Connecting Care - Winter 2013-14

Connecting

Volume 5, NO. 3, 2013

Make the most of your health home Resources to help you stay healthy  Pregnancy to parenthood A guide to trusted health information

your health. your team.

 Winter skincare advice Healthy eating for your skin

copy e e r f this you!

Take h t i w home CFPCN.CA

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Contents

4 4 Making the most of your health home 5 Tackling chronic pain at all angles – a patient success story 7 Trusted health resources for new and expectant parents 8 Taking diabetes care to the next level 9 Stroke: symptoms and prevention 10 Winter skincare advice

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13 Smoke-free after 22 years: a patient success story

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14 Calgary Foothills PCN Clinics 15 Calgary Foothills PCN Programs

www.boehringer-ingelheim.com

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Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network would like to thank Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. for their assistance in printing this medical communication publication.

Medical director’s message Primary Care Networks (PCNs) like ours are designed to enhance and improve the care you receive for your day-to-day health needs. This can be anything from operating a clinic that provides care on evenings and weekends, to increasing access to other PCN health professionals located in your doctor’s office. In Connecting Care, you’ll learn about some of the services offered by Calgary Foothills PCN. You’ll also find some helpful medical advice from members of the PCN health team.

Calgary Foothills PCN works closely with Alberta Health Services to strive for the best primary health care for you, your family and your community. Please feel free to take this issue of Connecting Care home and read it at your leisure.

Sincerely,

Dr. Linda M. Slocombe Medical Director Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network

Background Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network (PCN) is an arrangement between a group of family physicians and Alberta Health Services to provide primary care services to patients living in north Calgary and Cochrane. Created in 2006 as part of the Primary Care Initiative of Alberta, the Calgary Foothills PCN’s mission is to enhance access and coordination of primary care for patients while improving the quality of professional life for community family physicians and allied health care professionals.

Primary care is the care patients receive at their first point of contact with the health care system, usually provided by family physicians or allied health care providers. Patients receive care for their everyday health needs, including health promotion and prevention, diagnosis and treatment of health conditions.

Connecting Care is a PCN publication aimed at educating patients of member physicians on new programs and initiatives available to them and their families.

Published for CFPCN by:

500, 1716 - 16th Avenue NW Calgary, AB T2M 0L7 Phone: 403.284.FPCN (3726) Fax: 403.284.9518 info@cfpcn.ca cfpcn.ca

Calgary, Alberta Tel: 403.287.9818 ads@paragonpublish.com www.paragonpublish.com

Editor Stephanie Baker Communications Manager Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network Art Director Richart Bocxe Publisher Jim Thornton

Connecting Care Magazine is published three times per year in January, May and September, and is made available free of charge to the 333,000+ North Calgary and Cochrane patients of 326 PCN family physicians at 86 clinics in 54 communities.

The e-magazine version is available at cfpn.ca and by free subscription at connectingcare@paragonpublish.com All rights reserved ©2013. Printed in Canada. Member of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.

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Making the most of your health home C

algary Foothills Primary Care Network brings together family physicians – including your doctor – and other health professionals to improve the health of communities in northwest Calgary and Cochrane.

As a patient of our Primary Care Network (PCN), you have access to a team of PCN health professionals and other resources, right within your clinic, to help you be as healthy as you can be.

Your health home surrounds you with care Your doctor’s clinic is your health home, connecting you to the care you need, when you need it. In your health home, your family doctor and a team of health professionals work with you to meet your health needs. Your team is led by your doctor, and consists of other health providers, such as a pharmacist, health management nurse or behavioural health consultant, who work together to care for your physical, social and emotional wellbeing.

When you have a health concern, you may meet with one or more members of your team to learn what you can do to manage your health.

Your health home empowers you to take control of your health When people take an active role in their care, their health and wellbeing improves. That’s why your health team is

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there to answer your questions and give you the tools you need to take control of your health. Through your health home, you also have access to free PCN health promotion and education resources. Whether you need support with issues around weight, stress, nutrition, quitting smoking or other concerns, your health home has the resources you need to make informed health decisions.

Your health home helps you access the right care at the right time If you need additional care outside of your health home, your team can refer you to other PCN health professionals in your community. These professionals work closely with your team to help you access the support you need for all aspects of your condition. No matter which health professionals you see for your care, you can be sure that your family doctor is kept in the loop on your progress and can follow up with you at any time.

