Craving Change™In CalgaryEating better

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On the path to good health

Labour of LoveWays to survive “all-day sickness”

cover story

Craving Change™ in Calgary Challenging the emotions behind what you eat

LOSING TOWIN

VOLUME 6 • NO. 1 • 2014

3

7

9

4

2 Medical Director’s message

9 Serve and return

11 Pulse and barley salad

12 Caring team brings peace of mind

13 Calgary Foothills PCN programs and clinics

www.boehringer-ingelheim.com

Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network would like to thank Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. for their assistance in

printing this medical communication publication.

Primary Care Networks in Alberta are built to improve the access and delivery of primary health care in the community. Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network in north Calgary and Cochrane is working with your doctor to provide you with quality primary health care.

For example, our Access 365 Clinic is there for your urgent after-hours needs and our dietitians are there to help you with your weight management issues. Our team of health care professionals is committed to making sure you are connected to the care that you need.

Enjoy this issue of Connecting Care with some wonderful examples of an organization that is there for you and your family 365 days of the year.

Sincerely,

Dr. Linda M. SlocombeMedical DirectorCalgary Foothills Primary Care Network

BackgroundCalgary Foothills Primary Care Network (PCN) is an arrangement between a group of family physicians and Alberta Health Services to provide primary care services to patients living in north Calgary and Cochrane. Created in 2006, the Calgary Foothills PCN’s mission is to enhance access and co-ordination of primary care for patients while improving the quality of professional life for community family physicians and allied health care professionals.

Primary care is the care patients receive at their first point of contact with the health care system, usually provided by family physicians or allied health care providers. Patients receive care for their everyday health needs, including health promotion and prevention, diagnosis and treatment of health conditions.

Connecting Care is a PCN publication aimed at educating patients of member physicians on new programs and initiatives available to them and their families.

Editor Paula Beauchamp

Art DirectorAlexandra Harle Graphic Design

Cover PhotographLinh Ly Photography

Publisher Jim Thornton

Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network

500, 1716 - 16th Avenue NWCalgary, AB T2M 0L7

P 403.284.FPCN (3726)F 403.284.9518

communications@cfpcn.ca cfpcn.ca

Published for CFPCN byParagon Publishing Inc.

Calgary, AlbertaP 403.287.9818

ads@paragonpublish.comparagonpublish.com

Connecting Care Magazine is made available free of charge to the 350,000+ north Calgary and Cochrane patients of

392 PCN member physicians at more than 80 clinics in 54 communities.

The e-magazine version is available at cfpn.ca and by free subscription at connectingcare@paragonpublish.com

All rights reserved ©2014. Printed in Canada. Member of the Canadian

Federation of Independent Business.

Medical Director’s message

2 CONNECTING CARE • SUMMER 2014

RACHEL Vanderveen’s children were a true labour of love. Despite crippling morning sickness that lasted well into her second trimester, the Calgary realtor endured four pregnancies in five years. “At the time, my whole life was consumed by feeling sick and there were times when I thought I couldn’t face tomorrow,” she said.

While most pregnant women experience some symptoms of morning sickness, the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton’s treatment for hyperemesis gravidarum, the most severe form of morning sickness, cast new light on the condition.

Family physician Dr. Heather Wrigley, who is based at Riley Park Maternity Clinic, says the condition can be hugely stressful, especially for people who are working or have other children. “The nausea and vomiting in pregnancy is very similar to what people experience when they have chemotherapy,” she said.

Physical and emotional supportWrigley recommends talking with family and friends and asking for support. “Get as much help as you can. If someone is willing to help look after your other kids, cook meals or do the laundry, that is very helpful,” she said.

The timing can be difficult, though, because often the pregnancy hasn’t been announced early on. A partner’s help, therefore, can be vital. Wrigley says if the support isn’t there, it can threaten a marriage.

Vanderveen, a working homeschooling mom, says her husband Clint was her rock. “I talked to him about my needs and asked him to encourage me,” she says with a laugh. “I had scripts for him: ‘You’re 13 weeks now, you can do this.’ It made me feel better to hear him say that.”

Clint also barbecued outside a lot in the middle of winter because cooking smells triggered Vanderveen’s seemingly never-ending nausea.

