Busy Week

This is a busy week for the needs assessment.  It started with a focus group last night and we will do another five over the next four days.  In addition to these focus groups, we will be meeting with our Steering Committee and the Advisory Committee.  We are getting close to collecting all of the information and then the hard part of putting it all together begins!

Focus Groups: A Rose by Another Name?

Sunday is the start of a number of focus group sessions that will occur over the next couple of weeks.  In addition to inviting representatives from community groups to participate, we are also having focus group sessions with family practitioners.  So what is a focus group?  Is the terminology a little intimidating?  Essentially, a focus group is a chat with a small group of people.  Most often it's with a group of 6-10 people.  The facilitator of the discussion has a number of questions and then listens as the people in attendance chat amongst themselves.   There are no right or wrong answers.  Generally, the purpose of a focus group is to get peoples' opinions.  So if you get an invite, come on along!  Or if you haven't received an invitation but would like to attend a focus group (and you are a resident of the Discovery Zone), e-mail needsassessment@easternhealth.ca.

Talking About the Weather

Our Spring has been a little lacking, hasn't it?  Lots of RDF (rain, drizzle and fog).  Does the weather impact your mood?  Many people say they feel much happier when the sun is shining. 

Weather can certainly impact our lives.  Today, for example, we have quite heavy rain and there are reports of a very bad accident on the Trans-Canada Highway.  Similiarly, snow has an impact and more and more people are aware of the dangers of the sun.  Weather is part of our environment that can have an impact on our health.

Celebrate Canadian Environment Week

Did you know this is Canadian Environment Week?  The environment around us certainly has an impact on our health and well-being. For example, during the needs assessment process, one of the concerns referenced in certain parts of the area is water quality.  Some communities have been on boil orders for years.  Yet that same water is used for brushing teeth, washing clothes and dishes and for cooking.  People are expressing concern about this.

Others have expressed concerns about industrial sites in the region and the health implications.

What role does the environment have in your life?  

Happy Seniors Month!

June is Seniors Month!  It's a time to recognize the contributions that seniors make to our society and to celebrate their achievements.

During the needs assessment research, we certainly hear a lot about seniors.  The topic is very broad and includes everything from expressing gratitude to the role that seniors play in their communities to concerns about elder abuse to people feeling the need to advocate for more services for seniors. 

Throughout the region, there are numerous seniors groups, such as 50+ clubs, who are making great contributions to their communities.  Let's all celebrate the role that seniors play in our area!

Happy World No Tobacco Day!

Eastern Health today joined with health care authorities and community organizations around the world to mark World No Tobacco Day.

Smoking is not permitted in buildings in buildings, parking lots, in vehicles or anywhere on Eastern Health grounds. This includes the use of other tobacco products such as chew or snuff tobacco. The goal of the smoke free policy is to create a tobacco and smoke free environment for employees, patients, clients, residents, visitors and volunteers in keeping with Eastern Health’s vision of Healthy People, Healthy Communities.

Eastern Health’s other programs such as Born Smoke Free and The Story of Smoke Free target women and children’s groups in particular.

Between 20 and 30 per cent of women use tobacco during pregnancy, and of those who quit, approximately 70 per cent resume smoking after the birth of their babies. The goal of the Born Smoke Free initiative is to promote a smoke free environment for newborns and their families. In partnership with the provincial Department of Health and Community Services and Community Health Nurses, Eastern Health provides resource materials to help parents protect newborns, and their family as a whole, from the dangers of second hand smoke.

In addition, the program provides information and support to assist parents who want to quit smoking. This assistance can be provided to families during both pre and post-natal visits.

The Story of Smoke Free was introduced in Kindergarten and Grade One classes throughout the Eastern Health region in 2006. To celebrate World No Tobacco Day, Kindergarten and Grade 1 classroom teachers were invited to register for The Story of Smoke Free program. Teachers receive a storybook, a CD-ROM, tattoos and stickers to promote the smoke free message. A record 61 schools in the eastern region have registered to participate in this program.

Getting There

We've just set up a number of focus group sessions.  From June 13 to June 22, we'll be holding 8 focus groups.  Some of these will be with family physicians only.  For others, we have invited community stakeholders/partners, health providers in the community and municipal leaders to attend.  Hopefully, we will get good turnout.  The more feedback we have, the better we will be able to respond to concerns. 

After this round of focus groups, we'll spend some time talking to physicians in our acute care and long-term care facilities and staff in this region.