Growing up, bowel movements were not a taboo topic in my home. With five kids close in age, our dinner conversations unsurprisingly led to the most inappropriate topics. Still, we must have developed filters over time, as I hesitated recently before texting my mom, “Have you and Dad had a poop test lately?” The Canadian…
By Stephanie SchlaakExercise Specialist With February being National Heart Month, there is no better time to talk about how to keep your heart healthy and strong. This is important because taking care of your heart can help prevent heart disease, a condition where the heart is not working well. Heart disease affects 2.4 million Canadian…
By Amy RawlinsonRegistered Respiratory Therapist and Certified Respiratory Educator The National Non-Smoking Week is the perfect time to consider your next steps in becoming tobacco free. However, with so much information and products available, the quit process can be overwhelming. A good place to start is using a Practice Quit to help develop a long…
By Brittany Faux Clinical Improvement Facilitator Does it seem as if the receptionists at your doctor’s office are constantly asking for your details? The next time they ask, remember to thank them for doing a great job! Confirming patient information is one of the most fundamental steps a clinic can take to improve care. Did you…
When Jeff Symic discovered he had Type 2 diabetes, he also found out there was a team of health professionals to support him in his medical clinic. That concept of having all these services under one roof is known as a medical home, which helped Jeff take steps towards a healthier lifestyle. Jeff has been…
Hendrik Albarda discovered what Edmonton Southside Primary Care Network has to offer after his family doctor referred him to a healthy aging nurse. He explains that his doctor, Dr. Sheela Duia, at Nova Medical Clinic thought that the PCN could help him with his aging. Mary Whale, the healthy aging nurse, visited Hendrik in his…
by Kirsten Goddard, RRT, CRE, CTERespiratory/Tobacco Educator As a respiratory therapist at Edmonton Southside Primary Care Network, I often get asked to provide help regarding Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). CPAP is a treatment for a sleep disorder called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). The questions asked are not usually around the disorder itself but about the…
by Rhonda PhilipenkoHealthy Aging Nurse “Home” brings the hope of being taken care of. Your “medical home” offers the same hope. The people in your medical home are your family doctor, as well as the other healthcare workers in the clinic. The other healthcare workers may include a nurse, dietitian, social worker, respiratory therapist, or…
Moving for Memory taught Carole and Archie Landals how important the relationship is between physical health and brain health. The eight-week group workshop, offered by Edmonton Southside Primary Care Network, focuses on physical activity and steps towards a healthier brain. Carole discovered the class through her family doctor, Dr. Tarini Siva, at the Summers Medical…
by Brittany FauxHealthy Aging Social Worker In World War 2, my grandfather, David, served as a navigator for the Royal Canadian Air Force. In this role, he instructed the pilots where to fly their planes and which targets to strike. While he interpreted the maps, the pilots were able to direct all of their focus…