Eating and other aidsExperts say getting enough sleep is crucial because nausea is worse when you’re tired. Eat small frequent snacks, rather than three big meals, to avoid the empty stomach feeling that triggers nausea.

Each day Vanderveen imagined the food that seemed least offensive to her — usually almonds — and ate that gradually throughout the day. “I’d visualize quite a lot of different foods,” she said.

Wrigley tells pregnant women not to stress about maintaining the perfect diet if they are struggling to keep food down. “You have to eat what you can manage and when your condition improves, you can focus on getting a more balanced diet,” she said.

Wrigley says Gravol, which is typically used to treat motion sickness, can help ease symptoms and is safe. Diclectin — a combination of antihistamine and vitamin B6 — is also safe, she says. It is taken daily and works to prevent the onset of symptoms.

Pregnant women may need to temporarily stop taking prenatal vitamins that contain iron if they trigger morning sickness, but it is important to start taking them again after recovery. Folic acid remains essential throughout.

Most importantly, the condition is not harmful to your baby — and it can’t go on forever. For Vanderveen, the 22-week mark of each pregnancy provided longed-for deliverance. “You’re just so grateful when it ends.”

Pregnancy care at Riley Park Maternity Clinic can be accessed either by referral from your family physician or by self-referral.

BY PAULA BEAUCHAMP

Photo courtesy of Andras Schram Photography

cfpcn.ca 3

4 CONNECTING CARE • SUMMER 2014

OVER the past year, Kevan Austen has lost four pant sizes, four shirt sizes and more than 110 pounds. The self-confessed one-time couch potato has shed his sedentary life and unhealthy eating habits, tackling a workout on 362 of the past 365 days.

“There’s no more sitting around eating bags of chips and watching movies or looking for excuses to sit around,” Austen says. “This is my new life and the goal is simple: to live and be healthy.”

Tackling Unhealthy HabitsFlash back to February 2013 and the IT manager, who had been feeling increasingly unwell, faced a shock diabetes diagnosis. Blood tests ordered by family physician Patrick Lai revealed high blood glucose levels. “It shouldn’t have come as a shock,” Austen, 47, says. “I had no attitude to my health.”

In fact, the before and after story of Austen’s lifestyle change is staggering. Take his 2010 holiday to Seattle and Portland, for example, where the goal was to hit as many diners, drive-ins and dives — à la The Food Network — as he could. “The whole vacation revolved around eating,” says Austen, a trained chef.

“This year our holiday to the Oregon coast revolved around where we wanted to go for a hike. It’s a radical shift in how you think.”

Friends and colleagues who’ve watched Austen’s transformation often ask, “How do you do it?” and “How are you so successful?”

The answer is simple and it is always the same. “There’s no secret,” says the health-food junkie, who recently took up running. "It’s all of the things your doctor has probably been telling you over the past 30 years — eat properly and exercise,” he says. “It took 20 years to put this weight on. It’s hard work to take it off.”

On the path to good health By Paula Beauchamp

BUILD UP: Kevan Austen in 2010.

LOSING TO WIN

cfpcn.ca 5

'Health home’ helpKeys to Austen’s early success were

appointments with a nurse and a pharmacist,

who is also a trained diabetes educator, at

his health home: Dr. Lai’s clinic. The Calgary

Foothills Primary Care Network has 21

certified diabetic educators — pharmacists,

nurses and dietitians who have additional

training — working in member clinics.

“They were strong motivators and they

asked the tough questions,” Austen says.

“Amy helped me understand the physical

process of diabetes and the medications.

Through those discussions, I knew what my

body was doing.”

Pharmacist Amy Yu says people like

meeting face-to-face with a health care

professional. “There is a lot of stuff on the

Internet that isn’t correct,” she said.

Appointments also give the health care

team a good opportunity to more regularly

assess the mood of diabetic patients, Yu said.

“The diagnosis can be overwhelming and

depression can be high in people

with diabetes,” she said.

Dr. Lai believes

embedded health

teams are popular

because patients

like to receive a

range of health

services in the

one place,

where they are

familiar with the

surroundings and

staff. “The longer

appointments (with

the health team) help,” he

said.

