Public Health

Plattsville Natural Health Clinic is Re-opening!

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We are taking Chiropractic, Pedorthic and Naturopathic Appointments!

We are excited to announce that on Monday June 1, 2020 we will be reopening, and so we are booking appointments for our chiropractic, pedorthic and naturopathic services (massage is on hold for now)! The clinic and its operations will not look the same as it did before, and with that, we would like to update our patients and future patients on the systems we have in place in order to maximize everyone’s safety. 

What We Are Doing 

Hand Hygiene

  • Hand sanitizer is readily available throughout the clinic and included at Hand Sanitizing Stations. 
  • As per standard public health policies, all healthcare providers are required to wash their hands between patients, and so, we will continue to do so. 
  • The clinic will have signs posted regarding proper hand hygiene and proper use of masks. 
  • Signs will be posted encouraging individuals to wash their hands upon arrival to the clinic. 
  • Staff will be making it known to patients to wash their hands upon arrival .

Screening

  • A contact record will be kept daily on all individuals that enter the clinic – you are not required to participate in this, but we will be tracking who comes into the clinic for public health concerns.   
  • You will receive a reminder regarding your appointment, which will include screening for risk of COVID-19. 
  • When you arrive for your appointment, you will be screened for risk of COVID-19 as well. 
  • Each practitioner and staff member is screened prior to the start of each of their shifts.  

Social Distancing

  • You will receive a Phone Call or Text when you are safe to enter the clinic for your appointment.  
  • We will be attempting to group patient visits differently to limit your time at the clinic, and limit all practitioners being exposed to one another and their respective patients if possible.
  • A barrier has been installed at the front desk. 
  • If there is a need for you to wait in the waiting room, the seats have been spaced 6 feet apart. 
  • Patient appointments will be spaced apart to accommodate cleaning/disinfecting and to reduce cross traffic. 

Personal Protective Equipment

  • All practitioners will be wearing surgical/medical masks or face shields.
  • Masks are mandatory (unless the individual is 2 years or younger).
  • All practitioners are clothed in clinic specific attire which reduces what they are potentially bringing into the clinic in regards to pathogens.

Cleaning/Disinfecting 

  • The clinic will be cleaned and disinfected 3x per day and/or after each individual use (eg bathroom will be cleaned and disinfected after every individual use). 
  • Each treatment room will be cleaned and disinfected after every patient encounter. 

What We Need From You

  • Please be patient with us. We have never been through a pandemic, and are learning and adapting as we go. We are focused on your utmost safety. 
  • Please be respectful of the fact that we as practitioners are human and may feel it unsafe to treat you as we did in previous capacities and may choose to either not book appointments or revise old methods of treatment. 
  • Please wear a mask to your appointment. 
  • Please be honest with screening as it helps us to guarantee safety. 
  • If you are sick or do not feel well, please give us as much warning as you can and reschedule your appointment.

We want to thank you all again for your patience and encouragement, and we look forward to joining forces with you in achieving your health goals once again!

Corona Virus (COVID-19) and What You Need to Know

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Written by Dr. Elisha Cook ND

Many individuals are experiencing a high degree of panic over the recent COVID-19 outbreak. However, the risk for individuals in Oxford/Blandford Blenheim is low. Regardless, many individuals worry, and so, it is important to clear the air of any myths or misconceptions around the outbreak. We have provided below information that is available through the Public Health unit, but if you require more information about what exactly COVID-19 is, please refer to the following website: https://www.swpublichealth.ca/content/community-update-novel-coronavirus-covid-19.

For more updates on the COVID – 19 outbreak, please see: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html#a3

What is COVID-19, what are the symptoms, how is it spread, and what can I do to protect myself?

COVID-19 is a viral infection, similar to the common cold, which can cause such symptoms as cough, fever, and shortness of breath. In elderly individuals or those with immune compromised systems such as those with diabetes, respiratory diseases, cancer, etc., symptoms can progress to pneumonia, organ failure or possibly death IF symptoms are not addressed.

COVID-19 is spread through respiratory droplets in the form of a sneeze or a cough. With this being said, the best prevention is as follows:  

  • Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing with your inner elbow
  • Regularly washing your hands with soap and water
  • Avoid making contact with your nose, eyes and mouth unless you have washed your hands with soap and water
  • Stay at home if you are sick
  • Avoid long-term homes/facilities or coming in contact with immune – compromised individuals if you are sick

If you are healthy, wearing a mask does not help to reduce spread of COVID-19, but rather reduces the stock for health care providers and those that are ill.

What are we doing as a clinic?

At PNHC, we keep a high degree of cleanliness in order to protect our patients and the community. As health care providers, we are obligated to vigorously wash our hands or disinfect our hands any time we come in contact with our patients. We always have disinfectant and masks ready for any cases of individuals arriving at the clinic who may be sick with a virus, bacteria, etc. With this being said, we are taking extra precautions to disinfect surfaces on a more “regular” basis (several times per day) in order to maintain your protection and health.

