Archive for January, 2009

January 26, 2009 – Primary Health Care Services of Peterborough is pleased to announce that the pharmacy program for all five Family Health Teams is now fully staffed and underway in promoting new and unique initiatives to better service the needs of the greater Peterborough community.  Lead pharmacist, Lynda Chilibeck, and the pharmacist team have worked in collaboration with hospital and community pharmacists to respect all the pharmaceutical needs of the community. 

“Through Ministry of Health and Long Term Care resourcing 13 pharmacists will share just over one hundred hours per week in pharmacy support to meet the needs of the 127,000 patients of the five Family Health Teams here in Peterborough,” said Lynda Chilibeck, Lead Pharmacist.  “Pharmacists will work with their teams to assist patients with a variety of issues.  These include counseling recently hospitalized patients on medication changes, providing drug information and helping patients on multiple medications.  We have several specialized initiatives with the Family Health Teams as well including INR clinics and diabetic education.”

The entire Pharmacy Team includes:

Carolee Awde-Sadler                                          Helen Lovick

Michelle Cain                                                      Tino Montopoli

Lynda Chilibeck                                                  Pat Myall

Lyne Edington                                                    Laurie Phillips

Heba Elmedany                                                   Richard Ruston           

Mark Fatum                                                        Diane Schevers

Nermine Ibrahim

The pharmacists are involved in a number of initiatives to meet the needs of patients. 

 ·      An Anticoagulation program has been developed with the Peterborough Community Family Health Team, the Chemong Family Health Team and the Greater Peterborough Family Health Team.   Specially trained pharmacists certified in the management of anticoagulants use a finger prick blood test that provides immediate results to adjust dosages and provide directions for patients on how to take medication and when to return to the clinic. 

 ·      The Medical Centre Family Health Team and The Peterborough Clinic Family Health Team are conducting an initiative to support patients who have recently been discharged from hospital or referred to cardiology or dialysis.  The goal is to educate patients about their medications, checking medication dosages, reviewing changes, and updating their electronic medical record.  

·      A diabetes program is being piloted by the Greater Peterborough Family Health Team, which will be establishing a medical directive to adjust insulin, oral hypo-glycemics and provide support and education to patients by pharmacists that are Certified Diabetes Educators.

“Each initiative has been developed through in-depth consultation with the Family Health Teams to ensure that their various patient needs are best being met,” said Dr. Don Harterre, Physician Lead, Primary Health Care Services of Peterborough.  “Lynda Chilibeck and her team of pharmacists have done an outstanding job in identifying the needs of our community and creating programs that will address patient needs and support the physicians in providing excellent patient care.”  

The pharmacists can all be reached by contacting Primary Health Care Services of Peterborough at (705) 740-8020. 

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Friday, January 16, 2009 – Earlier this week the Peterborough Clinic Family Health Team was presented with a cheque for $755,624 in capital funding from the provincial government through Primary Health Care Services of Peterborough.  This capital funding allocation was provided to pay part of the costs associated with the inclusion of allied health professionals within the Peterborough Clinic Family Health Team located at 26 Hospital Drive.

“Primary Health Care Services of Peterborough, with the strong support of our physician community continues to provide Peterborough County and City with exceptional high quality and innovative healthcare,” said MPP Jeff Leal.  “The new Peterborough Clinic is an important part of our vision for servicing the residents of this area.   I know that the money announced here today from the Provincial Government for capital expenditures to assist with building the new clinic is money well spent.   I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Dr. Don Harterre and Bill Casey for their leadership both locally and provincially. The creation of this new space will facilitate the team approach to health care delivery by grouping professionals together for the convenience of their patients. I am very proud to say that Peterborough continues to be recognized as a leader in primary care reform in the province of Ontario, through collaborative efforts such as the new Peterborough Clinic.”

The Clinic’s new facility at 26 Hospital Drive offers expanded primary health care through the Family Health Team, allied health services and specialists care to residents of Peterborough City and County.  The Peterborough Clinic Family Health Team is currently comprised of 16 family physicians, 3 Nurse Practitioners, 1 dietitian, 1 social worker, 1 mental health professional, 4 RNs and a large amount of practice and administration staff that support the Family Health Team. 

“We are very grateful to the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care for their financial support and would also like to thank Primary Health Care Services of Peterborough for all of their hard work in making Family Health Teams a successful reality for our community,” said Dr. Rick Whatley, Physician Lead, The Peterborough Clinic Family Health Team.  “Our five Family Health Teams in Peterborough have together rostered 17,000 patients that previously did not have a family physician and we are all working diligently to provide greater access and the best patient care possible.”

In conjunction with the GPA EDC physician recruitment program The Clinic has been successful in recruiting three new family physicians who started their practices in the 2^nd half of 2008.  Another family physician is expected in Spring 2009.

Established in 1920, The Peterborough Clinic is the oldest continuously operating medical clinic in Canada.  The Clinic operates as a partnership with thirty-four physician partners and associates.  In addition to 16 family practitioners, the Clinic has specialists in cardiology, internal medicine, pediatrics, gastroenterology, general surgery, obstetrics and gynecology and ophthalmology.  In-house medical services include Day Clinic, Gamma-Dynacare medical laboratory, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Audiology, Orthotics, Cancer care products, Heart Testing, Ultrasound and X-ray.

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