News

Start of Influenza Season Declared in Ottawa

To: Ottawa Physicians & Nurse Practitioners
Date: January 8, 2025
From: Dr. Laura Bourns (Associate Medical Officer of Health)

Dear Colleagues: 

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is now declaring the start of the influenza season in Ottawa. The start to influenza season is declared when the percent of respiratory lab specimens positive for influenza (percent positivity) reaches 5% for two consecutive weeks. 

For the week ending December 28, the percent of respiratory lab specimens positive for influenza was 9...

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Very low risk of hepatitis A following food service establishment exposure

To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: December 17, 2024
From: Dr. Monir Taha, Associate Medical Officer of Health

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is alerting you to the possibility that patients may seek your assessment related to a potential exposure to hepatitis A. It is possible that patrons of Tim Hortons at 372 Hunt Club Road, Ottawa, between November 15 and December 8, 2024, may have been exposed to hepatitis A, though the risk is deemed very low.

OPH is not recommending hepatitis A...

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Public Health Ontario Report: Mycoplasma pneumoniae testing

To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: December 10, 2024
From: Dr. Laura Bourns, Associate Medical Officer of Health

In follow up to preliminary laboratory data released by Public Health Ontario (PHO) to public health units on Mycoplasma pneumoniae (shared in a Public Health Alert issued on November 18), PHO has published a report “Mycoplasma pneumoniae Testing at Public Health Ontario”.  This report summarizes Mycoplasma pneumoniae testing performed by Public Health Ontario (PHO) from...

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2025 Virtual Webinar Series: Rheumatology for Primary Care

Provider

University of Ottawa’s Office of Continuing Professional Development

The Webinar series clarifies the rheumatology referral process, provides information on community-based resources for arthritis care, and outlines when to order common rheumatology labs and how to interpret their results.  Incorporates participant questions (collected before each session) about patients in their practice in order to ensure each session is as relevant and useful to the audience as possible. The...

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Changes to CHEO Phlebotomy Services, New Form Required for Children with Specialized Needs

Starting December 1, 2024, CHEO’s blood work services are changing, with a new required exception form for some referrals. Below is an overview of the updated policy to guide you when referring patients to CHEO for blood work. 

Children under five years old 

• Children under five can be referred to CHEO for blood work with a standard requisition from a health care provider. 

Children five years and older with special medical requirements, accompanied by an exception...

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