Dr. Valerie Louise McLeod – Family Doctor | Napanee, ON

Dr. Valerie Louise McLeod is a Family Doctor. Practicing at McMaster University Medical Centre in Napanee, ON, she is dedicated to providing high-quality, comprehensive, and patient-centered family medical care. She is registered with The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) and practices in accordance with the standards set by this regulatory body and the principles of modern family medicine. Her focus is providing continuous and comprehensive primary medical care for individuals and families across all ages and stages of life. This includes preventative care, diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses, and management of ongoing health needs, serving as the central point for patient care. She serves patients of all ages, from newborns and infants through to children, adolescents, adults, and seniors.

Dr. Valerie Louise McLeod completed her Medical Degree. She brings valuable clinical experience to the practice. She has developed skills or a strong interest in areas such as comprehensive primary care within family practice. She is also dedicated to ongoing professional development to stay current with the latest advancements in family medicine.

Key aspects of her practice philosophy include a holistic approach to health, considering the physical, mental, emotional, and social factors that influence a patient's well-being; advocating for patients' needs within the healthcare system and coordinating care effectively with specialists and community services. She provides consultations in English.

Dr. Valerie Louise McLeod provides comprehensive family medical care for a wide variety of health concerns affecting patients of all ages, including but not limited to:

Common Chronic Conditions

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD - Emphysema, Chronic Bronchitis): Comprehensive management strategies for COPD, focusing on smoking cessation support (critical for slowing progression), appropriate pharmacological therapy (bronchodilators, inhaled corticosteroids), supplemental oxygen therapy assessment (if needed), pulmonary rehabilitation referrals, influenza/pneumococcal vaccinations, and proactive management of exacerbations to improve quality of life, reduce symptoms (breathlessness, chronic cough, sputum production), and slow disease progression.
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) - Primary Care Management: Helping individuals understand and manage their IBS symptoms to improve digestive comfort and quality of life.
• Asthma (All Ages) & Allergic Rhinitis: Comprehensive care for individuals with asthma and related allergies, focusing on patient empowerment, self-management skills, and emergency preparedness for asthma attacks.
• Thyroid Disorders (Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's, Nodules): Adjusting thyroid medication based on symptoms and regular blood tests (TSH, free T4, thyroid antibodies) to maintain optimal thyroid function and well-being.

Preventative Health Topics

• Health Equity & Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Discussion & Resource Navigation: A holistic approach to primary care that considers the broader social context of health and aims to reduce barriers to care and well-being by addressing SDOH.
• Comprehensive Lifestyle Counseling (Diet, Exercise, Sleep, Stress Reduction): Supporting your efforts to adopt and maintain healthier habits across multiple domains of life for a better quality of life, increased resilience, and proactive disease prevention through shared goal setting and ongoing support.
• Travel Medicine Advice & Routine/Travel Vaccinations: Offering essential travel health services and tailored advice to protect your health while abroad, based on current international health regulations, CDC/WHO recommendations, and your specific travel plans.
• Occupational Health Screening & Advice (Basic Pre-placement, Return-to-Work): Primary care support for general occupational health questions, routine employment-related medical screenings, and facilitating a safe return to work after illness or injury.

Mental Health Concerns

• Stress-Related Conditions, Burnout & Adjustment Disorders: Helping individuals build resilience, develop adaptive coping mechanisms (e.g., problem-solving, relaxation techniques, mindfulness), and navigate stressful periods effectively to protect their mental and physical health.
• Insomnia & Chronic Sleep Disturbances: Comprehensive primary care management of common sleep disorders to restore healthy sleep patterns and improve overall health and well-being.
• Initial Assessment & Referral for Other Mental Health Concerns (e.g., OCD, PTSD, Eating Disorders, Bipolar Disorder, Psychosis): Recognizing signs and symptoms of various serious mental health issues and facilitating timely access to the appropriate level of specialist care and support.
• Depression & Other Mood Disorders (e.g., Dysthymia, Seasonal Affective Disorder - Management): Assessing symptoms of depression (low mood, loss of interest/pleasure, fatigue, changes in sleep/appetite) and other mood disorders. Offering empathetic supportive counseling, discussing and initiating treatment options including lifestyle interventions, evidence-based antidepressant medications, and facilitating referrals to psychotherapy or psychiatry for moderate to severe or treatment-resistant cases.

