The Women’s, Children’s and Family Health Program provide both primary and specialised care to our community.

Obstetrical, Neonatal and Paediatric services are provided within a Maternal and Child Health System that delineates what type of care should be provided at what location.

St Joseph’s Health Centre’ Family Birthing Centre is designated to provide Level II specialised care to women whose low or moderate risk pregnancies have reached 32 weeks or greater. We partner with Level III centres to transfer care when a woman’s at-risk pregnancy is greater than 24 weeks and less than 31 weeks. In the new tower we plan to increase the births from the current 3100 to 4000 births over the next couple of years.

Our 12 bed neonatal intensive care unit provides specialised care to newborns at moderate risk such as those born before 32 weeks of pregnancy, those who may have respiratory complications or other medical complications. Newborns no longer requiring Level III intensive care at hospitals such as Mount Sinai or Sunnybrook Hospital may be transferred back to St Joseph’s NICU for Level II care closer to home. In our new tower, the NICU service will grow to 2O beds.

Our regional Paediatrics interprofessional team provides Level II in-patient services for children aged 0-17 and out-patient services that include specialty paediatric consultations, urgent acute care paediatrician run Just for Kids Clinic, a surgical day unit. In the new tower the program will expand from 8 to 14 in-patient beds. A new medical day care unit will also be established. Our out-patient services endeavour to keep kids out of hospital as long as possible.

The Family Medicine/Urban Family Health Team provides interprofessional primary care to 5000 rostered patients including the disadvantaged and disenfranchised. Specialty consultation services provide primary care for patients with mental health and addictions issues, palliative care and obstetrical care. Comprehensive primary medical services care for patients throughout the life span. The team is a fully affiliated Family Medicine teaching unit associated with the University of Toronto. They are preparing the next generation of health care professionals.

The Women’s health centre provides psycho-social support for disenfranchised women in our local community. Services include individual and group therapy for victims of violence or torture experience post-traumatic stress, with settlement issues, suffering from post-partum depression. The 5Ps program provides pre- and post-natal support to women in order to improve incidence of low birth weight.

Our program is made up of several specialized care areas:

Caesarian Section Pre-admit Clinic
Child Development Clinic
Childbirth and Parenting Services
Family Birthing Centre
Family Health Team
Family Medicine Centre
Inpatient Paediatric Care
Just for Kids Paediatrician-Staffed Urgent Ambulatory Clinic
Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Neonatal Follow-up Clinic
Paediatric Dietitian
Paediatric Out-Patient Clinics
Paediatric Speech and Language Services
Palliative and Supportive Care Services
Parkdale Parents' Primary Prevention Project (PDF)
Toronto Centre for Substance Use in Pregnancy (T-CUP)
Women's Health Centre

Related Links

Women's Poplation Panel

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