Description
About Dr. Harriette Gillian Christine Spall
Dr. Harriette Gillian Christine Spall, a respected Internist / Geriatrician, focuses on evidence-based medicine and personalized care plans. Practicing in Hamilton, ON, she serves the surrounding communities with a commitment to high-quality, patient-centered care. Her clinical practice adheres to the standards set by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO), ensuring comprehensive and ethical medical services. Dr. Spall provides care tailored to adults, including older adults and seniors, addressing complex health needs with a thorough and compassionate approach.
She graduated with a Medical Degree from the University of Toronto in 2002 and completed extensive post-graduate medical training in internal medicine and geriatrics. Her certifications include board certification in Internal Medicine and Geriatric Medicine, reinforcing her expertise in managing multi-system diseases and age-related conditions. Her education and training emphasize evidence-based practices and continual professional development, enabling her to deliver up-to-date medical care.
Dr. Spall’s clinical philosophy centers on evidence-based and informative care, emphasizing thorough assessments and individualized treatment plans. She is dedicated to serving the Hamilton community, speaking English fluently, and fostering open, respectful communication with her patients. Her commitment is to improve health outcomes through thoughtful, informed medical decision-making and patient engagement.
Conditions Managed by Dr. Harriette Gillian Christine Spall
Dr. Spall provides expert care for adults with a wide range of medical conditions, including:
Geriatric Syndromes & Focused Elder Care
- Frailty Assessment & Management: Identifying and managing frailty to improve resilience, maintain function, and enhance quality of life in older adults.
- Falls, Mobility & Balance Disorders: Multifactorial assessment to identify causes of falls and gait instability; implementation of prevention strategies.
- Delirium Prevention & Management: Identifying risk factors for delirium (acute confusion) in hospitalized or ill older adults and implementing management strategies.
Complex Diagnostic & Multi-System Issues
- Syncope (Fainting) Evaluation: Comprehensive work-up to determine the cause of fainting spells or loss of consciousness.
- Perioperative Medical Optimization: Pre-surgical assessment and management of medical conditions to minimize operative risks and ensure smoother recovery.
- Investigation of Anemia: Diagnosing the underlying cause of low red blood cell counts.
Management of Chronic Diseases
- Dyslipidemia (High Cholesterol): Assessment and management of abnormal lipid levels through lifestyle advice and medication to reduce cardiovascular risk.
- Diabetes Mellitus (Type 1 & 2): Comprehensive management including glucose control strategies, complication prevention, and patient education.
- Chronic Respiratory Diseases: Care for conditions like COPD, asthma, and interstitial lung disease, focusing on optimizing lung function and managing symptoms.
Dr. Spall manages a wide range of complex adult and geriatric health conditions. This list highlights common areas of focus. If your condition is not listed, please note that internal medicine specialists address diverse and often multi-systemic diseases. Consultation is typically initiated via referral from your primary care physician.
Clinical Services Offered by Dr. Harriette Gillian Christine Spall
- Second Opinion Consultations: Providing an independent expert review and opinion on complex diagnoses or treatment plans.
- Coordination of Specialist Care: Acting as a central point of contact to help manage and coordinate input from various medical specialists for patients with multi-system diseases.
- Internal Medicine Consultation for Primary Care: Providing specialist opinion and management recommendations to family physicians for complex adult patient cases.
- Non-Surgical Management of Cardiovascular Conditions: Medical management of conditions like stable coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, and hypertension.
- Driving Safety Assessment Consultation (Medical): Evaluating medical fitness to drive in older adults, considering cognitive, sensory, and physical factors.
Note: This list represents some of the key services offered by Dr. Spall. As a specialist in Internal Medicine and Geriatric Care, she provides comprehensive diagnostic and management services. For specific inquiries about whether your condition falls within Dr. Spall's scope of practice, please discuss with your referring physician or contact the clinic.
All medical services are provided in accordance with the standards of practice set by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO).
Practice Location & Accessibility
Dr. Spall’s practice is located in the Hamilton North End, within the Beasley neighborhood of Hamilton. The location is conveniently situated near the Westmount Recreation Centre and Mohawk College (Fennell Campus). Patients can access the clinic via Hamilton Street Railway (HSR). The facility is wheelchair accessible. Parking is available at the facility.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How is payment handled for appointments with Dr. Spall? Is it covered by Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP)?
- In ON, medical consultations with specialists like Dr. Spall are typically covered by your provincial health insurance (Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP)) when you present a valid health card and have the required referral. You generally do not pay directly for the consultation service itself. Some specific procedures, forms, or administrative tasks might not be covered by Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) and may incur a separate fee according to provincial guidelines. Please inquire if you have questions about uninsured services.
- Can I book an appointment directly or do I absolutely need a referral?
- A referral from your family physician or another medical specialist is required to see Dr. Spall. As experts in Internal Medicine and Geriatric Care, Internists and Geriatricians see patients based on specific medical questions posed by the referring doctor. This ensures continuity of care and that the consultation is appropriate for your needs. Please have your doctor forward the referral information.
- Does Dr. Harriette Gillian Christine Spall discuss goals of care or advance care planning?
- Yes, discussing goals of care is an important part of patient-centered practice, especially in managing chronic illness or in geriatric care. Dr. Spall encourages conversations about patient values, preferences for future medical treatment, and advance care planning (including identifying a substitute decision-maker) to ensure care aligns with what matters most to the patient. She can provide information and facilitate these discussions.
Contact & Licensing Information
237 Barton Street
Hamilton, ON L8L 2X2
Phone: (905) 521-2100 | Fax: (905) 297-3785
The facility is wheelchair accessible.
Dr. Spall is a licensed physician regulated by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) under the Medicine Act, 1991 in ON. Patients are typically seen by referral from their primary care physician.
Verify registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO): https://doctors.cpso.on.ca/DoctorDetails/Van-Spall-Harriette-Gillian-Christine/0191242-78001