FHTFACTS

An Ounce of Prevention
every year after the age of 50 Pap test every 13 years Mammography every 2 years after the age of 50 Yearly flu vaccine Tetanus update every ten years While a periodic health assessment is a great time to check in with your doctor, there are many things you can do in between visits to stay healthy. Regardless of your age, its never too late to improve your diet, become more active, and learn to manage stress or quit smoking. We know unhealthy habits take time to change, but it can be done! Its important to figure out what you are ready to change and set goals to improve the behaviours that can lead to a healthier lifestyle. Rest assured you dont have to do this alone. Your Family Health Team offers many services to support you which include: Nutrition counselling Healthy Diabetes Program Social-work services Smoking cessation counselling Community-care services Drug and alcohol information Mental Health Program Call today to make an appointment with any one of our health care providers. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
The Ottawa Hospital Academic Family Health Team

Spring 2012

How often should you see your doctor for a physical? Every year? Every other year? Depending on your current health and family history you may need to see your doctor more often than others. At your Family Health Team, we recommend adults between the ages of 18 and 50 see their doctor at least every two to four years for a periodic health assessment. This ensures that your doctor has a good understanding of your overall health. During this visit your doctor will discuss healthy living, update your immunizations and may do some of the following routine screening tests and procedures: Height every 3 years Weight at least every two years Blood pressure check at least every 2 years Vision screening every 2 years Blood tests for cholesterol at least every 5 years after age 35 Blood sugar screening every 23 years after age 45 Stool tests for hidden blood

inside this issue

Smoking Cessation Programs and services Invest in your health Patient corner 2 3 3 4

The Ottawa Hospital Academic Family Health Team

programs and services

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

Smoking Cessation at The Ottawa Hospital Academic Family Health Team

To quit smoking is not always easy but we can provide counseling and medications which can double or triple your success. Each time you visit your Family Health Team we will: Ask: have you used tobacco? Advise: you to stop! Act: to help you quit! Assist: you by offering free Nicotine Replacement Therapy Not ready to quit? It takes a lot of determination to quit and works best if you are 100% ready. But you really dont want to put off, waiting for the right time. When youre ready we will work with you to ensure you have a plan in place to help you deal with withdrawal, stress, and other concerns that you have.

programs and services

Medication Refill Requests

By Johanne Chantigny Nurse Practitioner It has been the policy of the Family Health Team to only renew medications in our office. It is important to see how your body responds to a medication before renewing it. In some cases blood work must be done to ensure the medication is doing its job and not making your illness worse because of possible side effects. If you are on medications for the management of a chronic disease like diabetes, we must see you for regular follow up to ensure the medication is at the best dose. Even the renewal of birth control must be done in your health care providers office. There are a few things you can do to ensure you always have enough medication: Book an appointment at least 23 weeks before your medication will finish. Write down the exact date of

your last refill on the calendar. Bring all of your medications to every doctors appointment for a review. Please note that your doctor will charge you a fee if a prescription needs to be renewed over the phone or by fax. We will plan with you to ensure you do not run out of your medication. However, should you run out, we will help you to book an appointment as soon as possible for renewal.

programs and services

March is Nutrition Month

Nutrition information has never been more accessible than right now. The Internet and social media is exploding with nutrition and food advice, but not all the information is credible; myths and misinformation are everywhere. This years Nutrition Month Campaign Get the Real Deal on Your Meal is dedicated to busting up popular food and

Get the real deal on your meal!

nutrition myths by bringing truths to Canadians from dietitians, the food and nutrition experts. For more information about Nutrition Month 2012, visit www.dietitians. ca/nutritionmonth. There you will find the truth behind 39 common food and nutrition myths, healthy recipes and more. If you have nutrition questions or want more support in healthy eating call your Family Health Team to book an appointment with one of our four outstanding dietitians!

Family Health Team Website

invest in your health

What is the single best thing we can do for our health?

Dr. Mike Evans answers the old question What is the single best thing we can do for our health? in a completely new way. Through an animated visual lecture, Dr. Evans shares with the world what hes learned has the biggest impact, the biggest difference to our health and quality of life. He shares what hes found works for so many different health problems like arthritis, dementia and Alzheimers, diabetes, anxiety, depression and fatigue. Do you want to know what it is? Check out Dr. Evans visual lecture on the single best thing we can do for our health. Its had over 2 million views and counting! http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=aUaInS6HIGo& feature=youtu.be Dr. Mike Evans is founder of the Health Design Lab at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, an Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of Toronto, and a staff physician at St. Michaels Hospital. Th O The Ottawa Hospital Academic H i lA d i Family Health Team is online! On our website you will find our hours of operations, calendar of events, programs and services, biographies for your health care providers and much more! VISIT US AT: English http://www.ottawahospital. on.ca/wps/portal/FHT French http://www.ottawahospital. on.ca/wps/portal/ESF

patient corner

How should I start solids?

Always offer solid foods after nursing. During the first nine months, solid food is meant to complement, not replace, breast milk. Sit baby in a high chair at the table and use the seat belt. Use a small spoon for infant cereal, not a bottle. Offer one new food at a time. Wait three to five days before you give another new food. Give one teaspoon or less of a new food on the first day. Gradually give more if your baby does not have a reaction. Start with watery, semisolid consistency. As your baby learns to eat and swallow, gradually use less liquid. Start with iron-rich foods like iron-fortified infant cereal, meats, beans, eggs and fish.

New Nutrition Recommendations

By Joanne Kurtz Registered Dietitian You no longer need to wait to introduce certain foods to your baby to prevent allergies. Parents and caregivers can introduce wheat, fish, shellfish, eggs (including egg white), soy, milk products, peanut products and tree nut products at six months of age. Waiting does

Introducing Solids to your Infant

not reduce the risk of an allergy. Wait only until your child is 12 months before offering honey because of a high risk of bacteria called botulism. Offer cows milk at 12 months, once your child is eating a variety of iron-rich foods to prevent low iron.

Is my child ready?
Your child is ready, when she can: sit up in a high chair, alone or with support hold her head up follow food with her eyes open her mouth wide when she sees food coming swallow semi-solid food

*If you have any questions about feeding your child, call your dietitian: 613-798-5555, ext. 19261.*