Health Home,Sweet Home

Coaching to prevent chronic disease

Eating WellHow to balance your diet

Working together to strengthen the health of our communities

cfpcn.ca

WIN

GAMEPAIN the

Your Health is our focus WE PROUDLY OFFER THE FOLLOWING SERVICES AT OUR 11 CALGARY RCA DIAGNOSTICS LOCATIONS

X-ray

Mammography

Image-Guided Pain Therapy

Bone Densitometry

Ultrasound

Ultrasound-Guided Biopsy

Vascular Ultrasound Centre

Echocardiography

Nuclear Medicine Imaging

Myocardial Perfusion Imaging

Exercise Stress Testing

403.777.3000 or request an appointment on l ine www.radio logy.ca

OFFICIAL DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING PROVIDER OF THE

CK

MY

DOCKET#: 14-RCA-029 FILE NAME: RCA Diagnostics Ad FILE FORMAT: Illustrator CS6 CLIENT: RCA

FLAT SIZE: 7.25" × 4.75" FILE SIZE: 7.25" × 4.75" PROOF OUTPUT AT: 100% COLOURS: CMYKSCORE / DIE LINE: NO FILE PREPARED AT: 100%

PROOF#: 2 DATE: 03/14/14 STUDIOARTIST:

STUDIOMANAGER:

LANGUAGEREVIEW:

TIME: 2:40 PM CREATIVEDIRECTOR:Results.

Now.MRI and CT Exams - without the wait!

www.mayfairdiagnostics.com

OFFICIAL DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING PROVIDER OF THE

403.777.4MRI (4674)

CK

MY

DOCKET#: 14-RCA-029 FILE NAME: Connecting Care - HalfPage Ad FILE FORMAT: Illustrator CS6 CLIENT: RCA

FLAT SIZE: 7.25" × 4.75" FILE SIZE: 7.25" × 4.75" PROOF OUTPUT AT: 100% COLOURS: CMYKSCORE / DIE LINE: NO FILE PREPARED AT: 100%

PROOF#: 1 DATE: 03/07/14 STUDIOARTIST:

STUDIOMANAGER:

LANGUAGEREVIEW:

TIME: 2:00 PM CREATIVEDIRECTOR:

Health Home, Sweet HomeCoaching to prevent chronic disease

cover story

Eating WellHow to balance your diet

WINNINGTHE PAINGAME

VOLUME 6 • NO. 2 • 2014

3

6

10

5

8 New resource helps Calgarians find a doctor

9 Healthy eating Recipe: Soy ginger salmon

10 Face of a doctor On a mission to make lives better: Dr. Robert Burn

12 Programs and clinics

www.boehringer-ingelheim.com

Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network would like to thank Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. for their assistance in

printing this medical communication publication.

Team brings hope

Cover photo: Patient Jen walks with her boyfriend and dogs.

Primary Care Networks in Alberta are built to improve the access and delivery of primary health care in their communities. Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network is working with your doctor to provide you with quality primary health care in north Calgary and Cochrane.

For example, our after-hours Access 365 Clinic is there for your urgent after-hours needs and our behavioural health consultants are there to provide you with short-term mental health support, such as coping with loss. Our team of health care professionals is committed to making sure you are connected to the care that you need.

Enjoy this issue of Connecting Care, which highlights our ongoing commitment to excellence in patient care.

Sincerely,

Dr. Linda M. SlocombeMedical DirectorCalgary Foothills Primary Care Network

BackgroundCalgary Foothills Primary Care Network is a group of doctors who provide primary care services to patients living in north Calgary and Cochrane. Created in 2006, the PCN aims, through the leadership of family doctors, to provide enhanced access to integrated and comprehensive primary care, while engaging health teams in collaboration with the broader health care system.

What is primary care?Primary care involves the activities provided in the community that address the everyday health needs of individuals and their families through health promotion and the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness and injury.

Connecting Care is a PCN publication aimed at educating patients of member doctors about health issues and programs available to them and their families.

Editor Paula Beauchamp

Cover PhotographNeil Zeller Photography

Publisher Jim Thornton

Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network

500, 1716 - 16th Avenue NWCalgary, AB T2M 0L7

P 403.284.FPCN (3726)F 403.284.9518

communications@cfpcn.ca cfpcn.ca

Published for CFPCN byParagon Publishing Inc.

