November

Integrated care—the seamless support of patients across multiple health care providers—is a model aspired to throughout North America. Here in BC, pioneering partnerships between local Divisions of Family Practice and the Shared Care Committee are making successful strides in this area. 

References

I was in the gym the other day and ran into a piano teacher who remembered me from a few years ago when I took part in a recital at her home. These recitals took place twice a year and were a source of anxiety for me, as I have always had difficulty performing in public. At the recitals, we all had to play one of our own compositions. Composing is a daunting task, and playing in front of an audience even more so, but I eventually came to approach these performances with less trepidation and actually began to enjoy them.

Would you like fries with that?” It’s hard to ignore the voice inside my head. I filter about 99% of what it says (which I am sure is surprising to those who know me well), but sometimes things slip out. By the way, just in case you are wondering, the above is not an appropriate response to a patient’s litany of complaints. Neither is, “Why don’t you just shut up?” or, “Would you like some cheese to go with that whine?” 

Sometimes the things I let slip can go over well… with the right patient. For example, “Bob, have you noticed that we have an unequal relationship?”

Promoting healthy eating practices is key to reducing the risk and the incidence of chronic disease. Patients today are inundated with nutrition information, but unfortunately much of it is not medically sound. Physicians have a unique op­portunity to provide patients with reliable information and resources that are appropriate for their individual needs, and to emphasize the importance of nutrition for improving health.
Here are some useful nutrition re­sources that are easily accessible: 

You can place your order for the 2012 Bugs and Drugs guide now at www.fluidsurveys.com/s/BugsandDrugs. The guide is provided through the BC Do Bugs Need Drugs? program, operated by the BCCDC with support from the Ministry of Health. This year, in response to popular interest, you have a choice of ordering the guide as a hardcopy book or as an iPhone app.