In This Issue - November 2024

• Program Updates
  • Niagara Region’s Infant and Child Development Program

  • Free Nicotine Replacement Therapy for Patients

• Announcements
  • Reporting a Disease to Public Health
  • November is Radon Action Month
  • Respiratory Surveillance

Niagara Region’s Infant and Child Development Program (ICDS)

The Infant and Child Development Program is a provincially funded early child development home visiting program that serves children from birth to school entry. The free program is available to families that have concerns about their child’s early development to help them build skills and connects them to community supports. Niagara Region Public Health has been the lead agency for the program for many years.

Beginning April 1, 2025, Niagara Children’s Centre (NCC) will become the lead agency for the program here in Niagara. The NCC is the Provincial Smart Start Hub for Niagara families, which is the entry point to access services for growth and development needs. The programs transition to NCC will lead to seamless and consistent service for clients of the program.

Public Health and the NCC are working collectively on a transition plan to minimize gaps in service. Until further notice, please continue to use Public Health's Family Health Referral form online or download and fax. Patients can also self-refer by calling Niagara Parents: (905) 684-7555 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7555.

Free Nicotine Replacement Therapy for Patients

Pharmacotherapy in combination with behavioural counselling and brief advice doubles the success of cessation attempts. However, one of the greatest barriers to people participating in smoking cessation programs is the cost of pharmacotherapies.

There are a few ways to connect patients to free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products:

• Refer patients to a local pharmacy program for up to 12 weeks of free NRT and counselling
• Refer clients to the Tobacco Hotline (905-668-8248 ext. 7393). Public Health’s tobacco program will connect patients to free NRT and counselling programs.

To refer, please use the Smoking Cessation Program Referral Form. To request referral cards or posters for your office, please use the online order form.

November is Radon Action Month

Many people are unaware of radon gas, its link to cancer, how it enters homes and how to test for it.  Radon exposure is the number one cause of lung cancer in non- smokers.  Health care professionals are in a unique position to help reduce the risk of radon-related lung cancer by educating patients on the effects of exposure over time and guiding them on how to prevent exposure.

The following health care professional resources can support in educating patients about radon and how to prevent exposure.

• McMaster University, together with Health Canada, the Ontario College of Family Physicians and the Clean Air Partnership have designed a free certified course
• Government of Canada - Radon gas: it's in your home
• Radon Resources for Health Professionals - Take Action on Radon

For patients concerned about radon, a radon test can be purchased or they can hire a professional. If the home has elevated radon levels, patients should follow up with their health care professional for medical assessment.

Reporting a Disease to Public Health

Suspect or confirmed diseases of public health significance must be reported to the Medical Officer of Health as per Ontario Regulation 135/18 and amendments under the Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA). Health care providers can report by calling 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7330 (Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.). After-hours and on weekends, call 905-984-3690 or 1-877-552-5579.

Reporting by telephone to the Medical Officer or Health to comply with the requirements of the HPPA for some communicable diseases can be billed to OHIP using Fee Code K034. For the list of diseases that are eligible for billing to OHIP and payment rules, see the Schedule of Benefits for Physician Services (page 183, or search K034).

Billing resources

• OHIP Schedule of Benefits and fees – Ministry of Health
• OHIP Billing – Ontario Medical Association

Respiratory Surveillance

• Public Health Ontario’s most recent respiratory laboratory surveillance data indicates activity for influenza is low
• Provincially, Entero/Rhinovirus is the most commonly circulating virus amongst samples tested (based on percent positivity)
• In Niagara, there have been 27 cases of influenza this season and 439 across Ontario

Niagara reports flu activity surveillance information weekly on Fridays. For more detail on the 2024 to 2025 respiratory season, please visit Public Health Ontario’s page for the Ontario Respiratory virus Tool.

Visit the Professional Development Opportunities page for in-person and online opportunities available to health care professionals in Niagara.

Medical Advisories & Memos

• MEMO: November 25 - Holiday Ordering and Delivery Schedule for Vaccines

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