Calgary Foothills PCN supports your health home to provide easy, direct access to care for you, your family and your community. To find out how you can become involved in your care and how to access other PCN resources, talk to your family doctor or a member of your health team today. More information can also be found on page 14 and 15, or by visiting cfpcn.ca. q

Tackling chronic pain at all angles – a patient success story medications without increasing the pain. The clinical pharmacist and physician helped him work towards this goal by adjusting his medications until they found the right balance. A switch to a topical cream medication for his foot was particularly helpful in containing the numbing effects C.J. was experiencing. C.J. was also able to successfully eliminate his use of oxycodone, one of the strongest pain medications. “The team’s pharmacist and physician were knowledgeable about which prescriptions could help me reach my goal,” says C.J., “and because of their expertise I’m at a good place now with my medications.”

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.J., a Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network (PCN) patient, suffered a freak accident two years ago, which left him with crippling pain and an inability to continue doing what he loves most. “I was volunteering one day, and I fell five meters onto concrete,” recalls C.J. “I shattered my right heel bone and severed a nerve and artery in the fall.” While C.J.’s injury healed, he was left with both neurological and musculoskeletal pain. “Four months after the accident, the pain was continuing to affect my quality of life, and I needed more help,” he says.

C.J. was referred to a team of health professionals at the Calgary Foothills PCN Pain Management Clinic. His pain management team, made up of a physician, clinical pharmacist, shared mental health care consultant, behavioural health consultant and physiotherapist, surrounded him with the support he needed to take control of his pain and improve his quality of life.

During his first appointment at the pain clinic, C.J. and his health team talked about his concerns and what he hoped to accomplish. “I noticed that some of the medications I took for the pain would dull all sensation throughout my body, not just my foot,” C.J. says. His team helped him set a goal to reduce the negative side effects of the

The team also helped C.J. establish goals to address the emotional impacts of his pain. Due to the trauma of the accident, C.J. developed flashbacks that forced him to relive the incident. “The flashbacks, combined with lack of sleep, pain and medication side effects, fed into one another — together, they probably made the pain feel worse than it was,” says C.J. To combat this issue, the behavioural health consultant and shared mental health care consultant helped C.J. set a goal to develop the tools he needed to control his flashbacks. “If I feel a flashback coming on, I’ve learned to make my mind skip to the end of it, so that I don’t have to relive the worst bits again,” says C.J. “They explained that mental and physical health are linked, and that not dealing with the mental health aspects of chronic pain effects recovery.” C.J. and his wife also received joint counselling, which has helped them talk about the accident together. “At least now we can discuss what’s happened,” he says.

While receiving treatment for his medication and mental health concerns, C.J. also met with a physiotherapist to increase the mobility in his foot without increasing the pain. The physiotherapist taught him exercises that he could do in the comfort of his own home. Today C.J. credits his success to the diverse team of health professionals and services he was able to access through his family doctor. “The physiotherapy, counselling and medication management treatment I received all contributed to reducing my pain and helping me continue on with my day to day life and volunteer activities,” says C.J. The Pain Management Clinic is free for patients of Calgary Foothills PCN family physicians. For more information about the pain clinic, visit cfpcn.ca. To be referred, talk to your family doctor. q Connecting Care 5

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Trusted health resources for new and expectant parents

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regnancy and parenting is full of excitement, changes and challenges. During this time, you will have plenty of questions and concerns. Health resources can be a great tool to help you make informed decisions.

While there is an abundance of information available online, it can be difficult to know if what you are reading is accurate and reliable. Here are some local resources put together by health professionals in Alberta to help you from maternity to parenthood.

you’ll find both clinic and pregnancy information presented in a video format. These short, succinct educational videos cover a wide range of topics, including common tests and services available at Riley Park Maternity Clinic such as circumcision and lactation consultations. Other videos outline what patients can expect when they deliver at the Foothills Medical Centre. If you are thinking about becoming a parent or if you need maternity care, visit cfpcnvideos.ca/rileypark.

