No images? Click here In This Issue - June 2020
MESSAGE: Gayane Hovhannisyan, MD MPH, PhD, FRCPC, Associate Medical Officer of Health (Acting)This past Friday, Niagara moved into Stage 2 of the province’s Reopening Framework. The success of this transition is thanks to the hard work by people across Niagara, and particularly our extraordinary health care workers, to keep COVID-19 under control. As businesses reopen, and people interact with larger social circles, there is going to be more risk of infection spreading. Please encourage your staff and patients to continue practicing risk mitigation strategies:
The Ministry of health and Long Term Care developed some resources (COVID-19 Guidance: Primary Care Providers in a Community Setting and COVID-19 Operational Requirements: Health Sector Restart) to assist with safe opening of your practice. UPDATE: COVID-19 Information LineEffective Saturday, July 4, Niagara Region Public Health’s Primary Care Info-Line will be available to answer calls Monday to Friday from 9:15 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Health Professionals can speak to a Public Health employee by calling 905-688-8248 (press 7 then press 1). If you are looking for information on weekends and statutory holidays please visit our Frequently Asked Question Page for Health Care Providers. UPDATE: Diseases of Public Health Significance ListOn January 22, 2020, the list of diseases of public health significance was updated to include Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
REVIEW: Addressing Stigma in the Health SystemStigma can target different identities, characteristics, behaviours, practices, or health conditions. As there is limited data measuring stigma in Canada, discrimination (which is also described as “enacted” stigma) is more commonly measured. Reportedly, more than one in four Canadians have experienced at least one form of discrimination in their lifetime based on race, religion, ethnic origin, gender, or sexual orientation. Stigma experienced in the health system create barriers such as:
The most common type of discrimination reported by Canadians is racial discrimination with African, Caribbean, and Black Canadians and Indigenous peoples being twice as likely to experience discrimination. Studies have also shown that 20% of Canadians with a mental illness report being affected by negative opinions or unfair treatment due to their poor mental health and 49% of those in addiction recovery report experiencing stigma or discrimination during their active addiction. The 2019 report on the State of Public Health in Canada addresses stigma and is intended to raise awareness, stimulate discussion and catalyze action to move towards a more inclusive health system that will help everyone in Canada achieve their optimal health. We all need to take steps to end the “us” vs. “them” discourse. To do so, we need to reflect on our own biases, challenge them and take steps to change our understanding and treatment of others. There are some tools to help us understand our own biases, including this one from Harvard University. Niagara Region Public Health is focused on Health Equity and improving the health of all residents in Niagara. This includes addressing stigma with those who are experiencing mental health issues, but also with other social determinants of health, such as race. The protests and recent conversation about the pervasive prevalence of systemic racism cannot be ignored. REVIEW: Niagara Region Mental Health ServicesNew provincial data shows that far fewer people with a mental health condition have been seeking formal supports since the COVID-19 crisis began. The things we recommend to stay mentally healthy are taking a hit. About a quarter of Ontarians are consuming more substances such as alcohol, tobacco or cannabis, one third of Ontarians say their diet has gotten worse, while about half of Ontarians say exercise habits have worsened. Read the full story here. Niagara Region Mental Health (NRMH) is committed to helping those with serious and persistent mental health concerns and are still providing service and intake during COVID-19. Some services may be modified for the safety of clients and staff. Call our intake line at 905-688-2854 ext. 7262, or fill out a referral form online if you have patients in need. In addition to providing services to youth and adults, NRMH has recently launched a new “Share Your Recovery Story” page where people can share a personal experience with a mental health challenge. Recovery stories can help in a client’s recovery, and provide encouragement and support to those going through similar experiences. Please share this link with your patients as you feel appropriate. REVIEW: Recommend the HPV VaccineVaccination is up to 90% effective at preventing HPV types responsible for most genital warts and HPV-related cancers. The HPV vaccine has been around for over 13 years with studies showing substantial impact on population health. However, Niagara's immunization coverage for the HPV vaccine was only 59.7% for grade 7 students (2017-2018 school year). We know that physician recommendation means a lot. Please make a strong recommendation for the HPV vaccine. If you are already seeing eligible children in-person for urgent health issues or other necessary visits, use this opportunity to discuss the importance of the HPV vaccine. To support your HPV recommendation, postcards and posters are available for order under "vaccines and immunizations". Vaccines
For more information, please contact the Vaccine Preventable Disease Program at 1-888-505-6074 or 905-688-8248 ext. 7396. FREE ONLINE TRAINING: The Empathy Effect - Countering Bias to Improve Health OutcomesOn July 22, join us for a free half-day, evidence-based workshop! This training is open to family physicians as well as clinical staff. The Empathy Effect: Countering Bias to Improve Health Outcomes provides skill-based techniques to enhance skills in effectively conveying empathy to others, with a special focus on vulnerable populations. Learning Objectives:
To participate in the free half day training session please complete the online registration by Monday, July 20. If you are interested in booking an alternate training for 10+ staff, please contact Donna Mills. MEDICAL ADVISORIES & MEMOS Memo (June 2020): Receive medical advisories and memos electronically from Niagara Region Public Health - subscribe here. |