No images? Click here Issue 6 - Winter Update 2020STOP! Germs Spread EasilyDental offices play an important role in supporting the response to suspected cases of Novel Coronavirus (2019- nCoV). Is your office prepared to stop the spread of infection? - Do you have a risk assessment tool to use at the time you are booking appointments? - Do you have a screening process to use at the time patients arrive? - Do you have signage at the entrance and in your reception area for risk assessment and screening of patients? If not, order HERE. - Do you have masks, tissue, and hand sanitizer available in your reception area? Order your respiratory etiquette poster HERE. Refer to the Standard of Practice (November 2018), Infection Prevention and Control In The Dental Office for detailed information on booking, reception and placement of patients. NEW Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program (OSDCP)The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) officially launched the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program (OSDCP). Seniors may be eligible if they? - Are 65 or older - Are a resident of Ontario - Have an annual net income of $19,300 or less for a single person, or a combined annual net income of $32,300 or less for a couple - Have no access to any other form of dental benefits (e.g. private insurance or other government programs such as Ontario Disability Support Program or Ontario Works) Line 236 of their income tax return will determine their income eligibility. How can eligible seniors apply? Eligible seniors will apply either online or by hard copy application and will receive a Client Benefit Card in the mail. With an OSDCP benefit card, the senior can obtain dental treatment from any Ontario Public Health Unit (PHU) and Community Health Centres (CHC). The online method still requires that the senior print out the application, sign it, and mail it in. Hard-copy applications are available at all PHU offices and CHCs. Where can a senior obtain dental treatment in Niagara? As this is currently Stage 1 of the OSDCP implementation, eligible seniors may seek preventive & restorative dental services at Quest Community Health Centre in St. Catharines, and Niagara College Dental Clinic in Welland. Preventive dental services are available at the Centre de santé in Welland. Please let us know if you would like to have hard-copy OSDCP applications available for your office locations by calling the Dental Health Line at 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7399. Smokers’ Helpline Transition to Telehealth OntarioThe Ontario government has recently ended funding for the Canadian Cancer Society’s Smokers’ Helpline telephone service in Ontario. As of October 1, 2019, Telehealth Ontario has been providing smoking cessation telephone support. How can my patients access smoking cessation support? Telehealth Ontario – Telephone support
- New referral forms may be faxed to Telehealth Ontario at 1-888-857-6555 or 519-434-9028. - Referrals can be made using the new fax form - Please do not send referrals to Smokers’ Helpline 2. Self-Referral Ontarians who would like to quit smoking can call Telehealth Ontario’s toll-free number, 1-866-797-0000, for smoking cessation supports 24/7. In addition they can continue to access supports from Smoker’s Helpline digital services including online, text message and email support. - Health care providers are encouraged to refer their patients to receive smoking cessation supports at 1-866-797-0000 - Telehealth Ontario is a free and confidential service for health advice and information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - Services are offered in both English and French, with telephone interpretation available in more than 300 languages For questions or additional information, please contact the Tobacco Hotline at 905-688-8248 ext. 7393. Do your clients have questions about their child’s health or growth and development?Now you can direct them to: - Call @ 905-684-7555 or 1-888-505-6074 ext.7555 - With a public health nurse at Niagara Parents Nurses are happy to provide reliable advice about; pregnancy, newborn care, feeding your baby, behavioural issues, child or parental mental health concerns, and community supports. A public health nurse is available to answer their questions Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. They can also register for many of our clinics and classes at niagararegion.ca/parents. We’re with your every step of the way! - Low level disinfectants have a Drug Identification Number (DIN). A DIN is assigned by Health Canada when the product has been evaluated and authorized for sale in Canada. - The Medical Devices Bureau of the Therapeutic Products Directorate (TPD) is the national authority that monitors and evaluates the safety, effectiveness and quality of diagnostic and therapeutic medical devices in Canada. The Bureau maintains a database of all licensed Class II, III, and IV medical devices offered for sale in Canada, including high level disinfectants. - The Medical Devices Active License Listing (MDALL) is the reference tool for licensed medical devices in Canada. Only products that appear in this database listing may be marketed in Canada. - Following best practice reprocessing guidelines and procedures reduces the potential spread of bacterial infection(s) that can be transmitted through reusable medical equipment and devices - Order Niagara Region’s Sterilization Decision Tree to follow the optimal sterilization process Do you have a comment, an idea or a question? |