What is a nurse practitioner?
A nurse practitioner (NP) is a registered nurse in the extended class RN(EC). To merit those credentials the registered nurse (RN) must completed advanced university education and successfully complete the licensing exam. To retain these credentials she must continue to further her education by completing continuing educations activities and meeting the requirements of her licensing body, in my case, those of the College of Nurses of Ontario.
Can you be my primary care provider?
While I can support your health journey, I cannot act as your primary care provider. My practice focuses specifically on mental health, addiction, and chronic illness management.
Because my services are virtual, I focus on areas where I can provide the safest, most effective care. This means I avoid diagnosing problems that require an in-person assessment. I also do not take on treating conditions that I cannot properly monitor virtually or that fall outside my specialized scope.
If you are looking for a regular family doctor or nurse practitioner to manage your overall primary care, you can register with Health Care Connect, a provincial program that matches patients with local providers. For 24/7 general health advice or to locate local services, you can also call 811 or use the Health811 Platform.
I already have a primary care provider (MD or NP). Can I see you too?
Yes, you can. I believe in not duplicating services so my role will be different. My purpose will be to complement your primary care provider’s services by using my expertise in the areas of mental health and / or addiction. We will make sure to keep your provider apprised of what we are doing and use a shared care model.
How do you handle physical health issues and prescriptions?
Physical and mental health are closely connected. Within the context of our work, I can help you understand your physical health, review information you received elsewhere, and help you prepare for appointments with your primary care provider so you can communicate clearly. If you need specialized care, I can suggest where to find appropriate support.
When appropriate and related to the specific issues we are addressing in our work, I can initiate pharmacotherapies, such as antidepressants. However, I do not offer standalone physical health consultations. For ongoing prescription renewals, I only provide refills for patients I see regularly, and strictly within the scope of our active, collaborative treatment plan.
My insurance company wants to know if you are a registered psychotherapist. Are you?
My scope of practice as a nurse practitioner includes the controlled act of psychotherapy. In Ontario there are six regulated health care professions whose licence allows them to practise psychotherapy and nursing is one of the six. I’ve opted to practise while maintaining only one professional licence. you can read more about this at the following link:
Can you refer to specialists?
Yes. Nurse practitioners, just like MDs, can refer to colleagues when the need arises. We also take advantage of a system of eConsults.
What’s different about you?
I have spent the better part of my nursing career looking after people who struggled with addictions and mental health disorders, in addition to the usual health problems typically encountered in primary care practices. Read more about this on the About Nathalie page.
Are your services covered by OHIP?
The short answer is NO, my services are not covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan.
Unfortunately the system hasn’t yet caught up to the changing face of health care. Currently, as an Ontario nurse practitioner, the lab & diagnostic tests which I order are paid for by OHIP, but I cannot bill OHIP for my services.
Why don’t other nurse practitioners charge fees for their services?
Most NPs working in Ontario are hired on teams such as Family Health Teams, Community Health Centres, hospitals and are paid a salary, which is either financed by the province or by pooled resources of the members of the team who can bill OHIP.
Those who like me work independently do not receive a salary from the province.
Can I get some of the fees reimbursed?
Some private health insurance companies will reimburse some the costs. It will depend on what your private insurance plan covers. You may also be eligible for a tax credit on your income tax report.
What are your fees?
Fees vary according to the services. The initial phone consultation is free. You can choose to start with a free introduction session. We will discuss your situation and the fees which will apply.
How long is the wait to see you?
Most of the time, I can offer a free 20-30 minutes introduction appointment within a week of the request. If the person choses to carry on, we can typically begin having regular sessions within the following two weeks.
When are appointments available and how do I book?
My schedule varies, but I generally see patients on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, with appointments available between 10:00 and 18:00.
While these are my standard hours, I occasionally make exceptions outside of these times to accommodate special circumstances or unique patient needs.
To ensure your care is coordinated properly, I book all appointments through direct communication rather than self-booking applications. Please reach out to me directly by email, phone, or text to find a time that works for us.
