Refer your patient to OHIP-covered CBT for insomnia

with Matt Desruisseaux, MD, PhD, CCFP.Wait times: < 1 week for a consult; < 2 months for therapy (6 group video sessions).

Referral (by MDs/NPs) is optional. The reason to refer is to avoid the outside use negation for family physicians in FHOs for the initial visit (subsequent visits trigger no negation because it's group therapy). For clarity, FHO docs, if you refer you'll have zero negation - confirmed by MOH & experience.

Specialists, please refer if the patient has a family physician, to avoid penalizing them.

Sleep clinics, please refer and ideally attach your most recent note.

✓ adults with valid OHIP

✓ able to make the initial visit in downtown Toronto

✓ able to use the Internet to book, answer a questionnaire and attend video sessions

✓ any subjective sleep difficulty: insomnia, sleep deprivation, dissatisfaction with sleep quality, etc.

✓ can have an underlying condition like OSA, pain, depression, anxiety or an addiction, but you need to manage these separately, e.g., order a sleep study, refer to psych, etc. I only offer group CBT for insomnia and I cannot guarantee rapid access

✓ motivated to try CBT-i instead of, or in combination with, a medication for insomnia - which I may suggest but will not prescribe myself

Steps to refer

  1. fax (416) 987-2274, email refer@sleepdoc.ca, or use the encrypted form below. Include your billing # as well as the patient's name and health card # with version code. (SleepDoc is also on Ocean, but you'll need to tell the patient to ignore Ocean's incorrect automated email saying they'll get a call to schedule)

  2. ask the patient to self-book at sleepdoc.ca (they won't be contacted) and, if desired, to let you know the appointment date and to bring/send you my report (I typically send it myself only if you have specific follow-up to do)

  3. highlight to the patient that the intake is in-person, at the Sheraton Centre downtown