Calgary, AlbertaP 403.287.9818

ads@paragonpublish.comparagonpublish.com

Connecting Care Magazine is made available free of charge to the 350,000+ north Calgary and Cochrane patients of

392 PCN member physicians at more than 80 clinics in 54 communities.

The e-magazine version is available at cfpn.ca and by free subscription at connectingcare@paragonpublish.com

All rights reserved ©2014. Printed in Canada. Member of the Canadian

Federation of Independent Business.

Medical director’s message

Placeholder forwhite FSC logo.

Publisher is to insert.

2 CONNECTING CARE • WINTER 2014

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 after their own health is so helpful,” he says. “When

everything is going in the direction of self-checkouts and self-help, it is

wonderful to have a human being there to actually help you.”

The health team at Robert’s doctor’s clinic includes a behavioural

health consultant, health management nurse and clinical pharmacist.

Working together with doctors at the clinic, they regularly see patients

who need extra information and support.

Referral in-houseIn late 2013, Robert’s doctor, Cassandra Millar, referred him to

two members of the team after routine blood tests revealed he had

high sugar levels and high cholesterol. With the help of a health

management nurse and clinical pharmacist, Robert overhauled his

lifestyle habits, particularly around eating and exercise.

Together they set goals for change, aiming to prevent Robert’s issues

from developing into a chronic condition. Temptations such as apple

fritters, pastries and chocolate bars were identified, as well as a need

for more regular exercise.

Portion sizes and food quality were discussed — and the impact

changes could have on his body. “It’s like an athlete having their own

team of coaches,” Robert, 63, says. “I can do this for myself for a few

months, but then I start to fall off the wagon. Being accountable to

someone else helps.”

Robert, an avid guitar player, believes the knowledge he has gained

from in-depth conversations with his health team will dramatically

improve his future. Although he was physically active as a youngster,

Coaching to prevent chronic disease

Robert’s body was no longer processing food as effectively as it did

when he was 18. Built-in physical activity patterns were lost when he

retired. “I no longer had that big cardio workout from pedaling uphill

to get home.” Robert says his health team helped set him on a road to

mindful recovery.

Some 99.6 per cent of family physicians who are members of

the Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network have at least one health

team member in their clinic. The teams work to improve the delivery

of health care by increasing patient access to quality information

and care, improving patient outcomes. Team members may include

health management nurses, clinical pharmacists, behavioural health

consultants, registered dietitians, diabetes educators and respiratory

educators.

Aha momentsClinical pharmacist Noorani Ramji says patients often don’t know

what to expect because this is a new model of care. “Patients feel

reassured that we are all working together with their doctor,” she says.

“They feel empowered and so much more aware of what is happening

with their health because of the resources devoted to them. Sometimes

there is an aha moment or an epiphany.”

Robert now travels with a fold-up bike and exercises on a bouncer

that he keeps in his studio. He consciously chooses the food he eats

and feels positive about the future. “The bottom line is, maybe I’ll just

end up living longer and have more Saturday night jam sessions with

my buddies and continue to travel and go places with my wife,” he

says. “I certainly feel better.”

To find out more about your health team, please talk to your

family doctor.

HEALTH HOME, SWEET HOME

BY PAULA BEAUCHAMP

FUTURE FOCUSED: Patient Rob Ward believes he will live a healthier, longer life thanks to his health team.

Pho

to: P

aula

Bea

uch

amp

cfpcn.ca 3

WINNINGAGAINST

PAINTEAM

BRINGSHOPE

WATCHING Jen walk down the street, you’d never know she is bracing against the pain with each step. The 31-year-old says that is part of the problem. “I look good on the outside. It would be easy for someone to think I am faking it,” she says. “On the inside I can be crying with pain.

A NEW LIFE: Jen puts her best foot forward. Pho

to: N

eil Z

elle

r Ph

oto

gra

ph

y

4 CONNECTING CARE • WINTER 2014

Jen was 18 when she first experienced pain from endometriosis. In

years gone by, there have been times when the dark clouds of pain

hanging over Jen left her feeling down. By 26, the pain was having

such an impact on her life that she was ultimately forced to quit the job

she loved. “Pain wears on you day after day in a way you could never

understand if you haven’t experienced it,” she says.

In 2011, Jen’s family doctor Dennis Hayes began working with her at

his clinic and those feelings started to lift. He later referred Jennifer to

the Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network’s Extended Team. “I honestly

can’t tell you what a difference they have made to my life,” Jen says.

The Extended Team offers care to patients who suffer from complex,

long-term (chronic) conditions including chronic pain, irritable bowel

syndrome and mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety.

