WestView Primary Care Network

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are on the rise in Alberta, making it a good time to talk about s*x – safe s*x, that is. 🍌🍌🍌

Using a condom every time you have s*x can help you reduce your chances of:

🦠 Getting or spreading an STI

🤰Pregnancy

Find tips for safe s*x and proper condom use at ➡️ https://bit.ly/3A8AHXM

*x

Fridays, 9 am to 1 PM, first-come first-served, our Youth Mental Health Clinic is offering a single session therapy for youth 11-17 experiencing a mental health breakdown or having difficulties with a specific issue such as ADHD, anxiety, and depression. The youth will work with a therapist to discuss concerns and explore possible solutions.

Parent/Caregiver consent is required.

If you or someone you know can benefit from this free service, please visit us at:
WestView Primary Care Network
Unit 205-505 Queen Street
Spruce Grove AB

This free service is offered in collaboration with .

Tri-Region Integrated Youth Services works collaboratively with partners in Education, Healthcare and Community to offer integrated supports and services for Youth Ages 11-24 (referral basis).

If you have any questions, please call us at 780-960-9533.
www.westviewpcn.ca/youth-mental-health

Happy Halloween from WestView PCN! 🎃

Make sure trick or treating is both a fun and safe activity for your little monsters with these safety tips:

👻 Choose bright costumes that are highly visible. Add reflective tape to further increase visibility.

👻 Consider using hypoallergenic makeup instead of masks that may impair breathing or vision.

👻 Be sure costumes are loose enough to be worn over warm clothing, but not so long they become a tripping hazard.

Partners for Safety vehicles will patrol communities on Halloween night to provide a visible safety resource for parents and trick-or-treaters. Have fun and stay safe!

Did you know? The WestView PCN has a new nutrition service. Registered dietitians are uniquely trained to advise on food and nutrition for the prevention and management of nutrition-related health concerns.

Our registered dietitians provide free individual nutrition assessments, counseling, support, and education for adults and children > 2 years old connected with a WestView Primary Care Network Physician or Nurse Practitioner.

Dietitians can help you:
- Prevent or manage chronic health conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure
- Manage digestive issues such as IBS, Crohn’s Disease, acid reflux and constipation
- Optimize nutrition across the lifespan, from childhood to older age
- Learn healthy eating skills like label reading, meal planning and grocery shopping on a budget
- Meet nutrition needs on a vegetarian or vegan diet
- Achieve individual health and lifestyle goals
- Build or restore a healthy relationship with food

In addition, our registered dietitians facilitate informative and interactive education sessions that provide adult patients with information, peer support, and practical nutrition and food-related skill development opportunities. Group education sessions are available in-person and virtually. Current education sessions being offered are: Meal Planning 101, Balancing Blood Sugar – A Guide to Living Well with Diabetes, Healthy Holiday Eating, Getting Started with Healthy Eating, Make it Mediterranean, Grocery Store Tour.

To book an individual appointment, please speak to your WestView PCN physician or primary care provider for a referral.

If you are a woman without a family physician or looking for a female physician with whom to discuss your s*xual and reproductive health, the Women's Health Clinic held weekly on Wednesday mornings in Spruce Grove may interest you.

Free and confidential services provided by a female Nurse Practitioner including:

- Complete physical exams focusing on health promotion and preventative health
- Menopause counseling
- Cervical screening (pap tests)
- Birth control counselling, education, and prescriptions
- Sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment
- Breast health

Please call (780) 960-9533 Option #4 to book your Wednesday morning appointment at the WestView Primary Care Network clinic.

Say BOO to the flu 👻

This Halloween don’t let the flu spook you! Protect yourself and your loved ones by getting your flu shot, it’s the best treat you can give yourself this season. 🍬

You can book an appointment to get yours a couple of ways:
1. Go online to the Alberta Vaccine Booking System
2. Call 811
3. Check with your local pharmacy, or ask your doctor's office!

Zia Medical & Women's Health Zia is focused on Full Spectrum Care: Women’s Health, Integrated Care, & Family Medicine.

Did you know? Our Youth Mental Health Clinic offers wrap-around, referral and walk-in, mental health services for youth (11-25) by a multidisciplinary team of Physicians, a Registered Social Worker, a Mental Health Therapist, Youth Therapists, and Community Connectors.

The referral option is for youth 11-25 and the walk-in for 11-17.

The main focus of the clinic is diagnosing and managing ADHD, anxiety, and depression. If you or someone you know could benefit from this free service, visit our website for more info: www.westviewpcn.ca/youth-mental-health

🍂 Fall brings beautiful colours, delicious pumpkin flavours … and the start of respiratory virus season 🤧

Immunizations are one of the best ways to protect both yourself and your community by preventing or reducing the severity of illness.

Flu shots are recommended for all Albertans over the age of 6 months, annually, during respiratory virus season. Some people are higher risk for serious illness from influenza, including people who are:
👉 Under age 5
👉 Over age 65
👉 Pregnant
👉 Living with health problems
👉 In care facilities
👉 Indigenous

Book your immunization by visiting https://bit.ly/3YkCd19 or by calling 811 if you do not have an Alberta Health Care number.

