Long Term Care Quality Improvement Initiatives

As Phase I of our latest Long Term Care Initiative quality improvement projects led by Dr. Mirka Owen, the Central Island Division of Family Practice is funding 10 area caregivers to attend the UBC Care for the Elderly Intensive course in Vancouver during the first week of February. Long Term Care Initiative caregivers and Directors of Care from area facilities have also been invited to attend a guest lecture and workshop on February 1st to share ideas in tackling common challenges in Long Term Care. The aim is to produce an agenda for the Phase III Long Term Care Conference, which is planned to take place in Oceanside on March 28, 2020. All of these initiatives mean one thing: measurable quality improvement in long term care! 

Sharon Todd
Program Manager
Central Island Division of Family Practice

PMH Update

Palliative Care Network
On January 30, Island Health Board members will be in Parksville to hold a forum for the public. They have asked us to speak about the work of the Oceanside Palliative Care Network, initiative of Patient Medical Home. Dr. Mark Morris and Della Roberts, Clinical Nurse Lead for the Palliative program will be giving a presentation on the work going on in our community.
Next network meeting will be in early February and we are hoping to have Dr. Juralowicz, Geri-Psychiatrist, come to speak about his work. Also, we are looking at an opportunity to discuss 'My Virtual Visit'.
An area of work underway is the palliative specialist consult team in Oceanside working with the Island Health Virtual Care team to prepare to implement My Virtual Visit. Given the large geography and high number of patients who benefit from Palliative Physician consultation and team support – it is anticipated that this will improve capacity of Palliative Physician for consultation, access and capacity to work with the primary care provider, patient, family and team to support shared care.
Clinic Incubator
Coming up in February, Dr. Clair Biglow and Nurse in Practice, Murray Coughtrey, will be giving a presentation to all members featuring the work and learnings they have had implementing a Nurse in Practice into Dr. Biglow's clinic.

Pathways - NP and Midwife Access

Dear Nurse Practitioners and Midwives,

• Doctors of BC, Pathways Board discussed NP and Midwife access to Pathways with the policy noted below which will be introduced for the New Year.  Pathways access is provided to Physicians based on physician negotiated dollars.The policy will be in effect starting in the new year and it does apply to NP and midwives who are existing users.

·                 NP and midwife user accounts will be managed by the Pathways Provincial team.

·                 NPs and midwives will have the option to choose from one of two levels of access – full Medical User access or the slightly more limited PCN access.

·                 Fees assessed will be $250 / per user per year to recover costs of account management.

Please click here for more details.

For any questions related to this policy, please contact Ryan Lammersten, Pathways Executive Lead ryanlammertsen@pathwaysbc.ca

Space added to JCC Pre-forum sessions - Register now!

More spaces added to JCC Pre-forum sessions – register now to avoid disappointment!

To learn more about the day, the key note speaker, and to Register, please click here.

JCC Pre-Forum Event (Feb 25) & Quality Forum (Feb 26-27) - We’ve added more spaces to previously full sessions at the JCC Pre-Forum to accommodate more people. Register now to choose your favourite sessions for the day! The Quality Forum is also nearly at capacity.
Sponsorship - A reminder that physicians who attend the JCC event will also be sponsored to attend the two-day Quality Forum.

Please use code: JCC20-Physician to register.

For other sponsored attendees, please contact jcc@doctorsofbc.ca for your code. 
We look forward to seeing you there! Please contact JCC@doctorsofbc.ca for more information.

Nanaimo Seniors Forum - Caring for Older Adults in Nanaimo

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Launette Rieb
"Substance Use in the Older Adult: Focus on Cannabis"

The interactive day will include sessions on:
Supporting frail elders in Nanaimo:
A realistic, guideline-informed
approach (with pearls!)
(Dr. Jessica Otte)

Geriatric Specialty Services:
When to refer and why?
(Dean Brumwell, OT and
Jacqueline Myronuk, Psychiatric RN)

Screening for Substance Use in Seniors
(Nicole Tremblay and Andrea Hunter,
Clinical Educators, Practice Support Team)

Please click here for more details.

Upcoming Onconlogy CME Webcasts

Please click here to Register.

A convenient, no-charge opportunity to gain current oncology knowledge and contacts – Join BC Cancer’s Family Practice Oncology Network for monthly Oncology CME Webcasts presented with the University of British Columbia’s Division of Continuing Professional Development. There is no cost to take part in these practice-ready sessions which run from 8-9:00 a.m., Pacific Time, and are certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada for one Mainpro+ credit each. Please join us!