“Just having someone I can call or turn to when I’m down and think I’ll

never get out of the pain — and at the end of the line there’s someone

so warm and open and willing to listen,” she says. “I owe them so

much more than I can say.”

While many patients are referred to the Extended Team for

assessment or treatment of a single condition, added complexity and

other issues can be uncovered. The health team, which includes a range

of health professionals such as health management nurses, pharmacists

and doctors, takes a holistic approach to each patient’s needs.

Reducing painJen's first step towards recovery was a class on understanding pain

— learning how the brain and the nervous system work together to

produce our emotional and physical experience of pain. She joined

pacing classes, which taught her to intersperse the activities she needs

to do each day with periods of rest that help reduce pain flare-ups. Jen

also learned about breathing, meditation and yoga and how distracting

herself can help reduce the pain.

Over time clinical pharmacist Joe Kwan helped Jen, who was taking

pharmaceutical drugs to cope with the pain, to slowly reduce her

dosage. At the same time, they worked to minimize the effects of

withdrawal, such as cold sweats and mood swings. “The challenge is to

help patients develop other coping tools so they can rely on those tools

to deal with the pain when the narcotics are removed,” Joe says. “It

can involve working to improve mental health and providing supports in

their social environment that increase the ability to function.”

Medication can reduce pain by up to 10 per cent. But opioids are

no longer recommended in the treatment of chronic pain that is not

caused by cancer. Research now shows it is best to get support, get

active, get a recovery plan and get started.

Extended Team medical lead Dr. June Bergman says patients can

develop a different world view because of something that happened

as they first experienced chronic pain — often as a result of adverse

events in early life. “We try to help patients shift that world view that

is no longer working for them,” she says. “We help them explore new

ways of being. Once we have that shift and that buy-in, we can try

something totally different.”

On this journey to better manage her chronic pain, the team helped

Jen deal with her mental health issues that were making her pain worse.

Jen now understands that a difficult childhood prevented her from

developing some of the life skills she needed. “I couldn't communicate

before, even express that I was angry or discuss things,” she says. “The

mental health team talked to me and I learned so much — steps on

how to get angry, how to communicate. You don't know you are

missing these steps until someone points them out. I learned I don't

have to put a smile on my face all of the time and it’s okay to cry

sometimes.”

A team approachJen says she feels more whole as a person thanks to the help of Dr.

Bergman, behavioural health consultant Deborah McDougall, shared

mental health consultant Jean Leong and the rest of the team. Jen is

also more ready to accept help, such as efforts to bring specialists to the

Extended Team's Crowfoot clinic, where Jen felt more comfortable.

Jen's partner is also surprised how extensively the team has included

him in every step in her care. “I've been to a lot of the appointments.

I'm always invited,” he says. “They explain what is happening for Jen,

and that's good, because I really didn't know how bad it was. I don't

pressure her to go out and do something if she says she isn't feeling

well, because I understand now.”

The couple has grown closer through shared understanding. “Just the

fact that she is up and doing stuff is enough for me,” he says. “Before

Jen was taking the pain killers just to get through the day, but she'd be

knocked out and couldn't go anywhere because she was sleeping all

the time. I find she laughs more like she used to.”

While Jen still feels moderate pain throughout the day and occasional

bouts of intense pain, she feels better able to manage and is happier.

She is looking forward to further treatments, to feeling even better in

the future and getting back to the work she loves. “I know there is

hope now and I am looking forward with hope,” she says. “That's a

good place to be.”

“Just having someone I can call or turn to when I’m down and think I’ll never get out of the pain — and at the end of the line there’s someone so warm and open and willing to listen.”

cfpcn.ca 5

"A largerplate is a visual

cue to fill it up and then portion sizes

and calorie intake rise"

dinner plates are 10 to 12 inches in diameter, but it is easier to achieve

a healthy balanced plate if you replace them with 8 to 9 inch plates.

Remember those small plates that come with your dinner set? Those

may be closer to the size you need. “A larger plate is a visual cue to fill it

up and then portion sizes and calorie intake rise,” Andrea says.

The best way to ensure a good balance is to fill half of

your plate with vegetables of at least two kinds at

both lunch and dinner. Fill a quarter of your

plate with whole grains (potato, whole

wheat bread, brown rice) and the

remaining quarter with meat or meat

alternatives (lean meat, chicken

or lentils). Because vegetables

are low in calories — 1 cup of

broccoli yields only 31 calories

— they give you a big boost of

fibre, antioxidants, vitamins and

minerals, while keeping your

calorie intake down.

