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In This Issue - November 2023
- UPDATE:
- PCAL Recruitment is Open for 2024!
- 2023 - 2024 Record Review Has Begun
- Change in Niagara Region's Homeless Status Form
- STOP on the Net Program
- New Options for Comprehensive Cognitive Assessment - Niagara's Primary Care Memory Clinics
- REVIEW:
Respiratory Surveillance
Reminders on Respiratory Illness Prevention and Control
Key Research Findings on Cannabis and Mental Health
- EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
- Free online suicide prevention modules for health care professionals
- MEDICAL ADVISORIES AND MEMOS
UPDATE: PCAL Recruitment is Open for 2024!
The Niagara Region Public Health Primary Care Advisory and Liaison (PCAL) Group is made up of Public Health representatives, family physicians, and nurse practitioners.
This group is in place to support improved two-way communication between Niagara Region Public Health and Niagara’s primary care sector, including collaboration efforts, resource sharing, and knowledge exchange. It is an excellent opportunity to work collaboratively on addressing community-health related issues.
We are looking for new members to join PCAL in 2024!
Time Commitment & Responsibilities
- PCAL Meetings: every-other month for 1.5 hours in the evening
- Primary care connect: a shorter meeting on off-months to determine priorities for discussion
- Primary care members are responsible for connecting with colleagues in their geographic catchment areas to relay information and collect feedback
- Members are compensated for their time
How to Join & More Information
- If you are interested or would like to learn more about joining, please send an email to PCAL@niagararegion.ca
- Check out the Primary Care Advisory and Liaison Group webpage
- Reach out to your catchment area lead to speak to them about their experience as a PCAL member
UPDATE: 2023 - 2024 Record Review Has Begun
Thank you for your tremendous efforts with last year’s record review. This month we are starting again for the next year.
Niagara Region Public Health has mailed individualized Immunization Notices (letters), reminding students/families that an up-to-date vaccination record or valid exemption needs to be provided to Public Health. As of Oct. 31, 2023, there were 12, 568 students overdue and/or had not reported their vaccination information for ISPA required vaccinations.
You may find an increase in families contacting your office or requesting their records. Please let us know if you need more vaccine.
More Information
Contact the VPD program at 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7396
UPDATE: Change in Niagara Region's Homeless Status Form
Niagara Region Homelessness Services would like to highlight a process change as it relates to Homeless Status forms for the Niagara Regional Centralized Waitlist for Community Housing. Historically, applicants would fill out the application themselves, and have an agency or staff member sign off. Often times primary care providers would sign off on these forms for individuals experiencing homelessness
What is the Change?
Primary care providers can no longer sign off on these forms for individuals experiencing homelessness. Moving forward, it must be completed by an agency that is supporting individuals who are homeless and are working with them to find housing.
Where to Direct Patients
Patients who are looking to have the Homeless Status form filled out must connect with the local agency they are working with, including Indigenous organizations.
UPDATE: STOP on the Net Program
STOP on the Net is an online program to help adults quit smoking cigarettes. Patients that are interested in quitting smoking can join this free online program. As of September 1st, 2023, patients will receive 10-weeks of free nicotine replacement therapy products (NRT) including 10 boxes of patches, and a choice of 5 boxes of nicotine replacement therapy gum or lozenges.
By signing up for the program, your patient will receive the free NRT products mailed directly to their doorstep.
Eligibility
- Must be 18 years of age or older;
- Must be willing to set a quit date within 30-days of enrollment;
- Must be smoking at least 10 cigarettes per day;
- Must have a valid and unique email address;
- Must live in Ontario
To register for this free program patients will need to complete an online survey to determine eligibility. STOP on the Net is also available in French.
If you have a patient interested in quitting, encourage them to contact Niagara Region Public Health’s Tobacco Hotline. The Tobacco Hotline will refer clients to a program in their community where they can access free NRT and additional counselling support.
To order Tobacco Hotline cards to distribute to your patients, visit our website or contact us at 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7393.
UPDATE: New Options for Comprehensive Cognitive Assessment - Niagara's Primary Care Memory Clinics
Navigating memory care can be difficult, and one will encounter long waitlists. Quality Ontario (2017) standards state that “people suspected to have mild cognitive impairment or dementia should receive a comprehensive assessment when signs are first identified.”
Niagara now has more options to ensure comprehensive assessment can take place sooner. Three MINT Primary Care Memory clinics are now open for referrals from community primary care practitioners.
At MINT Memory Clinics, patients and their families are supported by a multi-disciplinary team trained in caring for people with dementia and other memory difficulties. The team also works closely with the primary care physician and members of community groups like the Alzheimer Society and specialist physicians to ensure patients' care needs are met.
