Counselling Mnemonic: Breaking the CHAIN of Transmission for COVID-19

Building on his experience with clinical encounters and to make charting in the EMR quicker and easier, Dr. Arnason has developed a bilingual mnemonic tool for healthcare providers counseling people who have just been diagnosed with COVID-19 and probable cases.

What is considered a probable case of COVID-19?

A person (who has had a laboratory test):

• with fever (over 38 degrees Celsius) or new onset of (or exacerbation of chronic) cough. AND
• who meets the COVID-19 exposure criteria and in whom a...

First Words Preschool Speech Language Program: Open and connected to families during COVID-19

Early intervention is an effective strategy to address developmental concerns as children build speech and language skills critical to their future success in school and later in life. As a primary care professional, you play a crucial role with families of young children when it comes to early identification, referrals and intervention.

The First Words Preschool Speech and Language Program offers education, assessment, and speech-language therapy for families with children under 5 years of age....

Physicians' Update LIVE! December 10th Broadcast for Physicians and Nurse Practitioners 

People living in long-term care (LTC) homes in Canada have been far more likely to die of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) than the rest of the population. In the 6th edition of Physicians’ Update LIVE!, guest speaker Dr. Benoît Robert shares why COVID-19 is such a serious problem in LTC and retirement homes, reviews what is being done to protect individuals living there, outlines what happens when there is an outbreak, and clarifies visitor requirements.

Dr. Robert attended the University of...

Blastomycosis cases, Ottawa, 2020, possible local exposures

To: Ottawa Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Emergency DepartmentsDate: November 23, 2020From: Dr. Monir Taha, Associate Medical Office of Health, Ottawa Public Health

In 2020 to this point in time, 4 cases of blastomycosis in Ottawa residents have been reported to Ottawa Public Health (OPH). Local exposure is likely in all 4 cases – in 3 cases it is supported by a lack of history of travel outside of the Ottawa/Gatineau area within the incubation period. OPH is writing to alert you that this...

UPDATE: 2020-2021 Universal Influenza Immunization Program (UIIP)

To: Flu vaccine providers; Travel Clinics; Walk-In Clinics; Family Medicine; Infectious Disease; Nurse Practioners; Pediatrics;From: Dr. Trevor Arnason, Associate Medical Officer of Health, Ottawa Public HealthDate: November 19, 2020

Dear Colleagues,

Thank you for your ongoing support in providing the influenza vaccine to your patients.

Ottawa Public Health is currently experiencing a reduction in our weekly vaccine deliveries from the Ministry of Health. We expect this reduction in supply to be...