Andrea recommends you round

lunch and dinner off with a piece

of fruit and milk or a milk alternative,

such as yogurt. Or save the milk and

fruit for a snack in-between meals. The

aim is to eat three to four food groups —

vegetables and fruit, grain products, meat and

alternatives and milk and alternatives — at each

meal.

Eating too much meat, meat alternatives and grain products and

eating too few vegetables are the most common meal-time mistakes

that lead to unwanted weight gain, Andrea says. The Handy Portion

guide below illustrates an easy way to estimate healthy portion sizes.

“People most often struggle to accept the smaller portion sizes and the

need to add way more fruit and vegetables,” Andrea says. “But if you

A dietitian’s step-by-step guide to eating wellIT might be your favourite pair of jeans that suddenly feels tight or

a gnawing awareness your energy levels are low. For each of us, the

realization that our eating habits are spiraling out of control can come in

a myriad of ways.

Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network 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

make small changes that gradually

move you in the right direction,”

Andrea says. “Small behaviour

change, rather than a diet or

radical action, helps you sustain a

healthy weight longer term.”

Get started withregular meals

Eating at least three well-spaced

meals a day is essential before you

can start worrying about portion

sizes or anything else. “It is ideal to

eat three meals a day with one to two

snacks in between if needed,” Andrea says.

“Regular meals help you control the size of

your portions and prevent overeating at your next

meal,” she says. Spacing meals a maximum of four to six

hours apart also helps you avoid dips in energy and the sluggish feeling

low blood sugars bring.

A healthy, balanced lunch and dinner plateOnce you are eating regular meals, it is time to take a good hard

look at your plate. Actually, take out your tape measure. Average

EatingWell

How to balance your diet

By Paula Beauchamp

6 CONNECTING CARE • WINTER 2014

calgarycoop.com/pharmacy

Thinking About Quitting Smoking?We can help you.

Our trained tobacco reduction pharmacists can help you quit or reduce the

number of cigarettes you smoke.

We work with you to develop a plan that works!

Get started today. No appointment necessary.

are eating a 9-ounce steak each night, don’t

suddenly switch it for a 3-ounce steak. Aim to

reduce the portion size gradually.”

A healthy breakfast and snacksWhat does a healthy, balanced breakfast

look like? A bowl of high fibre, low sugar cereal

with low-fat milk and fruit or two pieces of

whole grain toast with peanut butter and a

banana are great examples. Ideas for breakfast

include a quarter of a plate of grain products,

vegetables or fruit. For protein, add milk or

milk alternatives, yogurt, eggs, nut butters or

a serving of meat and alternatives. For snacks,

Andrea’s favourites include a cheese string with

an apple or yogurt and berries.

Take it slowlyTry to eat slowly. Take 20 minutes to eat each

meal so you have time to realize your stomach

is full. Eat protein and whole grains at each

meal to help your stomach feel full for longer.

“People are often surprised they don’t feel

hungry when they eat healthy, nutritious food,

when the portion sizes are smaller and they are

eating more frequently,” Andrea says.

To learn more about healthy eating, register

for a free Ask a Dietitian group appointment

by calling 403-284-3726 ext 206. You can ask

personal nutrition questions and book a one-on-

one follow-up appointment with a dietitian.

HANDY PORTION GUIDE: Canadian Diabetes AssociationYou can use your hands to estimate appropriate portions. When planning a meal, use the

following portion sizes as a guide:

ADD MORE VEGETABLES: Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network registered dietitian Kari Derbyshire discusses the keys to a healthy, balanced plate with patient John-David Malta.

cfpcn.ca 7

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’s 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 registry is an online

service that connects residents of Calgary and

surrounding areas to a family doctor who is

accepting new patients.

Two months after completing the form

online, Linda was contacted by the Calgary

Foothills Primary Care Network and connected

with Dr. Branden Reid at the Foothills Primary

Care Centre.

“I was happy. I didn’t expect it to be that

quick,” she said.

“Dr. Reid is very thorough and on top of

things. He helped my family out a lot in a

short amount of time.”

Dr. Reid, who moved from Edmonton to

Calgary this year, says his roster of patients is

already close to full thanks in large part to the

website after 9 months.

“Many of my patients didn’t have a family

doctor before and they are very appreciative,”

he says.

“The site works very well and I am very

thankful.”

The Find a Doctor website was first

launched by the Calgary Foothills Primary

Care Network in 2009 to help people living in

north Calgary and Cochrane find a physician.

In 2011, it expanded to include people

and physicians throughout Calgary and

surrounding areas and before this past holiday

season, new features were added.