Maternity Reproductive health and early childhood teams across Alberta worked with Alberta Health Services to create Healthy Parents Healthy Children. This free, local resource consists of two guides that serve as the go-to source on pregnancy and parenting. The first guide, called Pregnancy and Birth, provides information about each trimester, what changes to expect and how to maintain a healthy pregnancy. You’ll find tips, information and suggestions on subjects such as maintaining healthy relationships, exercising during pregnancy and prenatal care.

From pregnancy to delivery, Pregnancy and Birth can help you and your baby start off on the right foot. Expectant parents can obtain a printed copy of the guides at their community health centre. For a list of community health centres, visit albertahealthservices.ca. Digital copies are also available at healthyparentshealthychildren.ca.

Parenthood While the first guide of the Healthy Parents Healthy Children series covers the maternity stage, the second guide, called The Early Years, provides helpful information on the first five years of parenting. In this guide, you’ll learn how to care for your growing child and nurture their development. Other topics include playtime, sleep, immunizations and oral hygiene. From the moment your child is born to when he or she first starts school, The Early Years can help you build a healthy foundation for your child’s continued learning and development. Printed copies of The Early Years are available through your community health centre and digital copies can be found at healthyparentshealthychildren.ca.

Expectant parents looking for more information can visit Riley Park Maternity Clinic’s interactive website. There

Trusted health education resources, along with support from your family and health team, can help you and your family stay healthy all the way from maternity to parenthood. For more information about other pregnancy resources or supports, talk to your family doctor. q Connecting Care 7

Taking diabetes care to the next level L

iving with diabetes isn’t easy.

The good news is your doctor’s clinic acts as a health home, connecting you with a team of health professionals who are there to help you improve your health.

Your team works closely with your family doctor, and may consist of a variety of health professionals, such as a clinical pharmacist, health management nurse, behavioural health consultant or dietitian.

A few days into their experiment, Krista, a health management nurse and member of the group, fell ill with the flu. “We try to get people to test more often when they are ill because blood sugar levels can still rise even when patients aren’t eating normally,” Krista explains. “But when I became sick during this experiment, I found it extremely difficult to test three times a day, let alone more often.”

Krista’s experience has helped her better understand the barriers her patients face while they are ill. “I was reminded that patients are more likely to test when they are sick if they know why it’s important to test regularly. This is part of our role in helping patients manage their conditions.”

Your health team is there to help you take control of your health. “One of our jobs is to help patients be as healthy as they can be,” says Gisele, clinical pharmacist with the Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network (PCN). “Patients with diabetes face unique challenges, and we do our best to understand what these challenges are and how we can help patients overcome them.”

In order to stay current on the issues affecting patients with diabetes, Gisele and three of her coworkers attended a diabetes workshop. During the workshop, the group completed an exercise that required them to test their blood sugar levels for one day. “This exercise really gave us a taste of what it’s like to live with diabetes,” says Gisele. “We thought that if we continued this exercise for a longer period, we could learn how to help our patients with their individual barriers.”

The group decided to experiment by testing their blood sugar levels three times a day over the course of a week.

It wasn’t long before obstacles started to test their dedication. “During the beginning of the experiment, we found several challenges preventing 8 Connecting Care

us from testing frequently and at the right times,” explains Gisele. “One of those issues was that it wasn’t always possible to test at home, where it’s private, convenient and easier to assess the effects of food and medications on sugar levels.”

When the group was in social situations, such as at work, they found ways to compensate for the lack of convenience. “When testing outside of our homes, we found that it was difficult to dispose of used sharps,” Gisele says. “We found that a tic-tac container worked well as a temporary place to store used sharps until they could be disposed of in a proper container.”

As the group’s week-long trial came to an end, their view of diabetes, and how they help their patients, changed. “This experiment showed me that managing diabetes takes time, intrudes on our patients’ lives and can be costly without insurance coverage,” says Deanna, behavioural health consultant. “It highlighted the important role that behavioural health consultants can play in helping patients successfully cope with the impact diabetes has on their social and mental health.”

The group’s experiment is an example of how PCN health professionals strive to help you manage your conditions and improve your health and wellbeing. If you have a health condition or concern, your health team is there to support you. For more information about the team members available in your health home, visit cfpcn.ca or talk to your family doctor. q

Stroke: symptoms and prevention A

ccording to Health Canada, strokes are one of the leading causes of death and major disability in Canada. The risk of having a stroke increases with age, but it’s never too late to start making healthy lifestyle choices to prevent a stroke.

