March 01 2016 Category: General

 

Building Strong Patient Relationships

Family doctor Heather La Borde says panel work is strengthening her relationship with her patients. “My patients actually tell me they feel more cared for,” Dr. La Borde said. “I’m not only providing a service when patients turn up. I’m taking care of them in the background, doing a little bit every day, and they appreciate it.” Panel work starts with a doctor asking patients to identify who their primary family doctor is, and then generating a list of patients currently—a panel…

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February 18 2016 Category: General, Patient Stories

Supportive group setting offers healthy eating tips

February 16 2016 Category: General, Tips & Tricks

 

Add Flavour Without Fat: Soy Ginger Salmon Recipe

Good food can be easy to prepare. The key is finding healthy ways to creatively add flavour to your food—so you don’t get tired of eating the same foods over and over again. Garlic and onion are staples for adding flavour to food in many cultures, without adding salt or fat. Others you can try: Dry spices (curry, cumin, turmeric, oregano) Fresh spices (ginger) Fresh herbs (cilantro, Italian parsley, basil, dill) Juices (lemon juice, lime, orange juice) Chili flakes Pepper …

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January 13 2016 Category: General

Do you have a nutrition question? Ask a Dietitian!

January 08 2016 Category: General, Tips & Tricks

 

How to control emotional and binge eating

Did you ever return home from school feeling sad as a child, only to be given a cookie to cheer you up? Do you feel angry with yourself when you binge on junk food in front of the television, night after night? While hundreds of diets and fads tell us what to eat and when, few help us grasp why we make poor food choices and what emotions and habits drive us there. Craving Change™, a program designed by two Calgarians, is the first to answer these questions and give us tools to build a he…

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December 28 2015 Category: General

 

How toxic stress early in life harms the brain and future health

Day home mom Lindsay smiles warmly at the waiting three-year-old. "Did you want to ask a question, Jasper?" she asks. The mother-of-two, who also cares for four other small children, spends much of her day playing on the floor and thinking up fun activities to share. "They are so special," she says. 1.Early years affect how the brain is built New research shows that ages zero to six are even more crucial in the development of the human brain than first thought. Interactions during this stage…

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December 09 2015 Category: General, Tips & Tricks

 

Why pulses are good for you + Barley Salad Recipe

By Registered dietitian Andrea Kroeker I really like pulses, such as chickpeas, beans and lentils. They are an underrated food. In fact, if I could advertise the best foods out there, this would be one of them. 1.       Pulses are Healthy Pulses are rich in soluble fibre, which helps balance blood cholesterol levels and blood sugars, and they don’t need to taste bland to be healthy. 2.       Pulses are Inexpensive Pulses are also inexpensive and serve as a good meat alterna…

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November 27 2015 Category: General, Tips & Tricks

 

7 steps to eating well

A dietitian’s step-by-step guide to eating well It might be your favourite pair of jeans that suddenly feels tight or a gnawing awareness your energy levels are low. For each of us, realizing our eating habits are spiraling out of control can come in a myriad of ways. Calgary Foothills PCN registered dietitian Andrea Kroeker says these are perfect moments to take stock and review the basics of healthy eating. But first, a word of warning. “It is important to take things slowly and mak…

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November 05 2015 Category: General

 

How to Get Active-Prescription to Get Active

Active living is a pillar of healthy living. But simply knowing this mantra is not always enough to get people up and moving. That’s why the award-winning Prescription to Get Active program—a partnership between Calgary-area PCNs and recreation facilities—gives people free passes to fitness centres. The starting point Lyndsay Waymouth received her Prescription to Get Active in January 2015. She has become an inspiration for friends and family. She invites them on hikes; they join her for…

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October 25 2015 Category: General, Patient Stories

 

Find a Doctor service: Patient finds success

Olena Badham’s growing baby bump added a sense of urgency to her search for a family doctor. But thanks to a new website that connects Calgary-area residents with doctors who are taking patients, the 27-year-old found one just in time—two months before her due date. “I wanted a doctor really close to where I live so that when the baby is born I can get there quickly,” says Olena, a first-time mom-to-be. Searching for a family doctor She spent months searching for a regular family docto…

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October 13 2015 Category: General, Tips & Tricks

 

5 tips to survive morning sickness

CALGARY realtor Rachel Vanderveen’s children were a true labour of love. Despite crippling morning sickness that lasted well into her second trimester, the Calgary realtor endured four pregnancies in five years. “At the time, my whole life was consumed by feeling sick and there were times I thought I couldn’t face tomorrow,” she said. Like so many moms - including the Duchess of Cambridge - who are battling to get through the day in a fog of morning sickness, Vanderveen strug…

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October 07 2015 Category: Patient Stories

 

Health Teams offer patients ‘one-stop shop’

DR. Jaco Kruger’s first experience with health teams came when he moved to Alberta. Having worked in 3 countries without that in-clinic support, Dr. Kruger says health teams vastly improve patient care. “It is such an asset to how we can practice,” he says. “It really channels your treatment approach into an evidence-based practice and offers more comprehensive care.” 1. Health Teams = better health care Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network has 54 health team members, including cl…

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September 16 2015 Category: General, Patient Stories

 

How your doctor’s clinic is your ‘health home’

"(Patients) feel empowered and so much more aware of what is happening with their health because of the resources devoted to them." — Clinical Pharmacist Noorani Ramji TO say Robert Ward is happy with the care he receives at his health home—his doctor’s office in Capitol Hill—would be an understatement. In fact, the retired exhibition designer is thrilled with the changes he sees in the health system. “Identifying problems earlier and encouraging people to play a role in looking…

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August 15 2015 Category: General, Patient Stories

 

Find a Doctor in Calgary

WHEN Linda Sayers began her search for a family doctor, her son’s pediatrician recommended she register on the Find a Doctor website. “I’ve never really had a family doctor,” says Linda. “I’ve just gone to walk-in clinics. It (has been hard) to find a family doctor in this city, so I was thankful for the website. It was easy to find and registering didn’t take long." The Find a Doctor Website The Find a Doctor registry is an online service that connects residents of Cal…

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August 08 2015 Category: General, Patient Stories

 

Wellness role strives to educate, empower

FORMER Stampeder Fred James wanted to find out whether making lifestyle changes could help lower his cholesterol levels when they spiked last year. So family physician Dr. Lindsay Jantzie referred him to health management nurse Neelam Shah to discuss strategies that could make a significant difference. “I wanted to see if I could get my cholesterol levels down by consciously doing the things I needed to do—eating better and exercising,” Fred says. “I wasn’t ready to start taking [pre…

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