While people can still use the online

registration form as Linda did, would-be

patients can also take a more active role in

their search for a physician.

One of the new features, a map, lists all

Calgary and area physicians who are members

of a Primary Care Network. It highlights those

who are accepting new patients and provides

contact information.

While Linda was happy to wait two months

to be linked with Dr. Reid, the new resource

gives people the option of finding a physician

more quickly.

Those who register online can expect to

wait as little as a few weeks, or as long as

a few months, to hear back from a Primary

Care Network with an available physician’s

details.

Last year, 4,370 patients found a doctor at

Calgary Foothills PCN, one of seven PCNs in

the area, through the website.

Dr Linda Slocombe, medical director with

the Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network,

urges people who do not have a family doctor

to register.

Research shows having a family doctor

and seeing him or her regularly keeps you

healthier as you age, helps you live longer

and can aid in catching illnesses before they

become serious.

If you need a family doctor, please go to

www.calgaryareadocs.com

NEW RESOURCE HELPS CALGARIANS FIND A FAMILY DOCTOR

“It’s 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.”

LINKED-IN: Patient Linda Sayers is enjoying continuity of care with her new doctor, Branden Reid.

By Kelly Parks

Pho

to: N

eil Z

elle

r Ph

oto

gra

ph

y

8 CONNECTING CARE • WINTER 2014

Ingredients2 lbs salmon fillets

Marinade:2 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp sesame oil

1 tbsp soy sauce

3 tbsp balsamic vinegar

1 tbsp brown sugar

2 cloves garlic crushed

1.5 tbsp grated ginger

Dash of pepper

SOY GINGER SALMON

DirectionsWhisk together all marinade ingredients and pour it into a large freezer bag. Add salmon fillets. Allow to sit

for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400 F.

Arrange salmon fillets in a large baking dish, skin side down, and pour over marinade.

Bake time depends on salmon fillet thickness — about 10 minutes per inch or until the salmon flakes with a

fork.

Remove from oven and garnish with green onion. Serve with brown rice and sautéed or steamed vegetables

for a complete, balanced meal.

Tip: Try this recipe on the barbeque in the summer as well!

Recipe by Kari Derbyshire and Andrea Kroeker

Calgary Foothills PCN registered dietitians

Healthy Eating

cfpcn.ca 9

Andrea Kroeker, a registered dietitian with the Calgary

Foothills Primary Care Network, talks about flavour

ADD FLAVOUR WITHOUT FAT

Great news: good food can be easy to prepare. The key is finding healthy ways to creatively add flavour to the food you eat — 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

Add dry spices such as curry to soups and fresh herbs to salads or other dishes.

Heart healthy oils, such as canola and olive, are great choices for cooking. Try adding other flavourful oils such as the sesame oil used in this soy ginger salmon recipe.

The ginger and green onions used here give the fish a wonderful south Asian flavor. Enjoy!

6

5

4

3

2

1

Why did you become a family doctor?

At school I loved biological science. It was the thing I was good at. I

was fascinated by spiders, dissecting worms. When I was introduced

to Darwin’s Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection I was bowled

over by the beauty of it. It led me to decide that medical science was

the thing I wanted to do. My dad was an ophthalmic surgeon, so I

chose to specialize in surgery at first. But after 10 years, I was aware I

was missing out on the human side of people’s illnesses. I decided to

retrain. I spent three years training to become a family doctor, while

at the same time earning a living as a surgeon. Not many people

choose that path!

What do you enjoy most about being a family doctor?

I like being able to fix people. When you have a patient who is

worried about something, it is satisfying to figure out what is wrong

and to make it better, so they can go away with that worry lifted. It

is ideal if you can fix a person’s medical problem and make a good

connection as well.

What is the fun part of the job?

It’s the babies. I love babies. Seeing a healthy baby and watching that

person grow up is a delight. We’ve had lots of babies born in our

practice in recent years, mostly at Riley Park.

What is the most challenging part of being a family doctor?

It is trying to help people whose anxieties present as physical

symptoms. It is often difficult to reassure them that they don’t have a

physical disease. It can be a challenge to help these patients redirect

their energies towards dealing with their anxieties.

What do you do to unwind?

Gardening. In the summer, my wife (also a family doctor) and I grow

strawberries, raspberries, tomatoes and flowers and try to turn our

garden into a little oasis. In the winter, it is renovating the basement.

