Team-Based Care - LMPCA Town Hall

Team-based care for patients with complex health needs?

Help co-design the Thames Valley Family Health Team's new Integrated Team Care Network, which will be expanded to serve patients with complex health care needs in our community.

• The June 20th Town Hall recording is available here.
• Please send questions or feedback to the Thames Valley Family Health Team at info@thamesvalleyfht.ca.

About your Practice

• OMA Tips on Optimizing Practice Efficiency
• IPAC Considerations for Community Practices, OCFP, June 2023

Patient Care

Janssen COVID vaccine recalled

Janssen has asked Health Canada to cancel the DIN for the JCOVDEN COVID-19 vaccine as of June 30. This is due to a business decision, not due to health or safety concerns. The Ministry of Health recommends that providers consider an alternate vaccine. Read the full CMOH memo.

From MLHU: Changes to the Tuberculosis (TB) Immigration Medical Surveillance program

Starting June 30, MLHU will refer assessments for low-risk TB IMS clients to community providers in order the meet the strong demand for TB Immigration Medical Surveillance (IMS) assessments.

If a client visits your office or clinic with a letter, which indicates they require an assessment to rule out active TB, please follow these steps:

1. send the client for a chest x-ray (PA and lateral).
2. once the x-ray report is received, complete the TB Immigration Medical Surveillance Physician Report, found on the Health Unit’s Forms for Healthcare Providers webpage.

More information: Tuberculosis (TB) for Healthcare Providers.

Questions? Call the Health Unit at 519-663-5317 and ask to speak to a member of the Infectious Disease Control team.

The Health Unit’s TB Clinic will continue to provide assessments for high-risk TB IMS clients, as well as support for community providers who would like a second opinion.

Pap smear turnaround times

As of May 2023, most patients are receiving their results in four months or less, with tests identified as urgent by health care providers being expedited and completed within the service standard.

Turnaround times are expected to continue to improve, with a goal that the majority of patients will receive their results within the typical service standards of 10 to 14 days by end of summer.  See the full memo here.

The Dose - drug information from Thames Valley FHT pharmacists

In the spring/summer 2023 issue:

• Introduction to providing inclusive primary care to trans patients
• Finerenone (Kerendia®) for secondary cardio-renal risk reduction in type 2 diabetes
• Academic detailing: Anxiety and depression
• Answers to common questions about treatments for allergic rhinitis
• Pharmacy practice update: administration of substances by inhalation and injection
• Rethinking menopausal hormonal therapy

New Compassionate Program for IUD (Mirena/Kyleena)

Registration link for IUD replacements or compassionate program.

Tips to prevent immunization errors

MLHU has developed guides for MMR, Tetanus and Meningococcal vaccines that show the differences in the names/antigens in these vaccines that are most commonly mislabelled. Learn more and get links to the guides.

Teen group mental health/exercise program

MOODment Rx, a 10-week group mental health/exercise program developed and led by a clinical psychologist.

Experiential, fun, supportive, and evidence-based, MOODment is designed to get teens moving (and to actually enjoy it!) and keep teens moving. It can help them to build a long-term exercise habit to boost their mental health and ability to cope with stress. Download the poster.

Soft Tissue Sarcoma Diagnosis Pathway

From Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario), the Soft Tissue Sarcoma Diagnosis Pathway is designed to support healthcare providers by providing an overview of the presentation, screening, and clinical work-up of a suspected sarcoma diagnosis within the Ontario cancer system. For more information, visit the OH website or contact oh-cco_ssoinfo@ontariohealth.ca.

Self-management programs for patients and providers

New Education Opportunities added

Check our our website for new education opportunities: https://lmprimarycare.ca/education-opportunities/. Includes new courses from Rainbow Health Ontario:

• 2SLBGTQ Emotional & Mental Health - live training explores how social stigma and discrimination can affect 2SLGBTQ people’s mental and emotional health.
• 2SLGBTQ Older Adults and Inclusive Care - a modular, self-directed online course as an introduction to providing clinically and culturally competent care to 2SLGBTQ seniors, elders, and older adults.
• Please see Rainbow Health Ontario’s (RHO) course catalogue for full descriptions and how to register.