Over the past few years, there has been remarkable progress in better understanding what strokes are, how to recognize them and what can be done to decrease the risk of having a stroke.

What is a stroke?

Strokes can occur when a vein or artery is blocked and unable to deliver blood to the brain. They can also happen when a blood vessel breaks, causing blood to bleed into the brain.

In both cases, the brain can become damaged, which may cause death or permanent disabilities. Yet treatments, anti-clotting medications and prevention measures have come a long way in helping to decrease both fatalities and disabilities caused by strokes.

What are the symptoms?

Strokes can damage different parts of the brain, so symptoms may differ from person to person. Many of the common symptoms of stroke occur suddenly, and may include: • severe, unusual headache • numbness or weakness in your face, arm or leg -- especially on one side of your body • confusion, trouble speaking or understanding simple statements • facial drooping • double vision or vision loss in one or both eyes • new difficulties walking or maintaining balance or dizziness combined with any of the above symptoms

If you experience any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately.

If you arrive at the hospital within three to four and a half hours from when these symptoms first started, you have a better chance of receiving a clot-busting drug that can help reduce or prevent damage to the brain. If you have had these symptoms in the past, be sure to talk with your family doctor — they could have been a sign of a mini- or warning-stroke.

likelihood of having a stroke. Here are some of the key changes you can make to your lifestyle to help reduce your risk:

What can I do to prevent a stroke?

Maintaining an active, healthy lifestyle is the best way to prevent a stroke. While some risk factors can’t be changed, including age and family history of strokes, other factors such as smoking, stress, high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes and heart disease can be better controlled to reduce the

Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network offers free health education programs to help you make healthy life decisions. To find out more about our free health programs, see page 15. Your health team can also help you prevent your chance of a stroke. For more information about your health team, talk to your family doctor or visit cfpcn.ca. q

• k eep chronic diseases in check —especially high blood pressure (hypertension), which is the leading cause of stroke • q uit smoking and avoid excessive alcohol consumption •m aintain a healthy weight by eating right and being physically active

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Winter skincare advice

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ow humidity, cold temperatures and high winds can take a toll on your skin. While topical moisturizers can help ease the negative effects of winter weather, it’s also important to fortify your skin by 10 Connecting Care

eating well. “Your diet can help — or hinder — your skin’s health during the winter months,” says Erin Wile, registered dietitian with the Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network (PCN). “The best thing

you can do for your skin is to eat a healthy, balanced diet according to the Canada’s Food Guide.”

One of the staples of a healthy diet is vegetables and fruit. These contain

plenty of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fluids, which can help minimize the signs of ageing. “Canada’s Food Guide recommends that adult women eat at least seven servings of fruits and vegetables a day, and men should eat at least eight,” Erin says.

“If you’re having trouble reaching that amount, try setting goals for yourself.” According to Erin, any increase in your vegetable and fruit intake is beneficial. For example, if you’re currently getting three servings per day, try increasing to four.

In addition to fruits and vegetables, Erin recommends adding high-fibre, whole grain foods to your diet.

“Whole grain products contain fibre, which is important to your overall health,” says Erin. “Fibre may even help you maintain a healthy weight and lower your risk of heart disease and diabetes.” Canada’s Food Guide suggests that adult women between the ages of 19 and 50 get at least six servings of grain products a day, while men of the same age group get at least eight.

One of the best ways to replenish moisture is to drink plenty of fluids.

“Your skin can deal with harsh winter weather better when your body is well hydrated,” says Erin, who recommends that women drink eight to 10 cups of fluids a day, and men drink 10 to 12 cups. “Water is the most ideal fluid, but any fluid other than alcohol will help hydrate the body,” she adds. Erin warns that alcoholic beverages should be consumed in moderation, as they take fluids away from your body. “If you drink alcohol, try to increase your fluid intake by drinking a glass of water for every alcoholic drink.”

Lean meats and alternatives — as well as low fat dairy products and healthy fats — are also part of a healthy diet. “Healthy fats can be found in nuts, seeds, fatty fish and oils, including olive, canola and grape seed oils,” says Erin. “But be

sure to consume them in moderation.

You only need two to three tablespoons of healthy fats each day, and this includes oil used for cooking and salad dressings.”

