FHTFACTS

Vaccines not just for kids!

Everyone knows that vaccines are recommended for children. But did you know that grown-ups need vaccines too? Ontario Health Insurance (OHIP) pays for four vaccines for adults: tetanus and diphtheria; whooping cough; pneumococcal; and influenza. Some adults also choose to get the shingles vaccine even though it is not paid for by OHIP . Tetanus and diphtheria: The tetanus and diphtheria boosters are in the same vaccine. Tetanus is also known as lockjaw. People get lockjaw through an infected cut, not from other people. Diphtheria is a serious respiratory infection. All adults should have a tetanus and diphtheria booster every 10 years. The booster is paid for by OHIP . Whooping cough: Whooping cough is also called pertussis. Adults under age 65 need one booster in their lifetime. This is given in the same injection as one of the tetanusdiphtheria boosters. It is also paid . for by OHIP Influenza: Also known as the flu shot, the influenza vaccine is recommended every year for all people who are more than six months of age. It is especially important for adults over 65 years old, children under the age of five or anyone with a chronic medical disease (like heart or lung problems). The flu shot changes every year based on what kind of flu officials think will be most common that year. It is free for all residents of Ontario and is available every fall. Pneumococcal: This vaccine helps protect against one of the most common causes of pneumonia. It is recommended for people who are over 65 or who have chronic medical conditions like heart disease or emphysema. It is paid for by OHIP for these people. Shingles: The shingles vaccine is available for people who are over 50 years old. It helps cut down on the chance that someone will get shingles by about half. OHIP does not pay for this vaccine. Travel vaccines: There are many diseases that occur in other parts of the world that we do not usually see in Canada. If you are travelling outside of Canada or the United States, see a health care professional six to eight weeks before your trip for advice on whether or not you need medication or extra vaccines to protect you while travelling. (Please note that these appointments are .) not paid for by OHIP If you are planning to travel outside of Canada please contact a Travel Health Clinic near you (http://ottawa. ca/en/health_safety/healthcare/travel_ clinic/index.html) for up to date immunization information for the geographic region you plan to visit. Some people may need other vaccines because of their health status, job or lifestyle. For more information, ask to speak with our pharmacist, or with your nurse, nurse practitioner or doctor.

The Ottawa Hospital Academic Family Health Team

Fall 2012

inside this issue

Breastfeeding Dietitians do more than you think! Welcoming our new group of residents Healthy Lifestyle and Diabetes Program 2 3 4 4

The Ottawa Hospital Academic Family Health Team

prevention and health promotion

Civic Campus Appointments: 613-761-4334 Fax: 613-761-4200 Maurice Grimes Lodge 210 Melrose Ave., Ottawa, ON K1Y 4K7 Hours of operation Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Extended hours (for urgent care only): Monday and Tuesday, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Alternate Saturdays, 9 p.m. to 1 p.m. Riverside Campus Appointments: 613-738-8219 Fax: 613-738-8217 1967 Riverside Dr., Ottawa, ON K1H 7W9 Hours of operation Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Extended hours (for urgent care only): Wednesday and Thursday, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Being on our email list means that you will get our seasonal Family Health Team newsletter and occasional emails about clinic events and updates. We may also use email to send you reminders about health promotion activities or prevention screening that will benefit you. Your email address will not be shared with anyone else. Just send your email address to: FHT@toh.on.ca

Breastfeeding: Coaches Corner

By Johanne Kenney, Nurse Practitioner Research shows that breastfeeding provides the best nutrition, immune protection and emotional nurturing for the growth and development of infants and children. The benefits of breast feeding go beyond infancy by protecting the child against many diseases even into adulthood. For women, breastfeeding offers protection against breast and ovarian cancers and osteoporosis. It is a safe and reliable food source that adjusts to the babys developing needs. Breastfeeding saves money, not only for families, but also for society. Healthier children mean less overall costs to the health care system. Breastfeeding protects babies against respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses, ear infections, meningitis, and sudden infant death syndrome. It also protects against diabetes, childhood obesity, auto-immune disease, crohns disease, lymphoma, and allergies. The human body even knows when baby is pre-term and develops special breast milk for the preterm infant! If you are planning to have a baby or are currently pregnant, now is the time to ask your health care provider about breastfeeding. Even if you feel you cannot breastfeed, for either medical or emotional reasons, your family health team can support you with an informed choice to breastfeed or to choose a safe breast milk alternative. We can help to coach you to explore the reasons that breastfeeding is right for you and your family. We would like to ensure that you have information on: the benefits of breastfeeding; lifestyle issues; milk production; recognizing feeding cues; latching; prevention and management of problems; medical interventions; when to seek help; benefits of skin-to-skin contact; and where to get additional information and resources in your community. We can help you build confidence and develop the supports needed to make this the best possible experience for you and your family.

invest in your health

Dietitians do more than you think!

