LBD PCN April 2016 Newsletter
Monday, 4 April 2016
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LBD PCN April 2016 Newsletter
LBD PCN April 2016 Newsletter
Tuesday, 22 March 2016
Tuesday, 15 March 2016
March 16th is Dietitians Day!
Once a year, a special day is dedicated to all dietitians across Canada. It celebrates dietitians as health care professionals, committed to using their specialized knowledge and skills in food and nutrition to improve the health of Canadians.
March 16, 2016 marks the 7th anniversary of Dietitians Day. It spotlights the profession and reminds us that dietitians are the smart choice for advice on proper eating, good nutrition and healthy living.
The Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network salutes our registered dietitians, Andrea, Sally and Lori and would like to recognize the outstanding work they and other registered dietitians do for their patients and the community.
Happy Dietitians Day!
Andrea Shackel
LBD PCN Registered Dietitian
Sally Ho
LBD PCN Registered Dietitian
Lori Briggs
LBD PCN Manager, Chronic Disease
Registered Dietitian
March 16, 2016 marks the 7th anniversary of Dietitians Day. It spotlights the profession and reminds us that dietitians are the smart choice for advice on proper eating, good nutrition and healthy living.
The Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network salutes our registered dietitians, Andrea, Sally and Lori and would like to recognize the outstanding work they and other registered dietitians do for their patients and the community.
Happy Dietitians Day!
Andrea ShackelLBD PCN Registered Dietitian
Sally HoLBD PCN Registered Dietitian
LBD PCN Manager, Chronic Disease
Registered Dietitian
Monday, 7 March 2016
Cardiac patients offered support through local rehab program
Lack of access and inability to travel long distances is often cited as reasons why patients outside of city centres don’t follow up with much needed treatment. The Leduc Cardiac Rehabilitation Program was created to meet the growing need of local patients to receive quality care without having to travel into Edmonton. This program will help reduce fears about physical activity after a cardiac event and may improve quality of life. The program, which began seeing patients in 2013, was created through a partnership between the Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network (PCN) the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital and the Leduc Recreation Centre. The program has received over 190 referrals since the program began and 97% of patients who complete this program rate it as excellent or very good.
Cardiac rehabilitation (cardiac rehab) provides exercise, education and counselling designed to support recovery after a heart attack, other heart condition or procedure. This personalized program may help regain strength, prevent conditions from getting worse and reduces the risk of having heart problems in the future.
Who should attend cardiac rehab?
• A person who recently had a cardiac event or procedure such as a:
o Heart attack (Myocardial Infarction or MI)
o MI leading to stent
o Bypass
o Valve replacement or repair
• Adults over 18 years
• Must have a PCN family doctor
• Low to moderate risk factors
The benefits of cardiac rehab
Cardiac rehabilitation will help you regain your strength and independence, and overcome your anxieties and fears. You’ll learn how to make heart-healthy living a part of your life – for the rest of your life. And along the way, you’ll also meet a support group of professionals and people just like you dealing with the same challenges you face each day.
How does someone get referred to the program?
After the patient has had an event such as a heart attack, bypass, valve replacement or repair and upon discharge from a city hospital, the staff at the hospital will send a referral to the Leduc Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. Once received, a member of the Leduc Cardiac Rehabilitation Program will review the referral to ensure the patient is appropriate for our program. If they are deemed appropriate, a member of the program will contact the patient within 1-2 weeks to book an appointment for an initial assessment with the program physician and to start the program.
If our program is full, the patient will be given the option to wait for the next intake session or the referral can be sent back to the discharging hospital or to the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute in Edmonton.
The Leduc Cardiac Rehabilitation Program includes support from and access to these PCN healthcare professionals:
• Medical Doctor
• Exercise Specialist
• Registered Nurse
• Registered Dietitian
Leduc Cardiac Rehabilitation Team left to right:
Dr. Justin Balko
Corinne Cutler, PCN Exercise Specialist
Cherie deBoer, PCN Registered Nurse
Dr. Keith Barry
What happens during the initial assessment appointment?
Initial appointments typically happen at the Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network office in Leduc. Patients are greeted by a program team member and vital signs will be taken by either our Registered Nurse or Exercise Specialist. They will then have their waste circumference measured and grip strength assessed.
