+ What is trueNorth@Home?

trueNorth@Home is a telemedicine-based substance use health care service, connecting people all across Ontario to physicians specialized in addiction medicine. trueNorth@Home’s leading physician, Dr. Chris Cavacuiti, has an extensive background in addiction medicine and inner city health.

+ What services are offered?

trueNorth@Home offers medical consultations, advice and treatment related to substance use challenges within the comfort of your home. Medical treatment plans and supports are offered based on the unique needs and goals of the individual.

This is an additional service. Most of our trueNorth Medical Centres locations will continue to remain open and operate amidst COVID-19. More information on service updates can be found here.

+ How does this service work?

We use the Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN) to schedule e-consultations (eVisits) between our patients and physicians. An eVisit is a private, confidential, ‘face-to-face’ appointment — similar to an in-office health care appointment, this e-consultation will only be between you and your health care provider. You may attend your appointment from wherever you are.

+ Is this service free of charge?

Yes! This service is covered by Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP).

+ Do I need a referral?

Not at all. Referrals to this service are appreciated and accepted but they are not necessary.

+ Who is eligible?

You must be an existing patient of trueNorth to qualify. Your eligibility is determined by your doctor. If you are interested in having virtual appointments from home, please discuss your eligibility for this appointment type with your doctor at your next visit.

+ What are the requirements?

You must have a:

• valid Health Card (i.e. an Ontario Health Card that is not expired)
• secure internet access and connection
• valid email address
• smart phone OR computer, with audio and video capabilities (i.e. webcam and microphone)

+ Is this service age-restricted?

No. trueNorth@Home provides care for all, including youth. There is no lower age limit to the program. Our physicians are happy to consult with individuals of any age. Care for each individual is tailored to be age-appropriate. We recognize the individuality of each client and will consider age, maturity, parental involvement amongst various other factors when deciding on care approaches with younger individuals.

+ I want to become a trueNorth@Home patient. How do I register?

Please discuss your eligibility for this appointment type with your doctor first.

If you have already discussed this with your doctor and your doctor finds you are eligible to have virtual appointments from home, you may book an appointment by calling 1-888-878-3563 ext. 1. Due to the high volume of calls, please limit yourself to one voicemail. A member of our administrative team will response to you as soon as possible.

+ I am already a trueNorth@Home patient. How do I schedule an appointment?

Follow up appointments will be discussed and booked by your doctor at the end of each appointment. If ever this is missed, you may follow up with our administrative team by calling 1-888-878-3563 ext. 1. Due to the high volume of calls, please limit yourself to one voicemail. A member of our administrative team will response to you as soon as possible.

+ What should I expect after I have scheduled an appointment?

After you have scheduled your appointment, you will receive a confirmation email. At least an hour before your scheduled appointment, you will receive an email invitation outlining the process to begin your eVisit.

Refer to the Virtual Care web page in order to best prepare for your eVisit. You may also refer to the OTN eVisit Help Centre for detailed instructions.

+ How do I prepare for my appointment?

Familiarize yourself with the virtual appointment process at the Virtual Care web page. You may also refer to the OTN eVisit Help Centre for detailed instructions. Make sure to install and test the software prior to your scheduled appointment.

The telephone number you will be contacted from will show up as “No Caller ID” — double check your telephone settings in order to allow such calls to be received and answered.

+ What is an OTN Video eVisit?

We use a secure telehealth platform, Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN), to schedule and conduct e-consultations (eVisits) between our physicians and clients. An eVisit is a private and confidential ‘face-to-face’ appointment — similar to an in-office health care appointment, this e-consultation will only be between you and your health care provider. You may attend this appointment from wherever you are.

Refer to the Virtual Care web page in order to best prepare for your eVisit. You may also refer to the OTN eVisit Help Centre for detailed instructions.

+ Will I still need to visit a clinic?

Yes, you may still need to visit a clinic for some clinical procedures such as providing urine samples.

UDS@Home is offered to eligible particiapnts of the trueNorth@Home service. UDS@Home allows patients the convenience of completing a urine drug screen test at home. Your physician will go over the details of this service with you at your initial trueNorth@Home visit.

+ What if I am restarting the program?

The trueNorth@Home service is for routine follow-up appointments only. You cannot use this service if you are planning to restart on the program. In order to restart, you must visit a trueNorth site in person.

+ What if I want to discuss making changes to my medication dosage or carry (take-home doses) level?

The trueNorth@Home service is for routine follow-up appointments only. You cannot use this service if you are looking to make changes to your medication dosage or carry level. You must visit a trueNorth site in person instead.

+ Need assistance?

If you have any questions or face trouble with any part of the trueNorth@Home process, please call ahead at 1-888-878-3563 ext. 1 and leave a voicemail. A staff member within our administrative team will be in touch with you as soon as possible.