Hints for Finding a Doctor Faster
• Pharmacists: An important member of your medical team
• Registered Dietitians: Your ticket to healthy eating
• Specialists: Getting referred and getting seen fast
• How Can Your Provincial College of Physicians and Surgeons Help You?
• Family Doctor, Nurse Practitioner, or Physician's Assistant: Who should I see, and when?
• Health Advocates: Someone by your side

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