The patient will then see the program physician and undergo a complete physical. If the physician clears the patient to enter the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, they will be given an appointment time to move to the next step. Sometimes additional testing (stress test) may be required before the patient can move on and become a program participant.
What are the next steps?
Within 1 week, the program participants will join our healthcare team at the Leduc Recreation Centre (LRC) where all remaining appointments in the 8 week program will take place. Our staff will meet the participants in the lobby of the LRC and walk them upstairs to the education room. Information packages are handed out and the participants are told what to expect out of the program. There, each participant will undergo a medication, nutrition and activity assessment and together with the healthcare professionals, they will set goals such as managing stress, managing weight, decrease blood pressure and improve their emotional state. Each participant will do a 6 minute walk test while wearing a heart rate monitor. Based on all information gathered in this appointment, a program will be designed specifically for each participant.
Participants are provided guidance with appropriate exercise and they will attend heart health education classes at the LRC. A support person is welcome to attend these sessions with the patient as well.
After the 8 week program is over, all participants will be reassessed by the team and will be encouraged to continue the healthy lifestyle activities they learned in class and are introduced to the staff at the LRC for continued support with physical activity. After 6 months, all program participants will be seen again for a follow up assessment at that time. If continued 1-on-1 support is required, that will be given. If not, they are discharged from the program.
PATIENT TESTIMONIALS:
“Excellent program. Highly recommended.”
“I’m quite pleased with the topics covered and the concerns brought to my attention”
“So nice to do this in Leduc instead of Edmonton. Would be nice to have program 3 times per week (instead of once). Staff are awesome”
“Great staff, very friendly”
“The staff make you feel comfortable and safe”
Want to learn more?
If you think you would benefit from supervised exercise and heart health education please ask your LBD PCN family physician for a referral to the Leduc Cardiac Rehabilitation Program or call our office at 780-986-6624.
Printed in the Leduc Representative March 4, 2016
Cardiac rehabilitation (cardiac rehab) provides exercise, education and counselling designed to support recovery after a heart attack, other heart condition or procedure. This personalized program may help regain strength, prevent conditions from getting worse and reduces the risk of having heart problems in the future.
Who should attend cardiac rehab?
• A person who recently had a cardiac event or procedure such as a:
o Heart attack (Myocardial Infarction or MI)
o MI leading to stent
o Bypass
o Valve replacement or repair
• Adults over 18 years
• Must have a PCN family doctor
• Low to moderate risk factors
The benefits of cardiac rehab
Cardiac rehabilitation will help you regain your strength and independence, and overcome your anxieties and fears. You’ll learn how to make heart-healthy living a part of your life – for the rest of your life. And along the way, you’ll also meet a support group of professionals and people just like you dealing with the same challenges you face each day.
How does someone get referred to the program?
After the patient has had an event such as a heart attack, bypass, valve replacement or repair and upon discharge from a city hospital, the staff at the hospital will send a referral to the Leduc Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. Once received, a member of the Leduc Cardiac Rehabilitation Program will review the referral to ensure the patient is appropriate for our program. If they are deemed appropriate, a member of the program will contact the patient within 1-2 weeks to book an appointment for an initial assessment with the program physician and to start the program.
If our program is full, the patient will be given the option to wait for the next intake session or the referral can be sent back to the discharging hospital or to the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute in Edmonton.
The Leduc Cardiac Rehabilitation Program includes support from and access to these PCN healthcare professionals:
• Medical Doctor
• Exercise Specialist
• Registered Nurse
• Registered Dietitian
Leduc Cardiac Rehabilitation Team left to right:
Dr. Justin Balko
Corinne Cutler, PCN Exercise Specialist
Cherie deBoer, PCN Registered Nurse
Dr. Keith Barry
What happens during the initial assessment appointment?
Initial appointments typically happen at the Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network office in Leduc. Patients are greeted by a program team member and vital signs will be taken by either our Registered Nurse or Exercise Specialist. They will then have their waste circumference measured and grip strength assessed.
The patient will then see the program physician and undergo a complete physical. If the physician clears the patient to enter the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, they will be given an appointment time to move to the next step. Sometimes additional testing (stress test) may be required before the patient can move on and become a program participant.
What are the next steps?
