| NEWS
Don't Get Caught Without the Shot!
Our annual flu shot clinics have now been completed, but patients are reminded that they are still able to get the shot during regular clinic visits. Please contact our office at 613-533-9303 to schedule an appointment, or ask your nurse during one of your regularly scheduled appointments.
All patients are encouraged to get the vaccine. (This is also a good time of year to make sure your other vaccines are up to date.)
What is the flu and what are the risks?
The flu is a serious, acute respiratory disease that is caused by a virus. People who get the flu have a cough, fever, chills, sore throat, muscle aches and fatigue. Symptoms usually last from three to five days but can last longer. The cough and fatigue can last several weeks, making return to personal and work activities difficult.
What the flu is NOT
The flu is not a stomach virus (i.e. nausea and vomiting). It is not a cold or a minor febrile illness. People who contract influenca are very ill. It can be deadly for those who are immune compromised, for infants and children, the elderly and even those who were previously healthy.
The flu vaccine is 70 to 90 per cent effective in preventing influenza in adults. Of those who get the flu, an even larger number see a decrease in severity of symptoms, or duration of illness, if they have had the flu vaccine.
What are the possible side effects of the flu shot?
Most people have no side effects or some soreness, redness or swelling at the needle site. You cannot get influenza from the flu vaccine. Some people find they feel unwell for 24 to 48 hours after the vaccine. This may be coincidental, or it may be your body doing what it's supposed to do - reacting to the vaccine to give you protection when you come in contact with the live virus.
To learn more about influenza and the flu vaccine, please contact us or visit:
Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care's influenza information site
Public Health Agency of Canada's influenza Information site
Patient Experience Survey
We want to know your thoughts on the care provided by the Queen's Family Health Team. Please fill in and submit our Patient Experience Survey. Your feedback is important because it helps us provide the best care possible for our patients.
QFHT News
Summer 2012
Spring 2012
Fall 2011
Chronic Pain Self-Management Program
Following a highly successful premiere program to help patients who suffer from chronic pain, the Queen's Family Health Team (QFHT) will offer its second Chronic Pain Self-Management Program. The program will run over six consecutive Wednesdays, 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., from Wednesday, February 6 to Wednesday, March 13 at the QFHT's 115 Clarence St. location in the Lower Conference Room. To participate, patients should be fit to perform gentle exercises that may range from chair yoga to tai chi to stretching.
The program is being led by Dr. Ruth Dubin and social worker Evelyn Bowering. A Self-Management Manual will be provided, along with refreshments.
For more information, please contact Jessica at 613-533-9303, Ext. 73050, or Jamie Lyn at 613-549-0490.
Chronic Disease Self-Management Program
Queen’s Family Health Team's Chronic Disease Self-Management Program is a free, six-week program that helps people live well with diabetes through building the skills needed to better manage their health. Participants are encouraged to share their experiences and support one another in meeting their goals. Some of the self-management skills discussed include: dealing with the symptoms of diabetes and treatment side effects; stress and other emotional problems; starting (or maintaining) a safe exercise plan; healthy eating; and managing medications. Light snacks and refreshments are provided. The program is supported by the Living Well South East Ontario Self-Management Project.
The next program will be scheduled early in 2013. Prior registration is required.
To participate or for more information, please contact Tammy at 613-533-9300, Ext. 79550.
Other ongoing programs - offered to patient groups as needed - include: Diabetes Medications Explained; Insulin: The Basics; Insulin: Mastering the Skills; Nutritional Label Reading; Beginning an Exercise Program with Resistant Bands; Carb Counting: The Basics; and Stress Management.
For more information, please contact Tammy at 613-533-9300, Ext. 79550.
Breastfeeding Support Program Now Available
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and registered nurse Liz Hughson is now facilitating a Breastfeeding Support Program that is available to all QFHT families. Services include prenatal assessment and follow-up after delivery, ensuring babies receive optimal nutrition. For more information, ask your health care provider or contact Liz at 613-533-9300, Ext. 73946.
Ear Acupressure for Smoking Cessation
Dr. Lawrence Leung and his research team are looking for patients interested in using self-administered ear acupressure for smoking cessation. It involves external beads (natural seeds) plastered to acupoints on the ear, which patients press on when they experience the urge to smoke. The study will be a randomized, placebo-controlled trial with no cost to patients. E-mail [email protected] for further details, or leave a message at 613-533-9300, Ext. 73938. Call-backs will take place Mondays and Tuesdays to set up appointments for the study
How Do I Dispose of My Medications?
- Old, unused medications can pose a risk to your health.
- They also pose a risk to the environment when they are not disposed of properly.
- Please bring your medications to your pharmacist for proper disposal.
- Your physician’s office is not equipped to dispose of your medications safely.
Humourous Video Addresses Fecal Occult Blood Test
The Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, has created an animated instructional video on the Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT), the screening method for average-risk people aged 50 and over for colorectal cancer. It's a simple test that can be done at home, and this video takes all the mystery (and, hopefully, fear) out of it through humourous commentary and visuals.
It is recommended that men and women 50 years of age or older, who do not have a family history of colorectal cancer and do not have symptoms, be screened every two years using an FOBT. Studies show that when this screening test is performed every two years, combined with a colonoscopy for those who test positive, it will reduce death from colorectal cancer by 16 per cent over a decade.
For more information about the FOBT, talk to your health care provider.
Watch the video in English
Watch the video in French
What is OxyNEO?
OxyNEO is a new form of the narcotic painkiller OxyContin, which has been withdrawn from the Canadian market. OxyNEO contains the exact same medication as OxyContin but is much harder to abuse. When crushed, it continues to be long-acting. When dissolved in water, it turns into a gummy substance that cannot be injected or snorted.
As pharmacies use up their supplies of OxyContin, coverage for this drug will continue until April 2, 2012. Patients who are currently taking OxyContin will have automatic coverage for OxyNEO for one year. The pharmacist cannot automatically substitute OxyNEO for OxyContin, so a new prescription for OxyNEO is required.
After February 28, 2013, OxyNEO will only be available through the Exceptional Access Program (EAP). The EAP form should be filled out by patients’ health care providers as soon as possible to make sure coverage is in place for next year. Any new patients starting OxyNEO will need EAP approval from their health care provider before they can start this medication.
Patients with questions about OxyNEO should talk to their doctor or pharmacist. For more information, visit the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Public Information site, http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/programs/drugs/ons/oxy_faq.aspx
Medication Check for Diabetics
If you have type 1 or 2 diabetes, ask your pharmacist about the provincial MedsCheck Diabetes Program. You'll receive an annual review of your medications including advice, training, monitoring and education on diabetes.Ask your pharmacist to send a copy of your MedsCheck form to your health care provider.
Breast Cancer Screening Interview
The QFHT’s Dr. Ruth Wilson recently spoke with CBC’s The Current about a study on breast cancer screening. Listen here. (Interview follows one with Dr. Martin Yaffe.)
QFHT Patients Participate in Mobility in Aging Study
Hundreds of QFHT patients are participating in research conducted by Dr. Susan Phillips that examines how who you are, where you live, and how connected you are to a community affects your health. The International Mobility in Aging Study examines how a variety of factors alter the chances of developing chronic disease or mobility disability among 1,600 seniors. Click here for more information.
We're Accepting New Patients!
If you (or your family members) are looking for a family physician within an academic teaching centre, please drop by our clinic at 220 Bagot Street, Kingston, during regular working hours. (Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.) Please contact us for more information.
. |
