Parkdale Family Practice

News & alerts

2012/10/26

FLU SHOT CLINICS:  Flu shot clinics will be starting on Wednesday, October 10, 2012.  These clinics will be held on Wednesday one week and then Tuesday the next week.  They will continue to alternate in this way.  (For example, the next clinic wll be on Tuesday, October 16, 2012.)  They will continue until December 2012, based on demand.  Please call the clinic to book you appointment for one of these clinics.

NEW PHONE HOURS: The phones will now be answered between 1:30 pm and 3:00 pm Monday to Thursday afternoons.  They will continue to be answered 8:00 am to 11:30 am Mondays to Fridays.

NEW PAYMENT RULES: Please be advised that payment for non-insured services is now accepted by cash, visa/mastercard or debit. I no longer accept personal cheques for these services.

NEW PAP SMEAR GUIDELINES:  The Ontario Cervical Screening Program (OCSP) has just released updated 2012 cervical cancer screening guidelines.  It is now recommended that pap smears be carried out on all sexually active women starting at age 21 and every 3 years thereafter if previous testing was normal.  Screening is not necessary after age 70 or in women who have had hysterectomies for non-cacnerous reasons.  As a means to promote & ensure that you receive your pap test, Cancer Care Ontario will now be contacting you with reminders for testing as well as results.  This will not replace results provided to you from this office.  Please read the OCSP Guideline PDF posted in the "health information" section of this website (bottom of page) or visit:   https://www.cancercare.on.ca/pcs/screening/?WT.mc_id=/screening

ELECTRONIC APPOINTMENT REMINDERS:  As of December 2011, you will no longer receive a phone call reminder of your upcoming annual visit. This will be replaced with an e-mail reminder for both regualr & annual appointments.  This is an outgoing e-mail account & is not monitored for any correspondance other than to inform you of your appointment.  Please ensure that you have provided a current e-mail address if you consent to notification in this manner,  to our administrative staff & advise us of ANY changes in data to enable us to reach you.  Unfortunately, if you do not have an e-mail account, we will not be able to remind you of appointments & you will have to track this yourself.  This system will decrease phone traffic making it easier for you to reach me with other matters as well as free up valuable staff time needed for patient care.  Please be advised that the "No Show" billing policy still is in effect & charges will be made in the event that you do not cancel your appointment.  

NEW VACCINES: PLEASE SEE THE UPDATED SCHEDULE FOR VACCINES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE "HEALTH INFORMATION" SECTION. Effective August, 2011 the province will be adding new vaccines to the publicly funded immunization program.  These will include vaccines for: Rotavirus (Rotarix). Chickenpox Booster, Combination measles, mumps, rubella & chickenpox (MMRV) & pertussis (whopping cough) (Boosterix). For detailed fact sheets on these vaccines visit: www.ontario.ca/vaccines.

OSTEOPOROSIS:  New recommendations for bone health have been released.   Help reduce your risk for broken bones (osteoporosis).  Make sure you are getting enough Calcium & Vitamin D in your diet.  New guidelines suggest for those over 50 years of age 1200 mg elemental Calcium & 2000 IU of Vitamin D is needed per day.  See how much various foods contain in the calcium document under the Health Information Section (scroll to bottom of page).  For more information visit osteoporosis Canada at www.osteoporosis.ca

ALLERGY SHOT PATIENTS:  In order to serve you better we request that you now book an appointment with the nurse for your allergy shots.  This will aid in delays  & crowding in our waiting room with those waiting the  required half hour after their shot.  Our staff will direct you in your booking times.  Please do not bring your children to these appointments as in the event of a reaction, we are unable to provide care for them while you are incapacitated.

BLOOD WORK: - I am encouraging patients to have all ordered blood work carried out at a branch of any Gamma Dynacare Laboratory. Results from this lab are received electronically which enables me to process them faster to provide better care to you. With electronic results, I am able to graph & store lab data in electronic tables to show to you which will hopefully help with tracking & enable you to participate & follow your own care.   To find a lab close to you visit: www.gdml.ca