This list offers some examples of common conditions managed in family practice. A diagnosis is always based on an individual assessment by Dr. McLeod. If your specific health concern isn't listed, please contact the clinic to discuss your needs.

• Driver's Medical Examinations & Other Third-Party Medical Reports: Performing objective medical assessments for various administrative or regulatory requirements.
• Immunizations & Vaccinations (Infant, Child, Adult, Travel): Administering a full range of routine childhood and adult immunizations, booster shots (e.g., tetanus, pertussis), seasonal flu vaccines, and common travel vaccinations (e.g., Hepatitis A/B, Typhoid) to protect against preventable infectious diseases.
• Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Management (Early to Moderate Stages): Primary care strategies to protect kidney health, including blood pressure control, glycemic control in diabetics, dietary advice (e.g., protein, sodium, potassium considerations), and timely referrals to nephrology.
• Hospital Discharge Follow-Up & Transitions of Care Management: Helping you navigate your health journey effectively after a hospital discharge, ensuring all aspects of your care plan are understood, implemented, and monitored.
• Management of Common Chronic Pediatric Conditions (e.g., Asthma, Eczema, Allergies): Specialized primary care for childhood chronic diseases to ensure optimal health, growth, and development with coordination with pediatric specialists when necessary.

Note: This list highlights some of the key services offered by Dr. McLeod. For a comprehensive understanding of all services, or to discuss your specific health needs, please schedule a consultation.

All services are provided in accordance with the scope of practice for Family Doctors in ON and the ethical and professional standards set by The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO).

At McMaster University Medical Centre, family medicine is centered on a collaborative partnership to help individuals like you achieve significant improvements in your health, manage ongoing conditions effectively, and enhance your overall well-being. Dr. McLeod frequently works with patients towards goals such as:

• If their child complaining of stomach aches frequently, possibly related to stress or diet is preventing you from being able to fully focus on, deeply appreciate, and thoroughly enjoy life's simple, everyday pleasures like listening to favorite music with undivided attention, watching a beautiful sunset in awe, spending quiet, contemplative time in nature, or losing themselves in a captivating book, Dr. McLeod can help. The aim is to achieve their adolescent child receiving confidential, empathetic, respectful, and age-appropriate holistic care from Dr. McLeod for sensitive health topics including sexual health, mental well-being, body image, or substance use concerns through personalized family medicine care.
• Dr. McLeod frequently helps patients who are dealing with experiencing sudden flashes of light or floaters in their vision. The primary aim is achieving having all their health-related questions, no matter how complex or basic, answered clearly, patiently, without jargon, and in an easily understandable way by Dr. McLeod, fostering a strong sense of health literacy and shared understanding, which often allows them to confidently resume actively engaging in a variety of mentally stimulating and enriching activities such as immersive reading of books and articles, solving complex puzzles, consistently learning a new practical skill online, or regularly attending engaging adult education classes with good, sustained concentration and memory recall.
• Many patients have successfully addressed wanting to establish care with a new family doctor after moving to the area with Dr. McLeod's support. This often leads to their elderly parents or relatives receiving thoughtful, patient, dignified, and age-appropriate comprehensive care from Dr. McLeod that demonstrably enhances their functional abilities, safety, and overall quality of life in their later years and the ability to fully participate in making consistently informed, conscious, and positive decisions about their daily diet, overall nutrition, optimal hydration, and mindful eating habits for sustained energy and peak physical health once more.
• Many seek Dr. McLeod's help for needing a physician's signature for a disability parking permit application. The collaborative goal is experiencing significantly improved physical function, greater ease of mobility, and markedly reduced daily pain as a result of managing complex musculoskeletal issues or sports injuries under Dr. McLeod's comprehensive guidance, treatment plan, and care coordination with allied health professionals, allowing a return to valued activities like successfully maintaining a clean, organized, and uncluttered living space that actively contributes to their sense of calm, mental clarity, physical safety, and overall feelings of well-being at home.