Referrals to the clinic can be made by a primary care practitioner:
- Portage Medical Family Health Team- Open to any patient who resides in St. Catharines, Grimsby, West Lincoln and Welland.
- Contact: Amy Delaney at 905-354-9393, ext. 3.
- Niagara Medical Group FHT- Open to any patient who resides in the Thorold, Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-lake areas
- Contact: Diana Kolpak at 905-356-2236
- South Niagara Primary Care
Clinic – Open to any patient who resides in the Port Colborne/ Fort Erie region
- Contact: Jen Silvestro 905-478-0155
REVIEW: Respiratory Surveillance
Surveillance Update: Influenza Activity is Low
- Public Health Ontario’s most recent respiratory laboratory surveillance data indicates activity for both influenza A and influenza B is low
- Provincially, COVID-19 is the most commonly circulating virus
- In Niagara, there are 35 cases of influenza so far this season; 235 across Ontario
2023-2024 Respiratory Season
Data source: Public Health Ontario’s Ontario Respiratory Virus Tool, data as of November 18, 2023. Please note: Coronavirus refers to non-pandemic human coronaviruses. Provincially, SARS-CoV-2 is the most commonly circulating virus amongst samples analyzed.
Niagara reports flu activity surveillance information weekly on Fridays.
For more detail on the 2023 to 2024 respiratory season, please visit Public Health Ontario’s page for the Ontario Respiratory virus Tool.
REVIEW: Reminders on Respiratory Illness Prevention and Control
The Ontario Respiratory Virus Tool shows increased activity for COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and Public Health Ontario is projecting this activity to continue to rise. With more virus circulating in the community, you may see an increase in patients presenting with respiratory symptoms at your practices. As the 2023/2024 respiratory season continues to evolve, Public Health is reminding primary care of measures that can help keep staff and patients safe:
- Recommend all high-risk patients have a plan in place on how to get tested and how to access antivirals in advance of getting an infection
- Encourage patients to receive their fall respiratory vaccinations, if they are eligible
- Review your infection prevention and control policies and update them if necessary (i.e., symptom screening, use of personal protective equipment including masking, etc.)
- Ensure you have adequate supplies and quick access to personal protective equipment, testing materials and therapeutics
- Inform your patients of health care options available to them
More Information
REVIEW: Key Research Findings on Cannabis and Mental Health
In 2018, the federal government earmarked $10 million over five years to assess the impact of the legalization and use of cannabis on the mental health of Canadians. Based on the work of both academic and community-based research teams, evidence is now available showing the relationship between cannabis and mental health, particularly among diverse populations.
Summarized Key Messages
- The relationship between cannabis use and psychosis risk among youth continues to be a concern
- The social determinants of health shape the relationship between cannabis and mental health, particularly among equity-deserving groups
- For many, cannabis is an alternative or supplement to formal supports, especially for marginalized populations
- Many use cannabis as an effective harm reduction strategy (e.g., to reduce or eliminate the use of more harmful substances, such as opioids)
- Education on cannabis should focus on harm reduction and avoid abstinence-only approaches
- More research is needed
View the complete synthesis of results here.
Other Available Resources
- Videos: a playlist that summarizes the research projects and how they were conducted
- Roundtable on Mental Health and Substance Use Health Polling Report: speaker presentations, major themes and key takeaways from the roundtable in February 2023
- Website: learn more about cannabis and mental health research projects
Youth Mental Health and Addiction (YMHA) Service
Niagara Region Mental Health's YMHA service provides assessment, treatment and counselling to youth ages 17-25 who are experiencing emerging mental health or addiction concerns. If you have a patient who would benefit from YMHA or other Niagara Region Mental Health services, please complete an online referral form.
Free Online Suicide Prevention Modules for Healthcare Professionals
Healthcare providers play a pivotal role in preventing suicides in Canada. They are often best positioned to identify those who may be at risk for suicide and able to provide or link those at risk with the care they so desperately need.
Given this, it is important healthcare providers understand how to embed suicide prevention into practice. As such, the Mental Health Commission of Canada, HealthCareCAN and the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention developed an online, accredited suicide prevention module for family physicians and nurses.
These modules will help the healthcare professionals to:
- Evaluate the level of risk for suicide and determine how best to intervene.
- Understand the prevalence of, and which groups are at high-risk for suicide in Canada.
- Build trust with your patient and gain the confidence needed to have a conversation with a patient about suicide.
- Understand some of the tools and resources available to support the identification of the risk of suicide among your patients and how to offer that follow-up support better.
It is accredited by the College of Family Physicians of Canada for up to 2.0 Mainpro+ Credit(s). It is also accredited through the Canadian Nurses Association.
To register, visit the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
MEDICAL ADVISORIES AND MEMOS