A balanced diet containing vegetables and fruits, lean meats and alternatives, whole grains, low-fat milk products, healthy fats and plenty of fluids is important to maintain your body and skin’s health during the winter. “All of these foods and

nutrients are required for the body to function well, which will be reflected in your skin’s health.” To learn more about healthy eating, join a free Ask a Dietitian group appointment, led by a Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network registered dietitian. Ask your personal nutrition questions and learn how to make better dietary choices. To register, call 403.284.3726, talk to your family doctor or visit cfpcn.ca for more information. q

Flu Shot Clinics All Co-op pharmacies will be hosting in-store complimentary flu shot immunizations.

Sign up in advance as space is limited.

By appointment only. All individuals must live, work or go to school in Alberta, must be nine years of age or older and must show Alberta Health Care card to be eligible for flu shots.

Visit calgarycoop.com for clinic dates.

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Lindsay Hills Terry Schmitt

Smoke-free after 22 years: a patient success story B

rian smoked for 22 years before participating in the Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network (PCN) Tobacco Cessation program.

Led by a PCN health professional, the program helps people who are struggling with tobacco dependency by providing group support and education. Participants can attend for any reason — whether they want to quit, reduce their tobacco intake or simply learn about the benefits of a smoke-free lifestyle.

Brian attended the program after he decided that he was ready to make a significant life change. “I realized that I had been a smoker for most of my adult life,” he explains. “When I compared the number of years I was smoke-free to the number of years that I’ve been a smoker, the numbers scared me.”

At his first Tobacco Cessation group appointment, Brian met other participants who were trying to quit. “It was really refreshing to walk into a room and meet people who were going through the same thing and to listen to their struggles,” says Brian.

“The group environment was supportive and non-judgmental.” One of the primary focuses of the Tobacco Cessation program is education. Participants are provided with useful information about nicotine addiction, how to cope with cravings and other resources available to them after they complete the program. “When I learned that a craving lasts for two minutes, I thought Only two minutes? I can handle that,” says Brian.

“The information I learned in this program was practical and empowering – it gave me my power back from smoking.”

The Tobacco Cessation program also provides participants the opportunity to learn about medications that can help them stop smoking. With permission from their family doctors, participants are provided with nicotine replacement samples or prescriptions for anti-smoking medications. “I chose to use Nicorette gum and through the program I learned how to use it properly,” says Brian.

Today, Brian has past his one-year mark of being smoke free and he is enjoying the benefits of a healthier lifestyle. “I can breathe easier and

I have more energy,” he says. In addition to some of the more obvious health benefits of a smoke-free lifestyle, Brian is also experiencing some unexpected perks. “I’ve begun to notice that since I quit, my cat has become more affectionate towards me. I think it’s because the smell of smoke is gone.” The Calgary Foothills PCN Tobacco Cessation program is free to patients of member physicians. To be referred or to find out if you could benefit from attending the program, talk to your family doctor or a member of your health care team. For more information, call 403.284.3726 or visit cfpcn.ca. q Connecting Care 13

Calgary Foothills PCN Clinics After Hours Clinic If you have a medical concern and you are unable to get an appointment with your family doctor, call Health Link Alberta and ask if the After Hours Clinic is right for you.

Clinic Information

Contact Information

The After Hours Clinic provides free, non-emergency medical care on weeknights, weekends and holidays. Patients can access the clinic by calling Health Link Alberta.

A Health Link nurse will assess your symptoms, offer self-care advice and may book an appointment for you at the After Hours Clinic. After your appointment, the After Hours Clinic will let your family doctor know what treatments you received.

Available by appointment only. Call Health Link Alberta at 403.943.5465 Weeknights: 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Weekends & Holidays: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Crowfoot Primary Care Centre The Crowfoot Primary Care Centre is an interdisciplinary clinic designed to treat patients without a family doctor who have a chronic disease and live in north Calgary or Cochrane.

Clinic Information

Contact Information

Patients without a family doctor are accepted through a referral to the clinic, including self referral, emergency room, urgent care, home care, out-patient clinics, the PCN After Hours Clinic or Riley Park Maternity Clinic. The clinic also links patients who do not have a family doctor with a doctor starting a new practice. If you don’t have a family doctor, register online at www.needadoctorcalgaryandarea.ca or call Health Link Alberta at 403.943.5465.

