Nurturing Growth, Cultivating Connection
Pediatric Medical Care at Sapling
At Sapling Child & Family Therapy, we offer pediatric medical care alongside therapy services to support children and families in a more connected, thoughtful way.
Dr. Nathalie Giroux, a consulting pediatrician, sees patients within our clinic space. Her practice focuses on developmental, behavioural, and mental health concerns in children and youth.
This page outlines how to access care, what to expect, and how services work within the clinic.
About Dr. Nathalie Giroux
Dr. Nathalie Giroux is a bilingual pediatrician with a special interest in child behaviour, mental health, and neurodevelopment.
She completed medical school at the University of Ottawa and her pediatric residency at Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. She has been in practice since 2019 and established her consulting pediatric practice in 2023.
Her work focuses on helping families better understand what may be contributing to a child’s challenges and identifying practical, meaningful ways to support them. She has a particular interest in early autism assessment and supporting neurodivergent children.
Scope of Practice
Dr. Giroux is a consulting pediatrician, which means she does not provide primary care. Her practice does not include routine pediatric care such as newborn follow-up, well-child visits, vaccinations, or the general medical care of healthy children.
Dr. Giroux’s practice is focused on developmental, behavioural, and mental health concerns in children. She has a particular clinical interest in the early identification and assessment of autism spectrum disorder in children under the age of 5 years.
Due to the focused nature of the practice and limited consultation capacity, not all referrals can be accepted. Referrals that fall outside the scope of the clinic or exceed available capacity may be declined.
How to Access Pediatric Medical Care
Referrals
Consultations are accepted by referral only.
A referral must be sent by a licensed healthcare provider, such as a family physician, nurse practitioner, or another physician (for example, from a walk-in clinic).
If you are unsure how to obtain a referral, our team can help guide you. Providers may also contact the clinic if unsure whether a referral is appropriate.
If a referral cannot be accommodated, referring providers and families may locate other pediatricians through the Ottawa Community Pediatrician Network website:
https://www.communitypediatrics.ca/directory
Booking Process
Once a referral is received and reviewed:
Our administrative team will contact your family
Intake forms will be provided and must be completed
An appointment will be scheduled based on clinical need and availability
Appointments with the pediatrician are booked separately from Sapling therapy services.
Due to the focused nature of the practice and limited capacity, not all referrals can be accepted.
Integrated Care at Sapling
Children’s needs are often interconnected. Physical health, emotional wellbeing, development, and daily functioning influence one another.
At Sapling, care is designed to feel more connected.
With caregiver consent, the pediatrician and therapists may collaborate to:
share observations
coordinate recommendations
support care planning
This helps reduce duplication and supports a more complete understanding of your child.
Families remain in control of how information is shared.
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Focuses on medical health, diagnosis, and medical management
Dr. Giroux operates an independent medical practice within Sapling.
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Support skill development, regulation, participation, and daily functioning.
Our goal is to create a connected circle of care around children and families.
By bringing pediatric medical care and therapy services into the same space, we aim to make it easier for families to access support and for providers to work together in thoughtful, collaborative ways.
Appointment Policies
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To help your visit run smoothly, please:
Complete all intake forms in advance
Arrive approximately 10–15 minutes early
Bring a valid OHIP card
Appointments may need to be rescheduled if required documentation is incomplete or if a health card is invalid.
To renew your OHIP card, please visit:
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Initial consultations: 60–90 minutes
Follow-up visits: approximately 30 minutes
If more time is needed, additional appointments may be scheduled.
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If you arrive more than 15 minutes late, your appointment may need to be rescheduled. This helps ensure all families receive the time they need.
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Appointments are reserved specifically for your child.
We require at least 48 hours (two business days) notice for cancellations or changes.
Fees may apply:
$100 for missed or late-cancelled follow-ups
$400 for missed or late-cancelled initial consultations
Outstanding fees must be paid before booking future appointments.
If your child is unwell, please contact the clinic before your appointment. In some cases, the visit may be converted to a virtual appointment.
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Virtual visits may be offered when appropriate. These are intended to complement in-person care rather than replace it
Virtual appointments are conducted using the Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN) platform.
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Pediatric medical visits are generally covered by OHIP for patients with a valid Ontario health card
Therapy services at Sapling are privately billed and may be covered through extended health insurance
At this time, patients must have a valid Ontario health card to be seen.
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Some services are not covered by OHIP and are billed privately. These may include:
forms (e.g., Disability Tax Credit, Access2)
school documentation
letters or reports
employer documentation
Fees vary depending on the request and generally range from $25 to $150 depending on the request.
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Please allow up to 7 days for prescription refill requests
Requests should be made well in advance
Follow-up appointments are expected when recommended
In some cases, renewals without an appointment may include an administrative fee.
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Email: welcome@saplingtherapy.ca
Phone: 613-704-3186Please allow up to 72 hours for a response.
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Managed through a secure platform (Ocean)
Non-urgent messages are typically answered within approximately 7 days
Messaging should not be used for urgent concerns
As a courtesy, Sapling Child and Family Therapy sends appointment reminders by email through the OCEAN platform. Please confirm your appointment or notify the clinic if you need to reschedule.
Respectful Environment
Sapling is committed to maintaining a safe and respectful space for all families, staff, and care providers.
Aggressive, threatening, or abusive behaviour will not be tolerated. This includes, but is not limited to, verbal abuse, harassment, discriminatory or derogatory remarks, intimidation, threats, or inappropriate language, whether occurring in person, by telephone, email, or other forms of communication.
Individuals who engage in such behaviour may be asked to leave the clinic immediately.
Failure to adhere to this policy may result in termination of the physician–patient relationship and discharge from Dr. Giroux’s practice, in accordance with applicable professional and regulatory guidelines.
Clinic staff have the authority to end any interaction if behaviour is deemed inappropriate or unsafe.
Safety and wellbeing are always prioritized.
Emergency Care
Sapling is not an emergency medical clinic.
For urgent concerns, contact your family physician, go to the nearest emergency department if needed, or call Health Connect Ontario (811).