It is relaxing because I’m using my hands, but I don’t use power

tools. All the nasty injuries we see (related to handy work) are from

amateurs using power tools. I also read a lot and listen to classical

music. Outside my family, sailing is my passion. During summer

holidays (over the past 19 years), I’ve sailed my boat down to Mexico

and across to Tahiti.

What are you looking forward to in your retirement?

My daughter is having a baby and I’m looking forward to being

a grandfather. We also plan to enjoy winters in Mexico. We have

a small house in a fishing village there where we grow papayas,

mangoes and bananas.

Dr. Imrana Muhammad has taken over the care of Dr. Burn’s patients.

10 CONNECTING CARE • WINTER 2014

ON A MISSION TO MAKE LIVES BETTER

Dr. Robert BurnsFROM surgical wards in England to famine-ravaged Ethiopia in the 1970s and a rural doctor’s practice in Hinton, Alberta, Dr. Robert Burns has enjoyed a varied life as a family doctor. For more than 19 years, he was a family doctor to patients at The Doctors Office in Nose Hill, Ranchlands. He retired in late 2014.

SANCTUARY: Dr. Burn loves gardening — it’s his favourite place to relax.

Pho

to: N

eil Z

elle

r Ph

oto

gra

ph

y

Face of a Doctor

cfpcn.ca 11

After Hours Clinic The Access 365 Clinic runs year-round. It offers after-hours appointments for non-emergency medical care. Access the clinic by calling Health Link Alberta at 403-943-5465.

Riley Park Maternity ClinicCare is available to low-risk pregnant women who do not have a family doctor or by referral from a family doctor. Patients must plan to deliver at Foothills Medical Centre.

Ask A DietitianMeet with a registered dietitian in a small group to learn nutrition basics such as Canada’s Food Guide, how to read labels and more.

Craving ChangeMost people know what they should eat, but struggle to control what they actually do eat. This series of four classes covers the relationship between food-related thoughts, emotions and behaviours, and offers empowering strategies to support change.

Happiness BasicsThis series of seven classes is for adults who want to learn how to be happier. Participants learn and practice simple, positive and empowering skills. Not suitable for anyone with severe depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts or in crisis.

Walking Programs Join a peer-lead walking group weekday mornings in North Hill Mall or at Confederation Park in the summer. For Cochrane walking groups located at Mitford Park, call 403-851-2534.

TrymGymThis eight-week program offered by University of Calgary teaches participants to lose weight safely and keep unwanted pounds off for good. Bi-weekly classes include exercise, nutrition education and behaviour change strategies. Calgary Foothills PCN patients receive a $200 discount; call 403-220-4374.

Tobacco CessationThis four-week group program is for patients who smoke and are considering quitting. Ask your doctor for a referral.

Find A Doctor websiteNeed a family doctor?Register at www.calgaryareadocs.com or call Health Link Alberta at 403-943-5465.

Extended TeamThe Extended Team provides care for patients with complex, chronic diseases who are referred by member physicians. Areas of experience include chronic pain, mental health, gastrointestinal and medical musculoskeletal conditions. Help is also available for older adults.

Clinics and Services

ProgramsPatients of Calgary Foothills PCN member doctors can register for the following free programs by calling 587-774-9736.

Calgary Foothills PCN

Programs & Clinics

12 CONNECTING CARE • WINTER 2014

ABC 83202 Calgary CONNECTING CARE - FULL COLOUR - Full Back page - 7.25”x9.75” RUN JANUARY 2015

www.ab.bluecross.ca

ABC

832

02 2

014/

10

If you’re without employer-sponsored health benefits, contact us today for your

free information package. Calgary 403-294-4032

Toll-free 1-800-394-1965

The protection your family needs, the peace of mind you deserve.

standard benefits prescription drugs • dental extended health benefits vision care • ambulance

new benefitstravel • massage • naturopathy

acupuncture • hospital cash and much moreBlue Choice

includes

If you’re age 65 or over, ask us about our

affordable Seniors Plus

plans.

Our staff is certified to provide consultations and professional fittings.

Post Surgical NeedsCompression Garments

Drain Containment Camisoles

Lymphedema SupportSleevesGloves

Donning AidsMedical Compression Stockings

Mastectomy Needs Breast Forms

Sports Solutions

Sports Injury RecoveryCompression Garments

Braces (ankle, knee, etc.)Hernia Supports

Air Casts

Alberta Aids to Daily Living vendor

Two Calgary locations to serve you.9309 Macleod Trail SW 403-252-22664938 Richmond Road SW 403-299-4488

calgarycoop.com/home_health

Products and exceptional service for better health and healing.