Within 1 week, the program participants will join our healthcare team at the Leduc Recreation Centre (LRC) where all remaining appointments in the 8 week program will take place. Our staff will meet the participants in the lobby of the LRC and walk them upstairs to the education room. Information packages are handed out and the participants are told what to expect out of the program. There, each participant will undergo a medication, nutrition and activity assessment and together with the healthcare professionals, they will set goals such as managing stress, managing weight, decrease blood pressure and improve their emotional state. Each participant will do a 6 minute walk test while wearing a heart rate monitor. Based on all information gathered in this appointment, a program will be designed specifically for each participant.
Participants are provided guidance with appropriate exercise and they will attend heart health education classes at the LRC. A support person is welcome to attend these sessions with the patient as well.
After the 8 week program is over, all participants will be reassessed by the team and will be encouraged to continue the healthy lifestyle activities they learned in class and are introduced to the staff at the LRC for continued support with physical activity. After 6 months, all program participants will be seen again for a follow up assessment at that time. If continued 1-on-1 support is required, that will be given. If not, they are discharged from the program.
PATIENT TESTIMONIALS:
“Excellent program. Highly recommended.”
“I’m quite pleased with the topics covered and the concerns brought to my attention”
“So nice to do this in Leduc instead of Edmonton. Would be nice to have program 3 times per week (instead of once). Staff are awesome”
“Great staff, very friendly”
“The staff make you feel comfortable and safe”
Want to learn more?
If you think you would benefit from supervised exercise and heart health education please ask your LBD PCN family physician for a referral to the Leduc Cardiac Rehabilitation Program or call our office at 780-986-6624.
Monday, 29 February 2016
Unlocking the mystery behind type 2 diabetes
Unlocking the mystery behind type 2 diabetes
What is type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is a disease caused when the body does not make enough insulin or when the body does not use the insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone that helps control the amount of sugar (or glucose) in the body. In diabetes, this results in sugar building up in the blood instead of being used up as energy.
Think of insulin as the key that unlocks the cells doors to allow sugar in. When there are not enough keys, or, when the keys are not able to unlock the doors, some doors remain locked and the sugar stays outside.
Are you at risk for type 2 diabetes?
Anyone who is over the age of 40 should be tested for diabetes every 3 years.
Anyone with one or more of these risk factors below should be screened more often:
• If you are a member of a certain ethnic backgrounds :
o Aboriginal
o Asian
o South Asian
o African
o Hispanic
• Genetics – having immediate family members with diabetes
• Being overweight especially when the excess weight is around the tummy
• Giving birth to a baby over 9lbs or had gestational diabetes while pregnant
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Pre-diabetes
• Certain medical conditions (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea)
What are the signs and symptoms of diabetes?
• Extreme thirst
• Frequent urination
• Weight change (gain or loss)
• Extreme fatigue or lack of energy
• Blurred vision
• Frequent or recurring infections
• Cuts and bruises that are slow to heal
• Tingling or numbness in hands and feet
• Trouble getting or keeping an erection
You’ve been diagnosed with Diabetes. Now what?
Your family doctor may recommend you start a few lifestyle changes that could help to lower your blood sugar. These may include: increasing your level of physical activity, modifying your diet to include more fibre and less sugar, fat and salt, or starting medication.
Cherie deBoer is a Registered Nurse at the Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network.
The Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network has a has a team of healthcare professionals that help people living with various chronic conditions such as diabetes, pre-diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and other nutritional concerns. A smoking cessation program is also offered. Our team, which includes registered nurses, a registered psychologist and registered pharmacist, registered dietitians and an exercise specialist, works with patients to help them learn strategies to improve their ability to manage their health. You can access the team through a referral from your family doctor.
The PCN also offers workshops and classes that are free to the public, a referral is not needed. Check our website for upcoming classes that might interest you.
www.lbdpcn.com
What is type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is a disease caused when the body does not make enough insulin or when the body does not use the insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone that helps control the amount of sugar (or glucose) in the body. In diabetes, this results in sugar building up in the blood instead of being used up as energy.
Think of insulin as the key that unlocks the cells doors to allow sugar in. When there are not enough keys, or, when the keys are not able to unlock the doors, some doors remain locked and the sugar stays outside.
Are you at risk for type 2 diabetes?
Anyone who is over the age of 40 should be tested for diabetes every 3 years.
