Family Health Programs & Services
The City of Kawartha Lakes Family Health Team offers a range of programs and services designed to help patients manage their health and well-being. Each program is led by members of our Family Health Team, including nurses, social workers, pharmacists, and other health professionals. Participation requires a referral from your family doctor or nurse practitioner.
Our Programs
Mindful Self Compassion
Mindful Self-Compassion is an 8 session group mental wellness therapy program led by social workers. The program focuses on developing skills of mindfulness and self-compassion to increase happiness, reduce anxiety and depression.
Get W.I.T.H It Walking Group
Get W.I.T.H. It offers patients of all ages and fitness levels the opportunity to walk for healthy exercise in a warm, safe environment during the winter months in the care of a health professional onsite. The program is offered at L.C.V.I. for one hour twice a week from November to the end of April. Pedometers are used to track progress and step logs are kept so patients can see their progress each week.
Memory Clinic
The memory clinic provides “one stop” patient care from a team of health professionals trained to assess memory and cognitive impairment as well as factors that impact memory. The clinic provides standardized testing, assessments, and treatment plans for patients experiencing cognitive impairment, memory loss, and/or early-onset dementia. Support is also provided to patients’ family members and caregivers. Treatments, medications, and community resources may be made prescribed and recommended, including possibly a recommendation that the patient retire from driving. Additional support is provided on-site by the Alzheimer’s Society.
Heart Failure Care
The service helps provide care for patients living with heart failure. The goals are to:
- reduce patients’ avoidable and 30-day readmissions to hospital;
- reduce mortality from heart failure;
- provide education and development of heart failure expertise in primary care;
- enhance the quality of care provided to heart failure patients and their caregivers; and
- improve disease modifying treatments for heart failure.
Exercise is Medicine
This program helps adult patients increase their physical activity. Your doctor or nurse practitioner can write you a prescription for exercise that can be filled by using the Recreation Centre in Lindsay or the Forbert Community Centre in Bobcaygeon.
Patients with a prescription receive a one-month free gym membership, along with 2- free personal training sessions with a qualified fitness instructor that will tailor a program to fit their specific needs and abilities.
The goal of this program is to equip local residents to get active by linking them with local resources in the community.
Lipid Management
The Lipid Management Program is a group education session led by a family health team registered nurse, dietitian, pharmacist, and health promoter , in collaboration with the Community Care’s Community Health Centre. The program teaches the Canadian Cardiovascular Society’s Guidelines on cholesterol management strategies, including the Mediterranean Dietary Pattern, ways to change risk factors, and recommended medication therapies. The program supports participants for improved nutrition and physical activity behaviours, lifestyle management, and food knowledge through live cooking demonstrations. This program is available every 2-3 months at the CHC Community Room and kitchen. To participate in the program, please ask your health care provider to send a referral or call 705-328-9853 Ext. 221 to be added to the list for upcoming groups.
Our Services
Smoking Cessation
Implementing the Ministry of Health’s STOP Program, this program helps patients understand the underlying reasons for smoking, develop a “quit plan” and select a “quit date”. Ongoing clinical support and motivational coaching are provided. Free nicotine replacement products are available. Our family health team has obtained one of the highest quit-smoking rates in Ontario.
Foot Care - Healthy Feet and You
For “most at risk” patients (e.g. diabetes) and those who cannot care for their feet or afford chiropody. Circulation, skin and nail conditions will be monitored. Patients will also be educated on self-care, hygiene and appropriate footwear.
Healthy Lung-Asthma/COPD Education
Individual referral visits help patients learn to manage their asthma or COPD. Patients are provided information and education on their condition, medication delivery devices, symptoms and triggers. Spirometry can also be conducted. Individual action plans are developed to encourage self-management and improve quality of life. In collaboration with the Ross Memorial Hospital and the Community Health Centre, the program provides seven education sessions, once a week for one hour. These education sessions are free and open to all members of the community living with COPD.
Anticoagulant Clinic
The Anticoagulant Clinic provides patient education and point-of-care INR testing for patients taking warfarin. The clinic is held three mornings each week. Eligible patients include those newly initiated on warfarin, requiring bridging, with labile INRs or difficult phlebotomy. Patients have their INR tested on site and receive dose adjustments during their appointment. Screening for drug interactions and any adverse effects of warfarin are performed at each visit.
Breastfeeding Clinic
The Breastfeeding Clinic provides support for families at all stages of their feeding journey. We offer compassionate, non -judgemental support to help families meet their feeding goals.
The clinic is supported by a Registered Nurse Lactation Consultant. Appointments are available by referral through the Family Health Team.