• February 20: Fertility Preservation in Cancer Patients presented by
• Dr. Beth Taylor, Fertility Doctor and Endocrinologist, Olive Fertility Centre
• March 19: Immunization in Childhood Cancer presented by Dr. Rod Rassekh, Pediatric Oncologist, BC Children’s Hospital
• April 16: Prostate Cancer presented by Dr. Michael Peacock, Radiation Oncologist, BC Cancer – Vancouver

Most Webcasts are recorded and available by clicking here – and you can earn additional Mainpro+ credits through the College’s Linking Learning exercises: www.cfpc.ca/Linking_Learning_exercises/

Prescription for Health Program update December 2019

This is an update on the Prescription for Health program that has been running since March 2017. To
date, the Regional District of Nanaimo Recreation and Parks Department has redeemed 780
Prescription for Health coupons. The program has served 365 residents of the Oceanside Area for a
total of $29,726 in discounts for activities. The primary use of these discounts was for: Adult/Senior
Fitness programs; Active Passes for use at Ravensong Pool/Oceanside Place Arena/Pickleball; and
children’s programs such as gymnastics, swim lessons and day camps.
This tremendously successful program has been funded by two grants from Island Health and Plan H Active Communities. With evidence of the success, RDN Staff have requested regular funding for the program be included within the RDN Recreation and Parks budget. The budget review process is currently underway and pending approval in early 2020, we hope to continue this popular and well subscribed Prescription program. As of December 31, 2019 the RDN will be suspending the Prescription program until we receive final budget approval. All prescription pads that are in rotation at this time have an expiry date of Dec. 31, 2019. If funding is approved, the program will relaunch in Spring 2020.
We are looking at making some minor changes to the program. If you have any feedback, suggestions or comments about the program, we would be happy to hear from you. Please feel free to contact me directly at 250-248-3252 or jhopewell@rdn.bc.ca.
RDN Recreation and Parks appreciate the support we have received from all of the local medical professionals who have participated in this program. Thank you for your commitment to the
community’s health and well-being.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Hopewell
Recreation Programmer
T: 250-248-3252 | Email: jhopewell@rdn.bc.ca

GP Dermatology Announcement

Dr. Paul Herselman (MSP 26595) and Dr. Louis Huisamen (MSP 27902) have taken over the GP Dermatology practice, Skin First, from Dr. Andrew Biro, effective October 1st, 2019.

1777 Riverside Lane                           208 First Ave W
Courtenay BC V9N 9W2                     Qualicum, BC V9K 1H1
Tel:  (250) 702-8630                            Tel: (250) 738-1166
Fax:  (250) 334-1597                           Fax: (250) 738-1167

We are now accepting faxed referrals for full service GP Dermatology consultations.

We are also providing Narrowband UVB Phototherapy treatment at our Qualicum location 5 days per week.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our office

Skin First GP Dermatology
Office Manager direct line: 250 702 8630
Email: theskinfirstclinic@gmail.com

Pain/Stress Management group beginning in January

Six-Session Pain Relief/Relaxation/Mindfulness and Fun- Self-Care Education Group is being offered beginning January 27th 2020.

Dates are:

• Jan 27
• Feb 10
• Feb 24
• March 2
• March 9
• March 16

Location: Room 1 Qualicum Commons
744 Primrose Street, Qualicum Beach

Time: 1-3 PM

An information poster and referral form can be found below.
Patients/clients need to contact us directly to register for this group.

An information poster is available here.
A referral form is available here.

Upcoming Self-Management Workshops and Leader Training Sessions - Vancouver Island

PDFs for specific regions can be accessed by clicking on the following:

Vancouver Island – Mid/North
Vancouver Island – South

In addition to our 6-week Self-Management Community Workshops, we offer the following:

1 to 1 Telephone Program:
The Self-Management Health Coach Program is a telephone support program for individuals needing the extra support to achieve health goals. Each individual is paired with a coach and receives a weekly, 30-minute phone call for 3 to 6 months. Coaches are volunteers who may be living with chronic health conditions, and are passionate to help others to achieve wellness. For more information, please visit our website by clicking here.

CME on the Run! 2019-2020 | VGH & Various Videoconference Sites

The CME on the Run sessions are held at the Paetzold Lecture Theatre, Vancouver General Hospital and there are opportunities to participate via videoconference from various hospital sites. Each program runs on Friday afternoons from 1 – 5 pm and includes great speakers and learning materials.

CME on the Run! 2019 – 2020
Oct 2019 – Jun 2020 (Fridays 1300-1700) | Vancouver General Hospital + 13 videoconference sites
Target audience: family physicians, nurse practitioners, residents & students
Up to 21.0 Mainpro+ credits (3.5 credits per session)

Jan 31, 2020 – Psychiatry
Apr 3, 2020 – Infectious Disease & Travel
May 1, 2020 – Prenatal, Pediatric & Adolescent
Jun 5, 2020 - Internal Medicine
*Session topics are subject to change*

To Register please click here.
To view brochure please click here.

Oceanside Hospice Society

The Oceanside Hospice Society serves individuals and families experiencing end-of-life, care-giving and bereavement in the area stretching from Deep Bay to Nanoose, and west to Errington and Whiskey Creek

OHS currently delivers the following services to the community:

• Medical Equipment Loan Program
• One to One Client Support Services
• One to One Grief Support
• Grief Support Groups
• Grief Walking Groups
• Self Care Fridays
• Caregiver Respite and Companioning
• Palliative Vigil Team
• Lending Library
• Community Networking , Education and Training
• Advance Care Planning Guidance

We strive to provide links in the continuum of care by supporting care giving at home, in hospital or the palliative care unit at Trillium and at community care facilities.
Please contact us at 250.752.6227 or visit www.oceansidehospice.com for further information.

Divisions in the News

See what is going on in other divisions around BC:
https://www.divisionsbc.ca/provincial/news-and-events/in-the-news