“Patients are sophisticated and they

know we have a limited amount of time.

They enjoy hearing different perspectives

of the medical condition from other health

professionals, such as a pharmacist and

a nurse.” Dr. Lai says he appreciates the

additional services because ultimately they

benefit his patients.

A new lifeAusten, who played football in his youth, has

joined twice-weekly sessions at the University

of Calgary’s TrymGym. And he’s committed

to a daily hour-long walk with a neighbour.

Shedding the kilos little by little, Austen also

shed four consecutive wardrobes of clothing

as the weight dropped away.

Austen can now jog at 8.9 kilometres

an hour for 20 minutes. A year ago he was

huffing and puffing just to make it around the

block.

His dietary changes would fit well into a

lifestyle handbook. While dinner parties at the

Austen home continue in elaborate style, the

foodie now focuses on his guest’s hips as well

as their hearts.

Typical fare pre-2013 could include home-

made pasta with a heavy cream sauce and

a mushroom ragout - heavy on the butter.

“You’re talking 1200 to 1500 calories a dish

and then there’d be dessert,” Austen said. “I

wanted to wow.”

Today visitors experience Kevan’s Cooking

2.0. The home-cooked Vietnamese noodle

soup offered to extended family last month,

for example, was a hit. “There were fresh

vegetables, bean sprouts, grilled tofu,”

he says. “Everyone added their

own ingredients, even the

kids, and it was a lot of

fun.”

While a few

goals remain,

Austen is

confident about

the future —

and grateful for

all the help he’s

received. “I want

to get off my meds

and get the rest of

the weight off,” he says.

Losing another 45 pounds

will take Austen to his goal weight

of 180 pounds.

“My beta receptor cells were damaged by

my lifestyle, so it may not be possible to get

off all the meds,” he says. “But I’m already

down 30 per cent. I’m going to try.”

To register for TrymGym call 403-220-4374

and identify yourself as a patient of a member

physician. To find out about your health team,

please speak with your family doctor.

Austen’sTOP TIPS

Go public: Tell everyone about what you are doing.

Talk about your goals.

Try an app to track calories via your phone.

Good in the early days to get a sense of the energy found in different foods.

Austen used Lose It.

Move every day. Get walking.

If you work in an office, eat lunch in the

lunchroom. It makes you more accountable for

what you eat.

Buy quality food: For example, whole wheat tortillas, lots of salads.

Build exercise into your vacations. Buy a gym

membership on holidays.

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4

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6 CONNECTING CARE • SUMMER 2014

DID you ever return home from school feeling sad as a child, only to be given a cookie to cheer you up? Do you feel angry with yourself when you binge on junk food in front of the television, night after night?

While hundreds of diets and fads tell us what to eat and when, few help us grasp why we make poor food choices and what emotions and habits drive us there.

Craving Change™, a program designed by two Calgarians, is the first to answer these questions and give us tools to build a healthier relationship with food. The program — offered as a four-session group workshop for adults — is open to patients of doctors in the Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network.

Craving in Calgary

ChangeBy Paula Beauchamp

TOWARDS HEALTHY HABITS: Your eating habits change when your think-

ing does.

™

cfpcn.ca 7

Facilitator Shirley Sullivan, a health

management nurse, says the feedback from

participants has been overwhelming. “There’s

a sense of ‘wow, I’ve really learned something

new here,’” she says.

“People come feeling there is something

wrong with them, that they can’t overcome

their eating challenges and they learn

they aren’t alone. They feel they’ve tried

everything, but here they discover new

strategies to try.”

Why we eatWendy Shah, the registered dietitian who co-

created the program, says the key is changing

your thinking habits to change your eating

habits. “As people become more aware of

their personal eating triggers, they are better

able to control their food cravings,” she

said. “We have all learned, particularly in our

childhood, to associate foods with something

other than satisfying hunger.”

Take the stomach hunger, mouth hunger,

heart hunger quiz opposite to find out more.

Food can be used as a treat, a distraction or a

soothing tool.

And here’s the good news: You can break

the link between your personal eating triggers

and your eating habits. But you do need to

stop and think before you eat.