Anyone with one or more of these risk factors below should be screened more often:
• If you are a member of a certain ethnic backgrounds :
o Aboriginal
o Asian
o South Asian
o African
o Hispanic
• Genetics – having immediate family members with diabetes
• Being overweight especially when the excess weight is around the tummy
• Giving birth to a baby over 9lbs or had gestational diabetes while pregnant
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Pre-diabetes
• Certain medical conditions (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea)
What are the signs and symptoms of diabetes?
• Extreme thirst
• Frequent urination
• Weight change (gain or loss)
• Extreme fatigue or lack of energy
• Blurred vision
• Frequent or recurring infections
• Cuts and bruises that are slow to heal
• Tingling or numbness in hands and feet
• Trouble getting or keeping an erection
You’ve been diagnosed with Diabetes. Now what?
Your family doctor may recommend you start a few lifestyle changes that could help to lower your blood sugar. These may include: increasing your level of physical activity, modifying your diet to include more fibre and less sugar, fat and salt, or starting medication.
Cherie deBoer is a Registered Nurse at the Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network.
The Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network has a has a team of healthcare professionals that help people living with various chronic conditions such as diabetes, pre-diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and other nutritional concerns. A smoking cessation program is also offered. Our team, which includes registered nurses, a registered psychologist and registered pharmacist, registered dietitians and an exercise specialist, works with patients to help them learn strategies to improve their ability to manage their health. You can access the team through a referral from your family doctor.
The PCN also offers workshops and classes that are free to the public, a referral is not needed. Check our website for upcoming classes that might interest you.
www.lbdpcn.com
Friday, 19 February 2016
February is Heart Month - the PCN team is here to help you!
The PCN has a team of clinicians who assist those who want to start implementing lifestyle changes but are not sure where or how to start.
February is heart month and this may be a good time to review what your lifestyle is like and where you could possibly make some changes to avoid the onset of heart disease or to manage it if it already exists.
Some of the risk factors that can be changed or managed are:
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- High blood cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Being overweight
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Physical inactivity
- Smoking
- Stress
Changing even one of these risk factors will help to reduce the risk of heart disease. The SMILE team at the PCN, along with your family doctor, are two very reliable resources where you can get help to get started. The PCN clinicians are trained in specific areas of healthy living and can work with you on ways to get started and sustain these changes for life.
Visit our website at www.lbdpcn.com and click on the Programs and Services tab for more detailed information.
The PCN offers an Active Living class in April that will be taught by the Exercise Specialist. Get a fresh start to the spring and discover ways to increase your activity level and work through common barriers to getting started. A referral is not required; please call to register at 780-986-6624.
Also in the spring there is a new activity challenge starting up which anyone can take part in. Get Out Get Active (GOGA) can help improve your heart health with increased walking and activity and there are great prizes to be won while doing it. Refer to the website http://getoutgetactivepcn.com for details on the upcoming GOGA challenge. Get the whole family involved in making healthy lifestyle changes for improved heart health for all!!
Corinne Cutler is an Exercise Specialist and member of the SMILE healthcare team at the Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network.
See you PCN doctor today and discuss a referral to the SMILE team at the PCN.
February is heart month and this may be a good time to review what your lifestyle is like and where you could possibly make some changes to avoid the onset of heart disease or to manage it if it already exists.
Some of the risk factors that can be changed or managed are:
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- High blood cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Being overweight
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Physical inactivity
- Smoking
- Stress
Changing even one of these risk factors will help to reduce the risk of heart disease. The SMILE team at the PCN, along with your family doctor, are two very reliable resources where you can get help to get started. The PCN clinicians are trained in specific areas of healthy living and can work with you on ways to get started and sustain these changes for life.
Visit our website at www.lbdpcn.com and click on the Programs and Services tab for more detailed information.
The PCN offers an Active Living class in April that will be taught by the Exercise Specialist. Get a fresh start to the spring and discover ways to increase your activity level and work through common barriers to getting started. A referral is not required; please call to register at 780-986-6624.
Also in the spring there is a new activity challenge starting up which anyone can take part in. Get Out Get Active (GOGA) can help improve your heart health with increased walking and activity and there are great prizes to be won while doing it. Refer to the website http://getoutgetactivepcn.com for details on the upcoming GOGA challenge. Get the whole family involved in making healthy lifestyle changes for improved heart health for all!!
Corinne Cutler is an Exercise Specialist and member of the SMILE healthcare team at the Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network.
See you PCN doctor today and discuss a referral to the SMILE team at the PCN.
Tuesday, 16 February 2016
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