No Images? Click here In This Issue - September 2018
UPDATE: Niagara EMS System Transformation Project Niagara Emergency Medical Services (NEMS) has embarked upon a three-phase System Transformation project to enhance its response to 9-1-1 calls. Phase One involves paramedics working in multidisciplinary, integrated health teams designed to address specific types of 9-1-1 calls. Three specialty teams have been created
Full implementation of the mobilized integrated health teams began in mid-September and will continue for the next 12 months as a pilot. Phase Two includes the addition of an Emergency Communication Nurse (ECN) embedded in the Niagara Ambulance Communications Centre (i.e. Dispatch Centre) to provide secondary telephone triage to identified callers with low acuity complaints, and to provide additional support and referral when most appropriate based on the caller’s presenting complaints. Phase Three will involve developing a Clinical Response Model that will incorporate learnings and innovations from the first two phases to enable EMS to address true patient need in more targeted and responsive ways. If you require further information, please email NEMS@niagararegion.ca FOR YOUR CLIENTS: Survey NEMS is asking the public to complete a survey that will help us understand the community’s perception of NEMS. Everyone who completes the survey can enter into a draw to win an iPad mini. For materials to promote the survey to your patients, please contact Stephanie.hicks@niagararegion.ca UPDATE: Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Protocols The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care updated the Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) protocols, effective July 2018. Links to the updated documents are below:
UPDATE: Cancer Care Ontario - Prostate Cancer Screening In Niagara, prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men, and is the third leading cause of cancer-related death. Several professional associations (e.g. Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care, Canadian Urological Association) have developed guidelines on prostate cancer screening and early diagnosis, but there are conflicting recommendations on how best to approach these issues. To aid physicians in this process, Cancer Care Ontario has developed various guideline-based clinical tools and pathway maps. FOR YOUR PATIENTS: New Reliable Source for Nutrition-related Information Dietitians of Canada has launched a new website that is current and credible for easy to understand, bilingual information on nutrition, food, healthy eating and disease prevention. It retains the trusted content from “Practice-based Evidence in Nutrition” that was previously located at Eatrightontario.ca. UnlockFood.ca has
Patients can also access Registered Dietitians at Telehealth Ontario - 1-866-797-0000. Available Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Find a Dietitian – Online tool to search for a local dietitian. Note: fees may apply. Patients are encouraged to check with health insurance plans for available coverage. FOR YOUR PATIENTS: Prescribing Active Travel By prescribing active travel, physicians can encourage patients to look at ways to walk or bicycle to nearby destinations such as a store, library, friends home, or even a public transit stop or carpool pick-up. This is a great way to build physical activity into daily living. The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) offers a toolkit with
One way for physicians to advocate for community design changes is through local groups. To find a group in your municipality, email lisa.gallant@niagararegion.ca IPAC REVIEW: What's in Your Vaccine Fridge?A) Specimens B) Staff lunches C) Vaccines and medication Correct answer: C) Vaccines and medication! Your vaccine refrigerator must be dedicated for storage of vaccines and medication only. Food, beverages or medical/laboratory specimens should not be stored in a vaccine storage unit because this practice results in frequent door openings leading to destabilization of the temperature and possible cross-contamination if the food/beverages/specimens leak. For more information on
For more information on IPAC complaints and disease surveillance, please contact the Infectious Disease program at 1-888-505-6074 or 905-688-8248 ext.7330. |