In This Issue - September 2022

UPDATE:
- Vaccine Preventable Disease Program - What's Your VAQ Part 3
- EMS Community Paramedicine Program Referrals Resume
- Protect Your Patients from Influenza and COVID-19
- Happy National Infection Control Week! October 17-21
- Encouraging Patients to Get Back on Track With Their Cancer Screening
REVIEW:
- Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program
- Geriatric Mental Health and Case Management Support for those 60+
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
- FREE CME: Strengthening the Connection – Primary Care & Suicide Prevention
- FREE TRAINING: Breastfeeding - Making a Difference (Level 1)
- FREE WEBINAR: Disease Prevention: Cancer Screening and Smoking Cessation
MEDICAL ADVISORIES & MEMOS

UPDATE: Vaccine Preventable Disease Program - What's Your VAQ? Part 3

What’s Your VAQ? series - Part 3

What’s Your VAQ (Vaccine Awareness Quotient) is a 3 – part series that includes helpful resources and key reminders about various immunization topics. Click to see Part 1 and Part 2.

Immunization resources

As the VAQ series comes to an end, please refer to the following resources for more information on topics such as vaccine safety, vaccine hesitancy and pain management. Thank you for your continued support in immunizing Niagara residents.

For more information, visit our website or call the Vaccine Preventable Disease program at 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7396. You can also find more resources below:

UPDATE: EMS Community Paramedicine Program Referrals Resume

Primary Care, Home and Community Care Support Services, and allied agencies may once again refer eligible patients to the Community Paramedic High User and Long-Term Care programs offered by Niagara EMS.

Eligibility criteria for these programs include:

Patients who have visited the emergency department at least five times in the previous year due to chronic health issues (ex. Diabetes, CHF, COPD, Hypertension)
Patients on the wait list for long-term care, or waiting for an assessment to be eligible for long-term care

UPDATE: Protect Your Patients from Influenza and COVID-19

While the exact trajectory of COVID-19 and seasonal influenza is unclear, one thing is known - infections will rise. August was already one of the most deadly pandemic months in Niagara, yet as of Sept. 26, only 51.7% of residents have received a first booster . While the pandemic temporarily altered the epidemiology of influenza, case counts increased during the 2021-2022 season, and based on the experience of the Southern hemisphere, we expect an early and intense flu season this fall.

Protect your patients and ensure they are up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations and that they get their annual flu vaccine. More than ever, your efforts will alleviate pressure on our health care systems and staff.

Vaccination Information:

COVID-19. The National Advisory Committee on Immunizations (NACI) recommends that all persons age 12 and above receive a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine this fall. On Sept. 1, Health Canada authorized the use of Moderna Spikevax Bivalent COVID-19 vaccine as a booster dose in adults 18 years and over. This 50 mcg formulation contains equal parts (25 mcg each) of mRNA encoding for the original SARS-CoV-2 virus variant and the Omicron BA.1 variant. This vaccine is now available to all persons age 18 and above
Seasonal Influenza. NACI recommends that all persons receive their influenza vaccine this fall. NACI has released their statement on seasonal influenza vaccine for 2022-2023. Please check the UIIP website frequently for updates.

UPDATE: Happy National Infection Control Week! October 17-21

National Infection Control Week (NICW) is an annual event that highlights infection control efforts in Canadian hospitals, long-term care facilities and in the community. It is a time to celebrate the valuable work being done by Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) professionals and to educate staff and the community about the importance of IPAC.

Public Health Ontario (PHO) is holding quarterly regional-focused Community of Practice (CoP) meetings for those who oversee or implement IPAC in Primary Care settings. Register HERE for the Central West Primary Care CoP.

On November 10 IPAC-CSO and PHO are hosting the 24th Annual Infection Prevention and Control Education Day in Stoney Creek. For more information and to register click HERE.

Thank you for your commitment and dedication to preventing infections all year long and keeping our communities safe!

UPDATE: Encouraging Patients to Get Back on Track With Their Cancer Screening

The Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant (HNHB) Regional Cancer Program is running a campaign this fall to remind everyone of the importance of cancer screening.

Pandemic-related delays in access to health care services have created a significant backlog of individuals who are overdue for cancer screening. Between April 2020 and March 2021 the number of screen-eligible patients overdue for mammograms was approximately 55%. 50% are overdue for Pap tests and 40% of patients are overdue for colorectal screening.

Health care professionals are encouraged to talk to patients, especially those in older age groups, about the importance of cancer screening. To access cancer screening promotion resources for your practice, visit the HNHB website.

REVIEW: Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program

The Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program (OSDCP) is continuing to expand within Niagara. Through the first eight months of 2021 (Jan. through Sept. 3), the program's clinics saw 1,567 enrolled clients and 27 emergency clients.

