No images? Click here In This Issue - April 2021
Physicians' CornerThis month's hot topic for the Physicians' Corner is of course COVID-19 vaccines in Niagara.
View the video HERE or click on the video image below. Don't forget, up to date information can be found on our FAQs for health care professionals webpage which is updated regularly. Don't see the response to your question? Call our COVID-19 Health Care Professionals information line Monday - Friday, 9:15 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. at 905-688-8248, press 7 then press 1. UPDATE: Shine A Light for Doctors May 1Treating and caring for more than 340,000 patients province-wide each day, whether it's in a hospital, long-term care home, clinic, research lab or in a patient's home, our local physicians make a critical impact. Celebrated annually on May 1 in Ontario, Doctors Day allows us to show our thanks and appreciation for our doctors, their expertise and dedication to exceptional patient care. This year, the Ontario Medical Association is inviting all Ontarians to shine a light for doctors on May 1 at 9 p.m. using their phones, flashlights or candles. As we enter our second year of the pandemic and battle the third wave of COVID-19, lets come together to support #DoctorsDay and #ShineALightForThem. UPDATE: Niagara Region Mental Health Group TreatmentNiagara Region Mental Health (NRMH) has been experiencing very high demand for service. Of particular note are the growing wait times for group treatments (Anxiety Group, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy – DBT Group, and Hope Recovered Group) which historically have been offered to the general public. The Solution: In order to sustain the availability of group treatment services for NRMH clients, group treatment will now be offered exclusively to clients enrolled in core NRMH services. If your patient would benefit from group treatment, options are available at various community agencies within Niagara. Those interested are encouraged to contact the Mental Health and Addiction Access Line at 1-866-550-5205 or visit their website for a referral to the most appropriate service to meet their needs. Action Required:
Mental Health Referral FormAll physicians, nurse practitioners, hospitals, walk-in clinics, and Community Health Centres can make a referral to Niagara Region Mental Health (NRMH).
Important: If your office is currently using a referral form dated prior to 2019, please dispose of them and use the updated version on the health care provider page. For more information, please call Niagara Region Mental Health at 905-688-2854, ext. 7262 or visit the website. UPDATE: Get Checked - An Organized Cancer Screening UpdateThe COVID-19 pandemic has caused many people to cancel or delay their cancer screening. Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) and the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Regional Cancer Program continue to recommend the resumption and provision of cancer screening and diagnostic assessment services using a risk-based prioritization framework. Key messages and actions for healthcare providers:
REVIEW: Safety of COVID-19 VaccinesMany patients are likely calling your office asking about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. After careful review, various bodies have now come out with their advice on this vaccine, and it is worth revisiting what the latest verdict is on that vaccine so there’s no confusion. The AstraZeneca vaccine is safe and very effective to prevent COVID-19, particularly severe illness that might lead to hospitalization and death. The unusual clotting syndrome that seems to occur after this vaccination is very rare (1 in every 250,000 people or fewer). The Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which is similar to the AstraZeneca vaccine, has also been found to have that similar issue, and again, only very rarely. It is well accepted now that this syndrome is a result of the vaccine. Canada has, unfortunately, now seen 5 cases of this syndrome out of 1.1 million people vaccinated.
The past few weeks and changing recommendations for the AstraZeneca vaccine underscores how vaccines are continuously re-evaluated in Canada based on the latest science to ensure safety and maximum benefit. We can expect this will continue as new information arises. For those under 60 years of age and not yet eligible to go to a mass clinic, AstraZeneca remains a safe and effective option for getting vaccinated right away, and avoiding the risks of COVID-19 as early as possible. For those over 60 years of age, they are recommended to book an appointment at a mass vaccination clinic. REVIEW: Respiratory SurveillanceSurveillance Update: Influenza Activity Low
This season, influenza case counts have been much lower than in previous years. In the last five years (2015-2019), there were approximately 709 cases of influenza per year. In 2020, there were 932 cases of influenza, all of which were part of the 2019-2020 season. For more detail or the most recent data, please visit Public Health Ontario’s page for the Ontario Respiratory Pathogen Bulletin. REVIEW: Care For The CaregiverMore than a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s very common to feel tired, stressed and fatigued. In addition, when you have been taking care of others constantly, your own self-care may be neglected. We urge you to prioritize taking care of yourself and have put together a list of resources specific to health care professionals to focus on your mental health and well-being. “Self-care is never a selfish act. It is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer to others.” - Parker Palmer FEEDBACK OPPORTUNITYObstetricians, Family Physicians and Midwives are often the first point of contact for expectant mothers. During their first trimester of pregnancy, nearly 95% of pregnant women in 2020 sought prenatal care from these primary care practitioners (BORN, 2020). However, across the Niagara region, the percentage of women who indicated they received some form of prenatal education remains low (27%), with prenatal education uptake below the provincial average (32%) (BORN, 2020). To improve the use of prenatal education and support services offered by Public Health, we are looking for feedback from prenatal healthcare providers. To better tailor the region’s prenatal programs and services to the needs of our population, we are asking that you complete an online survey that will take approximately 15 minutes. The survey will remain open until June 4, 2021. MEDICAL ADVISORIES & MEMOS
Not yet subscribed? Receive medical advisories and memos electronically from Niagara Region Public Health - subscribe here. |