Crowfoot Primary Care Centre 201, 60 Crowfoot Crescent NW 403.374.0244

Pain Management Clinic The Pain Management Clinic is an interdisciplinary clinic treating patients with non-complex chronic pain.

Clinic Information

Contact Information

Patients with non-complex chronic pain are referred to the Pain Management Clinic by their family doctor. Patients meet with a team of health care professionals who help them learn to manage their pain on a daily basis.

Pain Management Clinic 201, 60 Crowfoot Crescent NW 403.374.0244

Riley Park Maternity Clinic Riley Park Maternity Clinic is comprised of four maternity clinics working together to care for maternity patients who will deliver at Foothills Medical Centre.

Clinic Information

Contact Information

Patients are often referred by their family doctor. Patients without a family doctor are encouraged to self-refer to the clinic.

Riley Park Maternity Clinic 130, 1402 8 Avenue NW 403.284.3711

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Calgary Foothills PCN Programs Chronic Disease Management

Population Health (continued)

Chronic Disease Management provides care to patients with chronic diseases (diabetes, dyslipidemia, congestive heart failure, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

Craving Change A free-four session workshop for adults who struggle with their eating habits. To register, call 403.284.3726

Health Teams Health teams are groups of health professionals who work with you and your family doctor to manage your health. Each team is unique and may include any combination of professionals such as health management nurses, pharmacists, behavioural health consultants, respiratory educators, dietitians, diabetes educators and others. For more information about your team, talk to your family doctor.

Need-a-Doctor Website The Need-a-Doctor website is available for people living in Calgary and surrounding area who do not have a family doctor. Registrants will be contacted when a doctor becomes available. To fill out the form, go to www.needadoctorcalgaryandarea.ca or call Health Link Alberta at 403.943.5465

Living Well An Alberta Health Services support program providing education and peer led support for individuals with chronic disease or long term illnesses. Calgary Foothills PCN partners with Living Well to increase the number of available sites for courses to run in north Calgary.

To register, call 9-HEALTH (403-943-2584).

Seniors Health Provides comprehensive care to seniors and improves standards and transfer of care in long-term care facilities.

Navigation Team The Navigation team is comprised of health professionals whose goal is to support PCN physicians in caring for frail patients with complex health care needs. The team provides assessments and resources for patients with dementia, cognitive impairment, risk of falling and those coping with life transitions. Patients access the team through referral from their family physician.

Nurse Practitioner in Bethany Care Society Calgary Foothills PCN has a nurse practitioner working in Bethany Care Society, a long-term care facility in Cochrane. The nurse practitioner assists the family physician to care for residents by providing direct patient care, communication and educational activities.

Tobacco Cessation The program combines educational information and information on medications to aid in quitting. Group sessions consist of four classes, one week apart. Interested individuals should discuss enrollment with their family physician.

TrymGym TrymGym offers an opportunity for participants to meet with a personal trainer and dietitian to help achieve their fitness goals. Patients of member physicians receive a subsidy to offset the cost when they enrol.

To register, call 403.220.4374.

Walking Program Peer led programs based in Calgary and Cochrane to promote healthy lifestyles and active living within a safe and social environment.

Calgary Walking Program Calgary participants walk during weekday mornings in North Hill Mall year round, and in Confederation Park during summer months. Cochrane Walking Program Cochrane participants walk on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at Mitford park year round. Contact the Town of Cochrane at 403.851.2500 to register.

Walk with a Doc Promotes regular physical activity by offering group walks with a family doctor. Call 403.284.3726 for more information or to register.

Population Health

Mental Health

The Population Health program enables family physicians to effectively identify and address the health needs of their communities. Population Health focuses specifically on health promotion, prevention of injury and illness, and improvement of screening rates.

Behavioural health consultants have a variety of backgrounds including nursing, social work and psychology; in addition, they are trained to help individuals address mental health and lifestyle issues affecting their health. Talk to your family doctor for more information.

Ask a Dietitian This group appointment allows you to meet with a registered dietitian who will address your personal nutrition questions.

The appointment is free to patients of PCN member physicians.

To register, call 403.284.3726

For mental health resources, visit www.cfpcn.ca and click Patient Resources. For immediate help with addiction, phone the Addiction Helpline at 1.866.332.2322.

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