The Total Joint Assessment Centre (TJAC) is located at the General site on the 1st floor, West Lobby, Specialty Care Clinic.
Total Joint Assessment Centre Logo TJAC was formed to shorten wait times for patients in our community who may require hip or knee replacement surgery.
Our diverse team of expert orthopaedic clinicians cares for patients every step of the way. Following an early consultation for assessment and diagnosis, patients receive either surgical or non-surgical treatment options.If you need surgery, TJAC lets you choose your preferred surgeon, hospital, or the soonest available surgical date.
Enhancing the patient experience
The centre provides patients with an early consultation for assessment and diagnosis. A patient should receive an appointment with TJAC within three weeks of the referral. On the first visit, a patient is assessed by a clinician — an experienced advanced practice physiotherapist (APP). A comprehensive assessment includes physical, social and lifestyle status. Patients identified as surgical candidates will move on to see an orthopaedic surgeon at a second visit to finalize the decision. This second appointment will be booked shortly thereafter or promptly based on the next available surgeon.
Options to reduce wait times
Patients assessed at TJAC who are candidates for surgery will have options that can reduce their wait time. They may choose surgery with the surgeon or with the first available surgeon at North York General Hospital.
If the assessment determines a patient is either not ready or unwilling to consider surgery, non-operative management options and recommendations will be developed to help the patient and primary care physician manage their condition (e.g. pain control, weight management) to maintain or improve their level of functioning and overall health status.
From a patient’s perspective, other factors can affect their willingness to have surgery, such as living circumstances, employment status, age, other health conditions and social support structures.
Referrals
Referrals to the Total Joint Assessment Centre must be made by a physician or a family doctor. View referral form.
The Central LHIN is working to improve care for musculoskeletal conditions through the implementation of a new model of care; MSK Central Intake, Assessment and Management — a centralized referral system for musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions. Referrals for primary hip and knee arthroplasty are the first type of MSK surgery to be processed under the new Central Intake, Assessment and Management system.
By choosing TJAC, you’re helping to reduce wait times for everyone, including yourself. Your primary assessment by a TJAC clinician gets you on the right treatment path faster. While the TJAC clinicians perform assessments, TJAC surgeons have more time to perform surgeries.
This streamlined process means shorter wait times for you, for both assessment and surgery. If you’re having surgery, TJAC will meet your needs so that you can choose a specific surgeon, hospital, or simply take the soonest available surgical date.
To be seen at TJAC you must have a referral from your physician or family doctor.
Once your doctor has sent a referral form, you will be contacted by a TJAC staff member to set up an assessment appointment within two weeks. A comprehensive assessment includes physical, social and lifestyle status.
Should you require surgery, you will return for a second visit with an orthopaedic surgeon (usually within two–three weeks) to discuss the next steps. Patients may choose surgery with the surgeon of their choice at the hospital of their choice, or with the first available surgeon at either of the two hospitals.
If you aren’t ready, or if surgery is unnecessary at this time, you will receive a comprehensive non-surgical plan to help you better manage your condition. This plan will be developed to help you and your primary care physician manage your condition (for example pain control, weight management) to maintain or improve your level of functioning and overall health. From a patient’s perspective, other factors can affect their willingness to have surgery, such as living circumstances, employment status, age, other health conditions and social support structures.
Our diverse team of highly skilled clinicians will take care of you every step of the way, from your assessment through to surgery.The TJAC clinicians have extensive knowledge and experience in musculoskeletal assessment, and are focused on making sure you get the treatment that’s best for you. They also act as your liaison between TJAC’s orthopaedic surgeons and your family doctor.
Our orthopaedic surgeons, participating on the TJAC team, are the same specialists from your community’s hospitals. If you require surgery, you may choose a specific hospital, a surgeon your family doctor has recommended or the surgeon with the soonest available appointment.
North York General Hospital TJAC Surgeons
Get to know North York General’s Orthopaedic surgeons. All surgeons are accepting new patients.
Dr. Frank Mastrogiacomo (Division Head)
Languages spoken: English
Specialty/operations offered
Lower extremity reconstruction with special interests in primary and complex revision hip and knee arthroplasty
Sports injuries of the knee including ACL and meniscal tears
Other relevant info
M.D., FRCSC Certification of Orthopaedic Surgery
Licentiate of Medical Council of Canada
M.D Doctor of Medicine, University of Toronto
Ph.D. Doctor of Philosophy, University of Toronto
Lecturer, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto
Dr. Hossein Mehdian
Languages spoken: English, French, Persian
Specialty/operations offered
Minimally Invasive Hip Replacement, Direct Anterior Approach
Total and Partial Knee Replacement
Complex Hip and Knee Revision Arthroplasty
Other relevant information
MD, FRCSC
Chief, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery
Lecturer, University of Toronto
Orthopaedic Residency Training, University of Toronto
Fellowship Training:
Adult and Lower Extremity Joint Reconstruction, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada
Orthopaedic Trauma, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Canada and Universite de Paris, Hopital St. Antoine, Paris, France
Dr. Shawn Garbedian
Languages spoken: English
Specialty/operations offered
Direct Anterior Hip using the Hana table
Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty
Partial Oxford and Patellofemoral Knee Arthroplasty
Bilateral Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty
Same Day Surgery for Hip and Knee Arthroplasty
Complex Revision Hip and Knee Arthroplasty
Other relevant information
MD, FRCSC
MD, University of Ottawa
Residency, University of Ottawa
Dr. Dale Dantzer
Languages spoken: English
Specialty/operations offered:
Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty
Other relevant information:
MD, University of Western Ontario
Residency, University of Toronto
Upper Extremity Fellowship, University of Toronto
Lecturer, University of Toronto
Dr. Christopher John Peskun
Languages spoken: English
Specialty/operations offered:
Total Hip Arthroplasty
Total Knee Arthroplasty
Other relevant information:
MD, FRCSC
Lecturer, University of Toronto
Dr. Gladys Chan
Languages spoken: English, Cantonese
Specialty/operations offered:
Total Hip Arthroplasty
Total Knee Arthroplasty
Other relevant information:
MD, FRCSC
MD, University of Western Ontario
Orthopedic residency, University of Western Ontario
Foot and ankle fellowship in Iowa and Syndey, Australia
Dr. Herman Dhotar
Languages spoken: English, Punjabi (non-fluent)
Specialty/operations offered:
Anterior Total Hip Replacement (HANA table)
Posterior Total Hip Replacement
Total Knee Replacement
Same Day Joint Replacement Surgery
Complex Revision Total Hip/Knee Replacement
Knee Arthroscopy
Other relevant information:
MD, FRCSC
MPH, John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto
Contact us
Total Joint Assessment Centre
North York General Hospital, 4th Floor North Wing
4001 Leslie Street
Toronto ON M2K 1E1
Tel: 416-756-6675
If your surgery is upcoming and you have questions please contact the Hip and Knee Patient Navigator at 416-756-6000 ext. 4490 or email hipknee.navigator@nygh.on.ca
To improve quality, access and appropriateness of care for people with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, the MSK Central Intake, Assessment and Management is available for hip and knee arthroplasty as well as low back pain patients.
The purpose of this centralized referral system is to provide timely access to care, comprehensive assessments, individualized education and treatment advice, self-management support and reassessments as needed.
Referrals may only be made by a Primary Care Provider (Family Medicine Physician, Sports Medicine Physician or Nurse Practitioner in a family practice).
Access the generic Hip & Knee or LBP referral forms plus more information about the MSK Central Intake Program. This information is on the Home and Community Care Support Services Central website.