Strategies for changeThe program’s “change buffet” of strategies

offers tools to alter the way you think

and behave. Techniques include nurturing

yourself — taking a bubble bath to feel good

instead of munching on a bag of chips — or

distraction. Doing a different activity can shift

your thoughts away from food cravings.

A former teacher started an afternoon

genealogy project to distract herself from her

decades-old routine of a post-school treat.

Another participant, Karen Carlson, says

she’s crocheted more blankets than usual

this past month. “Yes, I’ve tried distraction,”

she laughs. She’s also taken to eating her

meals more slowly and savouring every bite.

“It gives your brain time to connect with

your stomach and let you know you are

full.”

Other tips include the 80/20 rule —

making good choices 80 per cent of the

time and eating less healthy food guilt-free

for the rest. “All or nothing thinking can be

a real barrier,” program co-creator Colleen

Cannon, a psychologist, says.

Time for changeCannon says people underestimate how

much time and energy it actually takes

to make and maintain a change. She

developed “slipping towards success”

to help keep participants positive and

motivated.

“See slips as an opportunity to be strategic

and learn more about yourself and your

behaviour,” she said. “It is absolutely

normal to have lapses. Look at them with

curiosity and you’ll get valuable information

about what to try differently next time.”

Participants are encouraged to set goals and

be forgiving when they fall short.

Sullivan says it is wonderful to see people

gain a sense of hope. “Many have struggled

for decades and this program gives them

the confidence to move forward and make

realistic changes,” she said.

To register for this free program call

403-284-3726 ext 206.

REASON FOR EATING

I’M BORED

I’M STRESSED

I’M HUNGRY

BECAUSE IT’S TIME

SOMETHING SMELLS GOOD

I’M UPSET

WE’RE CELEBRATING

I DESERVE A TREAT

I SAW AN AD ON TV

I’M TIRED

EatingQuizWhy am I eating?

Is it stomach, mouth or heart hunger?

STOMACH HUNGERThe physical need for food.

It’s been five to six hours since you ate and your

stomach is growling.

MOUTH HUNGERYou want to eat something

because it has a certain taste, texture, or smell.

Salty? Creamy? You crave the pleasure of food.

HEART HUNGEREating in response to your emotions or how you feel

mentally, not physically.

CRAVING COLLABORATION: Craving Change™ co-founders Colleen Cannon, left, and Wendy Shah, right.

TYPE OF HUNGER

To check your answers, go to page 12.

Insert one of the following symbols:

8 CONNECTING CARE • SUMMER 2014

LINDSAY Berg smiles warmly at the

waiting three-year-old. “Did you want to

ask a question, Jasper?” she says.

The mother-of-two, who is also a day

home mom to four other small children,

spends much of her day playing on the

floor and thinking up fun activities to

share. “They are so special,” she says.

Important early yearsNew research shows that ages zero to six

are even more crucial in the development

of the human brain than first thought.

Interactions during this stage actually

affect how the brain is physically built.

Healthy exchanges between young

children and their caregivers, dubbed

“serve and return,” are needed to build a

solid foundation for the brain to support

future development.

You can see it in action when young

children reach out and adults respond

through simple eye contact, cuddles,

singing songs, reading books and playing

games like peek-a-boo. Many such

interactions are needed each day to build

a healthy brain, according to the Alberta

Family Wellness Initiative (AFWI).

“Serve and return, similar to hitting a

ball back and forth in a game of tennis,

sets the stage for learning of all kinds that

takes place in early childhood.” It affects

language learning, cognitive learning and

the ability to regulate emotions.

Dr. June Bergman, physician with the

Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network,

says it is important to support parents

and children in their health journeys,

particularly during this earliest stage. “I

would say to parents in general, spending

time with your child is very important,”

she said.

“You can’t respond every time they serve,

but it is good to be aware of children’s

needs. If there were parts of your own

childhood that you didn’t like, you don’t

have to perpetuate that parenting.”

Getting helpCalgary child, adolescent and family

psychiatrist Dr. Joan Besant says it is

really important for parents to get

their own therapy if they have anger

management problems, depression or

anxiety.

