Patient & Family Resource Centre

The Patient & Family Resource Centre is a health information library. It’s free to use by patients, families and anyone in our community. You can borrow books, attend education classes, consult a librarian, and more! Our friendly services can help you take care of your health and make informed decisions.

The Patient & Family Resource Centre provides free access to reliable and up-to-date materials to enable you to make a health care decision.

At the Centre, you can:

Borrow a book, video, DVD, or CD from our collection
Access our computers to find health information or connect with your family members
Learn about resources in your community
Access health information in other languages
Ask a Librarian, our friendly and professional staff will find up-to-date and reliable information. We are here to help!
Enjoy the library’s quiet area to read or just to sit and relax.

Attend an Educational Workshop!

The Patient & Family Resource Centre offers free educational classes on topics such as using technology to manage your health information or how to keep loved ones safe from infection while visiting the hospital. These sessions are open to all. View current classes and register by calling 416-242-1000 x81200.

If you need help finding a family doctor, you can:

Search on your own for a family doctor

Humber River Health keeps a list of family doctors affiliated with our hospital who are accepting new patients. Check the list here.

Use Health Care Connect

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care can help you find a family doctor. For more information visit the Health Care Connect program or call 1-800-445-1822.

Search the College of Physicians and Surgeons website.

If you need medical care while you wait to find a family doctor:

Visit a Walk-in Clinic

Visit an Urgent Care Centre

Call Health811 Ontario

Call Health811 to get health advice or general health information. 811 (TTY: 1-866-797-0007).

If you don’t have an OHIP card, you can visit a Community Health Centre.

Search the online catalogue for books and videos.

Borrow ebooks and audiobooks from Overdrive

To access this collection, sign up for an instant digital library card using your mobile (cell phone) number. This card is available to people aged 13 and older with a cell phone that can receive texts. Don’t have a cell phone? Email pfrc@hrh.ca and we can email you a card number and PIN. See instructions.

Health Library

Health Library offers bilingual information in English and Spanish on all conditions – diseases, wellness and promotion, and tests & procedures. (Access available while in the hospital)

Virtual Video Visits

We have implemented a solution for HRH clinics to conduct virtual visits with patients from home. This can be done over telephone or video through Microsoft Teams.

Gale Virtual Reference Library

Access 26 e-books on specific areas such as diet and nutrition, cancer, children’s health, medicine, mental health, neurological disorders, surgery, genetics, sexually transmitted diseases. To access the database, use Password: river

Patient Education publications provide you with information about preparing for your stay, your upcoming procedures, diseases and conditions as well as what to do when you go home.

These publications complement the health education you are receiving from your health care providers. Information on this website should not be considered personal medical advice.