Did you know that both the Riverside and Civic Family Health Teams have Registered Dietitians on staff? What is the difference between a Registered Dietitian and a Nutritionist?
While anyone can provide nutrition education and advice, Registered Dietitians fall under the Regulated Health Professions Act. This means that they are responsible to the College of Dietitians of Ontario for safe, competent and ethical practice. In contrast, people in Ontario do not require any formal training to call themselves a nutritionist. answer any of your nutrition questions covering a variety of areas. Prenatal nutrition Feeding your baby or child Digestive health (IBS, Crohns, Colitis) Vegetarian diets Supplement use Weight management Food allergies and intolerances Management of high blood pressure or cholesterol through diet 8 weeks in a group format. If you are interested in our January session or would like more information, please call Joanne at 613-798-5555, ext. 81251.

What if I have diabetes?

You can speak to either Rebecca or Simon as part of our diabetes team at either the Riverside and the Civic.

How can a dietitian help me?

Dietitians can provide expert nutrition advice and can help

How do I get an appointment?

If you are a patient at the Civic, you can call Suzanne at 613-798-5555 ext. 19621 or speak to your doctor. At the Riverside, you can speak to your doctor or ask at the front desk for an appointment with Joanne.

What is the Healthy You Program?

We offer a free weight management program that can help you make long term lifestyle changes. The 2-hour sessions are held once a week for

patients corner

Welcoming our new group of residents

The Civic/Riverside Family Health Teams would like to welcome their new group of residents this Academic Year. They have shown themselves to be very adaptable, engaged and enthusiastic learners, making the transition quick and effortless. A big thank you goes out to all staff (preceptors, admin, nursing and allied health) for all the guidance they have provided our new family health team members. Please join us in welcoming the following new FHT members: Riverside Dr. Megan ApSimon, Graduated MD: University of Ottawa Dr. Sarwat Kamran (starting October), Graduated MD: Dow International Medical College, Pakistan Dr. Lynne Poirier, Graduated MD: University of Ottawa Civic East Team Dr. Anshi Agarwal, McMaster University Dr. Colleen Cordukes, McMaster University Dr. Louis Furtado, Queens University Dr. Magdalena Pietrzynska, McGill University North Team Dr. Andrew Taylor, University of Alberta Dr. Alina Petrariu, Universitatea de Medicine Si Farmacie Iuliu Hatieganu, Romania Dr. Alexandre Labelle, McGill University Dr. Erin Boyd, University of Toronto Dr. Gurpreet Dhillon, Windsor University School of Medicine, St.Kitts Dr. Mariam Deria, McMaster University West Team Dr. Asaad Al-Hindawi, University of Baghdad Dr. Yue Victor Xiao, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, US Dr. Jose Santin, Universidad de El Salvador Dr. Neema Dadgostar, Northern Ontario School of Medicine Dr. Matthew Carere, University College Cork, Ireland

services and programs

Healthy Lifestyle and Diabetes Program fall update

It has been a busy past few months for the members of the diabetes team at the FHT. Working together with your health care team, the nurses and dietitians of the Healthy Lifestyles and Diabetes Program have been involved in educating residents, planning for better co-ordination of care, and expanding their own knowledge base to help support our FHT patients with the best in diabetes management. In addition, team members continue to take their expertise to the streets through collaboration with area physicians and the regional diabetes network. Your diabetes team shows a strong commitment to excellence in patient care through pursuit of the Canadian Diabetes Educator certification, ongoing education and a research- based, and energetic approach to diabetes management strategies. If you have diabetes or pre-diabetes, give us a call. Put the Healthy Lifestyles and Diabetes Program to work for you.