Job Opportunity - Nurse Practitioner - Indigenous Health (Paul First Nation) 🩺

As a Nurse Practitioner (NP) at Paul First Nation, you will play a critical role in providing high-quality, patient-centered care to individuals and families within the Paul First Nation community. You will work collaboratively with a team to deliver a wide range of services, including diagnosing and managing acute and chronic conditions, performing routine physical exams, drawing blood, and promoting health and wellness.

For more details, please visit our Indeed page: https://ca.indeed.com/job/nurse-practitioner-indigenous-health-paul-first-nation-a0d2625ac5a1af81

Please share! :)

Discover a wealth of support with our free workshops. 💻Topics range from mental health management to healthy eating tips to smoking cessation. We offer a wide array of in-person and online sessions, tailored to meet your needs!

Learn more and register at: https://bit.ly/3TsmOuH

November is Falls Prevention month and being active is one of the best ways to prevent falls.

Register now for the Virtual Trek across Alberta: trek.seniorsplace.ca

Obesity is a widespread issue and risk factor for multiple conditions. If you are looking for guidance, check out our free, online class.

A six-session series of interactive group nutrition classes aimed at improving overall nutrition knowledge, healthy eating habits and patterns, and developing key strategies to achieve and maintain one’s Best Weight. Patients are encouraged to attend all six sessions and can start during any week as the classes repeat every six sessions.

Upcoming dates:
November 5, 19 (6:30-8:00 PM)
December 3, 17 (6:30-8:00 PM)

To register or inquire about these classes, please call us at 780-960-9533 (Ext. 3).

Taking a moment to reflect on your mental health is important. Here are some questions to help you check in with yourself and how you’re feeling. 💙

It may be getting colder, but that doesn't mean you have to put your fitness routine on ice! 🧊 By making some simple adjustments or embracing more indoor activities, you can be active year-round:

👟 Walking is a great way to catch some rays and get fresh air, even in fall and winter. Simply check the forecast and bundle up accordingly. ❄️
👟 Catch up with a friend at a fitness class. Between yoga, spin, boxing and HIIT classes, there is no shortage of methods for breaking a sweat while being social!
👟 At-home workouts are a convenient, low-cost option for being active, especially when it's chilly. View three guided gentle fitness workouts you can do in the comfort of your own home: https://bit.ly/40anubt

Talk to your primary care provider for more advice about setting and achieving fitness goals, no matter the season!

🦠 It’s RSV Awareness Week 🦠

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) causes cold-like symptoms and while most cases are mild, it can be serious for:

👶 Infants
🧓 Older adults
🤝 People with weakened immune systems

If you have concerns about RSV, talk to your family doctor. You can also learn more about Vaccine eligibility for older adults here: ➡️ https://bit.ly/4eI2j51

It’s ok to not be ok. If you or a loved one needs support, it’s available:

- Call or text 211
- Mental Health Helpline: 1-877-303-2642
- Addiction Helpline: 1-866-332-2322
- Family Violence Info Line: 310-1818 (in more than 170 languages)
- Bullying Helpline: 310-1818 (in more than 170 languages)
- Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-387-5437 (in more than 170 languages)
- Income Support: 1-866-644-5135
- Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868

For in-person services, visit an Alberta Supports office near you: https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-supports

Whether your child is deciding between a superhero, an animal, or a princess costume this Halloween, be sure their costume is safe!

Try to avoid costumes that are too big or have long dangling pieces (capes, skirts, wings) that children can trip over, or that can catch fire easily if they are too close to candles.

If they wear a mask, make sure it allows them to see and breathe properly.

For more tips: https://ow.ly/QHJQ50Tvyog

Myth vs Fact: Flu Shot Edition!

Flu shots are now available. A common myth we hear is that you don’t need a flu shot every year. 🤔

Fact ✅ The flu virus is continually evolving, with different strains circulating every year. This means last year’s flu shot won’t protect you against this year’s flu.
Annual flu vaccines are specifically designed for the upcoming season’s expected flu strains, so it’s important to get vaccinated every year to stay protected. Share this information with a friend!

Alberta PCNs are here to support your health with a team-based approach. 💟 We work closely with healthcare professionals like doctors, nurses, mental health specialists, dietitians and social workers to ensure you receive comprehensive primary care.

Curious about how we can support your health? Visit our website to learn more:
www.westviewpcn.ca.

A cardiac arrest can strike anyone, anywhere, at any age, often without warning. It’s not the same as a heart attack, although both are medical emergencies.
⚡️Cardiac arrest is an "electrical" problem: the heart goes into an erratic rhythm, cannot pump blood and stops beating entirely.
💧A heart attack is a "plumbing" problem: the heart’s blood flow is slowed/ blocked, but the heart keeps beating.
If you see someone in cardiac arrest, don't wait for someone else to act. Call 9-1-1 or your local emergency response number, shout for an and start immediately.
Learn CPR today: https://bit.ly/48aXKNZ.

Here are our upcoming free health classes with upcoming dates in October and November. Registration is easy; call us at 780-960-9533 (Ext. 3). Sign up today or share with someone who might benefit from these topics:

Obesity Clinic Nutrition🍏
Nutrition Series🥕
Heart Health🫀
Moving on with Persistent Pain😣
Journey Through Grief🫂

More info and dates: https://www.westviewpcn.ca/healthy-living