We do ask that if you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 (recent onset of fever, cough, or difficulty breathing) or suspect that you may have it, that you give as much notice as possible with cancelling or rescheduling your appointment, and seek out testing.

With this in mind, the question remains, who should be tested for COVID-19? Public Health states that any individual with a recent onset of fever and/or cough or difficulty breathing and any of the following within the last 14 days prior to illness onset should be tested:

If you require testing, please contact our local public health unit or your medical doctor to facilitate proper testing.

Source: https://www.swpublichealth.ca/content/community-update-novel-coronavirus-covid-19

 

Vaccines: Are Naturopathic Doctors against them?

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Vaccine - a doctor giving vaccination girl, health, prevention

In wake of the recent debate regarding whether to vaccinate or not, many people would assume that Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) in general, being the glorified hippies and witch-doctors (please note the hint of sarcasm here) that they are, would be against vaccinations. I wrote this blog to clear the air on what stance Naturopathic Doctors might take on this debate (Please note that I have attempted to be as un-bias as possible in the writing of this article, but if my opinions have come through, please be aware that they are merely my opinions and do not reflect that Naturopathic profession as a whole).

Recently, the Dean of the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine released the following statement to all of the interns, including myself, that work at the Robert Schad Naturopathic Clinic:

“As many of you may have noted, there is considerable discussion in the media these days with respect to childhood vaccination. Given that childhood vaccination is discussed in a variety of areas in the curriculum, students may not feel as clear about our official curriculum position on vaccinations as they should be. Specifically, although all medical treatment should be administered in a manner that reflects the individual needs of the patient, CCNM is supportive of childhood vaccinations in general, including the recommended vaccination schedules. Interns are reminded that we have a policy on this in our Clinic Standards Manual 2014/15:

2.1 Vaccination is a population‐based strategy to protect a whole population or defined risk group or an individual against significant infectious diseases. In addition to vaccination, sanitation, hygiene, nutrition and lifestyle choices can also play a role in the prevention of contagious diseases as well as limiting their spread.

2.2 While it is recognized that vaccinations can be associated with self‐limiting (i.e., minor) adverse reactions, and even rare severe adverse reactions, the safety and benefits of vaccinations in reducing risks of diseases that were previously widely prevalent and caused substantial morbidity and mortality, are vastly superior to any other method currently available. Currently, no other strategies have been shown to offer equal protection to either the population or the individual.

2.3 It is the responsibility of the health‐care provider to report adverse effects to vaccinations and educate their patients. Health‐care providers at CCNM and CCNM teaching clinics should thoroughly review the most current version of the guidelines set out in the Canadian Immunization Guide which includes educational material as well as forms on how to report suspected or confirmed adverse reactions to vaccinations.

2.4 Some naturopathic doctors prescribe homeopathic remedies and/or other naturopathic treatments as alternatives to vaccinations.

2.5 The use of homeopathic remedies and/or other naturopathic treatments for the purposes described in 2.4 is not permitted at any of the CCNM teaching clinics.

2.6 The use of homeopathic remedies and/or other naturopathic treatments to provide immune support is acceptable.”

This statement may come as a surprise to most people, thinking that Naturopathic Doctors would be strongly opposed to vaccinations, because it’s a conventional means of treating. Naturopathic Doctors are not opposed to conventional medicine. As I tell many patients, there is a time and a place for antibiotics, surgery, and even, anti – depressants [gasp] to name a few. In the case of vaccines, they were created as a public health measure to protect against different diseases. That being said, some may be necessary and some may not be based on individual preference and opinion. It is the job of your health care provider to help you make an informed decision as to what you feel your family needs for their health. This is where informed consent comes in.

The bottom line to this discussion is simple: patient education and informed consent. Informed consent is at the heart of all medical procedures and needs to be obtained in all circumstances. Informed consent involves informing patients of all risks, benefits, complications, and alternatives to any medical endeavor. Unfortunately with the lack of time spent with health care providers, it can be challenging for parents to become completely informed as to what their options really are and the truth behind all of the research that exists in favour of or opposed to different procedures. The clear need that stands out in this debate of pro-vaccine versus anti – vaccine is that there needs to be more patient education in regards to their choices. One does not have to strictly get all the vaccines or no vaccines at all. You have a choice and you should feel empowered to choose what is best for your family and community. Informed decision making does not just involve vaccinations, but all other medical procedures as well. Naturopathic Doctors may have individual opinions on the issue, but the common thread that connects all is pro – informed-decision-making.

Have you benefitted from reading this blog? Know someone that would benefit as well? Share, Like, Comment, or Tweet this article, and let me know what you think.

Some of the information provided above may not be appropriate for everyone, please consult with your doctor before trying any of the above. If you are interested in Naturopathic Medicine and wanting a different approach to your health care needs, please book an appointment with Elisha Cook at the RSNC (416-498-9763), and let me help you achieve your health goals.