Dr. Doug’s New Centre Peterborough Max Living Chiropractic Centre To Have Celebration September 19th

Dr. Doug’s Family Chiropractic Centre has been a household name in Peterborough for 18 years.

Owner Dr. Doug Lukinuk has made massive contributions to this community through his support of numerous local charities and events, and was instrumental in raising $250,000 that helped build the basketball park at Bethune and Hunter Streets.

Dr. Doug pictured with a client

On September 19th, Dr. Doug's centre will offically reopen its doors under its new name Peterborough Max Living Chiropractic Centre with a community celebration from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. It will include Mayor Bennett and other dignitaries doing a ribbon-cutting at 2 p.m.

They are opening with an extensive roster of new and expanded services. These new services transform the clinic into a multi-disciplinary centre to serve the entire community event better.

New services include wellness service, workshops and fitness classes. Dr. Doug’s vision to make Peterborough the “healthiest city in Canada” is now shared with and executed by many other professional practitioners and staff.

Dr. Doug and his team invite the community to join in the celebrations on September 19th. The clinic will be open for tours, demos and refreshments, and the first 50 people to register here receive a free gift.

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PRHC Opens Barrier-Free Downtown Clinic For Patients With Opioid And Alcohol Addictions

Peterborough Regional Heath Centre (PRHC) has opened the area’s first Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) clinic, which provides expedited, barrier-free treatment for patients who are addicted to alcohol or opioids.
 
The downtown clinic (159 King St., Suite 302) is staffed by PRHC physicians and registered nurses (RNs). No booked appointment or physician referral is necessary, although referrals from doctors, nurses, social workers, addiction counselors and community providers are welcome.

“Our Rapid Access Addiction Medicine clinic provides immediate access to lifesaving treatment by offering same-day counselling and addiction medication, and prescription therapies,” says Dr. Jim McGorman, an Emergency Department physician with PRHC who is now also treating patients at the new clinic.

“This care model has been shown to help save lives by engaging patients with both short- and long-term therapies as soon as they are ready to pursue those treatments," Dr. McGorman adds.

The Rapid Access Addiction Medicine model is designed to initiate therapy for opioid or alcohol addiction and then triage clients to the most appropriate ongoing care provider. It is not intended to replace or duplicate the care provided by a family physician or a treatment clinic. 
 
The RAAM clinic has been operating in its downtown location at 159 King St. Suite 302 (co-located with PARN) since March 5th. It is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

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Apsley Gets A New Doctor

When Dr. Wagdy Rayes retired in June 2017 after an amazing 40 year run as a family physician in Apsley, the township in Peterborough County was left without a doctor.

The long search for a new doctor has ended: Starting February 28th, Dr. Paul Hasson will join the Peterborough Family Health Team model of care, opening his practice in the North Kawartha Health Centre. The family doctor will be working part-time, on Wednesdays and Fridays, until he is able to transition to full-time.

"Since graduating from medicine at Dalhousie in 1991, my medical career has taken me down many paths. It is with equal pride that I am being accepted into the community of Apsley to open another exciting chapter in my medical career,” says Dr. Paul Hasson.

“I have been coming to the area for the past several years, enjoying the natural beauty and friendly people of the area. I have enjoyed the Paudash Snowmobile trails in the winter, and ATV trails and lakes in the summer. I look forward to serving the medical needs of the Apsley community for years to come, and hope that I can live up to Dr. Rayes distinguished service to the area."

Peterborough Family Health Team was prepared to launch a virtual care clinic as an interim solution that would provide care to unattached patients, but with Dr. Hasson joining the team, this initiative will no longer be moving forward.

To make an appointment or to have questions answered about getting Dr. Hasson as a doctor, residents can call the health centre at (705) 656-3330 or visit the North Kawartha Health Centre.

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Public Health Declares Community-Wide Influenza Outbreak for Local Area

On Thursday (January 4th), Medical Officer of Health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra declared a community-wide influenza outbreak in Peterborough due to a recent increase in the number of confirmed local cases.

“We now have influenza outbreaks at four long term care homes in our area, and have seen an increased number of patients presenting at the PRHC Emergency Department with influenza-like illness,” says Dr. Salvaterra. “We have been seeing an increase in influenza cases ever since the Christmas holiday began and now we have enough evidence to believe there is widespread transmission occurring.”