In May 2022, Public Health's Fort Erie clinic officially opened its dental suite and is currently providing dental services to eligible seniors. OSDCP clients are now able to access services in St. Catharines, Welland, Fort Erie and Niagara Falls.

As of Aug. 1, 2021, increased income eligibility thresholds have officially been implemented within the program. The updates to income eligibility thresholds aim to expand access to dental care and increase quality of life for low-income seniors.

For more information on the program and services available, please review Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program.

REVIEW: Geriatric Mental Health and Case Management Support for those 60+

Individuals 60 and older are Ontario’s fastest growing demographic. Along with this growth comes an increase in those living with mental health challenges.

Public Health Offers Geriatric Mental Health and Case Management Services

Counselling/treatment with a multidisciplinary team (could include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), trauma treatment and more)
Health teaching
Case management

Referral Eligibility

Age 60 or older
Living with significant mental health challenges that may be undiagnosed
Diagnosed with an illness such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
Willing to work towards recovery

Exclusion Criteria

Living in long-term care
Dementia / cognitive impairment as primary presenting issue
Crisis response

Referrals can be made online or by fax. You can also call 905-688-2854, ext. 7353, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please note that waitlist times may vary.

If you have a patient that may benefit from mental health support, but does not meet the eligibility criteria above, please contact the Access Line at 1-866-550-5205 for referral options.

FREE CME: Strengthening the Connection – Primary Care & Suicide Prevention

When: Wednesday, Oct. 19, from 1:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Health care providers play an important role in creating a suicide-safer community. Talking openly about suicide with all patients, and asking directly about thoughts of suicide can help to reduce the stigma that many people feel about the topic, and can open up a life-saving line of communication.

Join us for an accredited session with Dr. Virna Little and Dr. Peter Guiterrez to learn about the role of primary care in suicide prevention, safety planning with patients, and to discuss barriers to addressing suicide.

Register online or call 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7218. Registration deadline is Oct. 14. Health care professionals and administration team members are invited to join!

This one-credit-per-hour Group Learning program has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada for up to 2.5 Mainpro+ credits.

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FREE TRAINING: Breastfeeding - Making a Difference (Level 1)

Niagara Region Public Health is hosting a 2-day virtual (LIVE) workshop series for healthcare providers and hospital staff practicing in Niagara who currently work with expectant or new parents as well as their families. This series will take place on Nov. 1 and Nov. 8, 2022.

Keynote Speaker: Kathy O’Grady Venter, RN, IBCLC, Lactation Consultant, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, BFI Assessor for the Breastfeeding Committee for Canada, and Educator for Quintessence Foundation will provide this opportunity on Zoom.

Note: Participants must attend both session dates and may be eligible to receive International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners Continuing Education Recognition Points (IBLCE CERP).

Register on the Professional Development Opportunities Page by Oct. 21.

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FREE WEBINAR: Disease Prevention: Cancer Screening and Smoking Cessation

Hamilton Family Health Team’s Green Initiative presents Disease Prevention: Cancer Screening and Smoking Cessation a free 1-hour, interactive, evidence-based, and practical educational webinar with Dr. Meghan Davis, Regional Primary Care Lead (Cancer Screening).

Participants will learn strategies to promote health through cancer screening and smoking cessation with practical tips and tools.

Cancer screening and smoking cessation efforts

Reduce the risks of disease and disability
Lower both the cost and carbon footprint of healthcare
Reduce the carbon footprint of tobacco production and distribution

This webinar is accredited for 3 MainPro + credits for participants through the CFPC.

When: Wednesday, November 2, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM OR Thursday, November 10, 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Register online or contact green.team@hamiltonfht.ca with any questions.

MEDICAL ADVISORIES & MEMOS

Public Health Communications Update

Niagara Region Public Health (NRPH) is streamlining our distribution lists for Public Health Medical Advisory and Memo communications with health care professionals. Over the years, Public Health has established different distribution lists to share information. Public Health is working towards consolidating these lists and working to ensure the information is reaching the intended recipients.

Effective October 1, Public Health will be discontinuing the use of fax distribution for medical advisories and memos and will communicate via email only using an updated distribution list.

Action required: To continue to be included in Niagara Region Public Health’s email distribution list for Medical Advisories and Memos, please sign up to receive these communications by visiting Niagara’s Health Care Professionals webpage.

September Communications:

September 26: Medical Advisory - Enterovirus D68 and Acute Flaccid Paralysis
September 23: Medical Advisory - COVID-19 Bivalent Vaccine
September 12: Memo - Public Health Communications for Health Care Professionals
September 9: Medical Advisory - Aconitine Poisoning