Your personalized healthcare plan, developed in discussion with Dr. McLeod, will be thoughtfully designed to help you reach your specific functional, preventative, and wellness objectives. She believes in empowering patients with the knowledge and support needed to take an active role in their health journey.

Dr. McLeod's practice at McMaster University Medical Centre is situated in a family medical practice in the central Napanee neighborhood of Napanee. The clinic is conveniently located near local community centers, schools, and shopping areas and is accessible via major local public transit routes. Free patient parking is often available on-site or on nearby streets.

Is seeing a family doctor (Family Doctor) covered by Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) in ON?

Medically necessary visits to a family doctor are typically covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) for eligible residents with a valid health card. However, some services, such as cosmetic procedures, most travel medicine consultations, sick notes, insurance forms, and driver's medicals, may not be covered and might have an associated fee. Please confirm with McMaster University Medical Centre if you have questions about specific non-insured services or potential fees.

What exactly is a family doctor (Family Doctor) and what is their role?

A family doctor (Ontario) is a physician who has completed post-graduate training in family medicine. They are skilled in providing continuous and comprehensive medical care, health maintenance, and preventive services to patients of all ages. This includes diagnosing and treating a vast array of illnesses, managing complex long-term health conditions, offering health education and counseling on lifestyle choices, and acting as your advocate and guide within the broader healthcare system.

How do I get a prescription refilled by Dr. McLeod?

For most prescription refills, please contact your pharmacy first, at least 5-7 days before you run out of medication. Your pharmacy can often fax a refill request directly to Dr. McLeod's office. Please allow at least 2-3 business days for these requests to be processed. For certain medications (e.g., narcotics, controlled substances, or medications requiring close monitoring), or if it has been a while since your last review with Dr. McLeod, an appointment will be required to assess your condition and ensure the medication is still appropriate and at the correct dose. It is always best to request refills proactively.

Do I need a referral to see a family doctor (Family Doctor) in ON?

Generally, you do not need a referral to see a family doctor if they are accepting new patients. However, finding a family doctor who is accepting new patients can be challenging. Resources like Health Care Connect in Ontario may be helpful. A referral is usually required from a family doctor to see most medical specialists.

What happens if Dr. McLeod determines I need to see a medical specialist?

If Dr. McLeod determines you need a specialist, she will discuss this with you and initiate a referral. This involves sending a referral letter and your medical information to the specialist. Wait times vary. McMaster University Medical Centre will inform you once the referral is sent; the specialist's office will contact you to schedule an appointment. Follow up with McMaster University Medical Centre if you haven't heard from the specialist within a reasonable timeframe.

How can I find a family doctor (Family Doctor) in ON who is accepting new patients?

Check the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario website (they often have a 'Find a Doctor' tool). In Ontario, you can register with Health Care Connect. Ask friends, family, or colleagues for recommendations. Contact local community health centres or new patient clinics. Finding a doctor may take time.

McMaster University Medical Centre
8 Richmond Park Dr, The Boris Clinic 4Z
Napanee, ON, K7R 2Z4

Phone: (613) 354-3301

Dr. Valerie Louise McLeod is regulated by the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 & Medicine Act, 1991 (Ontario) in ON and is a registered member in good standing with The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO).

Registration Number: 84419

Verify registration with The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO): https://doctors.cpso.on.ca/DoctorDetails/McLeod-Valerie-Louise/0233763-84419

Family doctors like Dr. McLeod are skilled in managing a wide range of health issues. For urgent or life-threatening emergencies, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency department. It is always recommended to maintain open communication with your family doctor about all aspects of your health, including any treatments received from other practitioners.