“There is no reason to believe that this year’s vaccine is not a strong match with circulating strains,” she adds.

Dr. Salvaterra notes that all of the long-term care homes in outbreak have instructed staff who did not get the flu shot to take antiviral medication:

“Antivirals can be effective as a second line treatment to prevent influenza spread when outbreaks occur or to treat an influenza infection, if used early," she says. "Hopefully, most caregivers have been immunized but if not, antivirals, masks and good hand washing can help protect those who are vulnerable.”

Most healthy individuals are able to weather the virus and will not require a visit to the doctor. For those who are feeling unwell, Dr. Salvaterra recommends that you stay home to avoid spreading the virus.

PEOPLE WHO ARE AT GREATER RISK

People with compromised immune systems, other chronic diseases, or even a healthy woman in her last trimester of pregnancy are at greater risk of hospitalization and death from influenza.

Anyone who has symptoms of influenza and risk factors for severe illness or complications should seek medical care as soon as possible.

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Apsley Residents Still Without A Family Physician In Town

When Dr. Wagdy Rayes retired in June after an amazing 40 years run as a family physician in Apsley (which has a population of about 2,300), the township in Peterborough County was left without a doctor.

Rayes had approximately 1,140 patients rostered to his practice, and many of those were left without a GP when he closed his practice at the Apsley Medical Centre on Burleigh Street.

The commitment was made to find the town a new GP as soon as possible—and that commitment remains, according to the Peterborough Family Healthy Team (PHFT).

A North Kawartha Hub clinic with a nurse practioner opened behind Dr. Rayes' old office for those who couldn't join an established family practice. When a new doctor is found, PFHT says this Nurse Practitioner hub will be integrated into this practice to provide all patients of Apsley with a wholesome practice.

But the Nurse Practitioner Hub can only provide care to patients that are enrolled with them as they are currently at full capacity, meaning PFHT is pursuing a temporary solution to support these folks who can't use the hub. They are exploring a telemedicine approach which still needs to be planned out before being implemented.

“It is Peterborough Family Health Team’s responsibility to ensure all residents of the City & Country of Peterborough have access to adequate primary healthcare services,” says Lori Richey, Executive Director for the PFHT. “We continue to search for a permanent family doctor to take over the primary care for patients, but in the meantime we need a solution. People cannot go without access to care.”

A telemedicine service would provide a virtual family doctor to patients in the community. This temporary clinic would also enroll patients and smoothly transition them over to a new family doctor once recruited and that practice is up and running.

In the meantime, those living in Apsley who require care can access it through the following means:

-> The Lakefield VON Nurse Practitioner Clinic: Open Wednesdays and Thursdays, and located at 150 Strickland Street in Lakefield. (Residents are encouraged to book an appointment by calling 705.651.4866.)

-> Peterborough Regional Health Centre: If you urgently require health care services, you are advised to go to your local hospital at 1 Hospital Drive in Peterborough.

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Peterborough Police Service On Mental Illness And Looking After Their Own

On Bell Let's Talk Day, Peterborough Police put out a powerful release about the importance of looking after the needs of their own. Read it below...

"The Peterborough Police Service supports Bell Let’s Talk Day and the fight to end stigma around mental illness.
 
For our Service, the wellness of all of our members, sworn and civilian, is crucial. The work of providing emergency service presents unique personal challenges that are not limited to operational staff.
 
We continue to seek opportunities that help our members cope with the rigors of their work and we have launched a variety of initiatives to ensure our employees are healthy both in mind and body.

These initiatives include an Employee and Family Assistance Plan that provides staff and their immediate family members with the ability to contact any registered psychologist, social worker or psychotherapist for confidential support and assistance.
 
In January of 2015, our Service implemented a Wellness Program for our members who are exposed to traumatic incidents on a more frequent basis. The mandatory aspect of this program removes stigma and ensures consistent check-ins.
 
In addition, five senior leaders completed a certificate course from Shepell and Queen’s University on 'Leading a Mentally Healthy Workplace' focusing on creating a healthy work environment and removing stigma.
 
Our Service recognizes that no one is immune to mental illness and we continue to build on the internal programs we have in place to ensure our members are properly supported."

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