She likens it to asking parents on an

airplane to don their own oxygen masks

first. “You have to be the best you can

be in order to be useful to somebody

else,” she said. If you have difficulty

soothing yourself and managing your

own stress, seeking personal help can be

a good first step to better parenting.

Parents may have access to a

behavioural health consultant (BHC)

through their family doctor’s office.

SERVE ANDRETURNTowards building better brains

Early childhood matters, enormously. The foundation for

healthy development depends on stable, responsive relationships with adult caregivers in a safe,

supportive environment.

- Alberta Family Wellness Initiative

EARLY RESPONSE: Lindsay Berg enjoying time with the kids at her day home.

BY PAULA BEAUCHAMP

cfpcn.ca 9

These images illustrate the negative impact of neglect on the developing brain. The CT scans on the left are from healthy three-year-old children with an average head size (50th percentile). The image on the right is from a series of three, three-year-old children following severe sensory-deprivation neglect in early childhood. Each child’s brain is significantly smaller than average and each has abnormal development of cortex and other abnormalities suggesting abnormal development of the brain.

Courtesy: Dr Bruce Perry and the ChildTrauma Academy.

Behavioural health consultants address a wide range

of mental health concerns. Private therapists and

work-based Employee Assistance Programs are other

options.

In its Parenting Programs for Everyone, Alberta

Health Services outlines parenting programs available

locally, for example, through the Boys and Girls Club.

The goal of these programs is to increase parental

confidence and capacity.

Toxic stress and later lifeToxic stress in childhood can also adversely shape a

child’s brain. While positive stress, such as meeting

new people or preparing for a test, can help develop

useful skills for later life, toxic stress is always harmful.

“Toxic stress is intense, long-lasting and

uncontrollable, and occurs in the absence of

supportive relationships,” according to AFWI. “For

children, it can occur as a result of abuse, neglect,

or living with a parent who is unable to provide

appropriate care due to mental illness or addiction.”

If toxic stress is experienced in early life, it takes

root in a child’s biological system and may lead to a

range of disorders and chronic illnesses in later life.

Examples include hypertension, Type 2 diabetes,

obesity, asthma, cardiovascular disease, mental illness

and addiction.

One study has found a correlation between

maltreatment in childhood and elevated inflammation

in later years. “We need to stop asking, ‘What is

wrong with you?’ and start asking ‘What happened to

you?’” Dr. Bergman says.

Dr. Bergman hopes the new research will lead to

greater support for challenged families. “My hope is

that we can give families the support they need to

create healthy children and that we see less chronic

disease down the way,” she said. If you believe a child

you know is experiencing toxic stress, please contact

Alberta Human Services on 1-800-387-KIDS (5437).

To watch the short AFWI video, How Brains are Built:

The Core Story of Brain Development, visit the Calgary

Foothills Primary Care website at cfpcn.ca. calgarycoop.com

Contact a Calgary Co-op Pharmacy for more information about our Tobacco Reduction Program and to book your one-on-one consultaion.

Thinking About Quitting Smoking?We can help you.

assessment to understand your triggers and improve your motivation

quit plan

follow-up strategy

Let one of our trained Tobacco Reduction Educators help you develop a personalized:

Co-op Pharmacies are located in all Co-op Food Centres.

10 CONNECTING CARE • SUMMER 2014

Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil

1 medium sweet onion, chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

1 ½ cups pearl barley

4 cups reduced sodium vegetable broth (good alternatives: homemade stock or reduced sodium chicken broth)

1 medium zucchini, chopped

2 cups halved cherry tomatoes

19 fl. oz. can chickpeas, rinsed and drained

19 fl. oz. can lentils, rinsed and drained

¼ tsp salt and pepper, optional (skip the salt to reduce your sodium intake)

¼ tsp or 10 sprigs dill, dried or chopped

(Optional)

feta cheese (rinse feta to remove excess brine and salt), lemon, thyme or fresh parsley

DirectionsOver medium-high heat, sauté onion and garlic in olive oil in a large saucepan for about 2 minutes. Add barley and cook additional 2 minutes.

Stir in soup stock and bring to a boil. Cover pan and reduce heat. Let simmer for 30-35 minutes or until barley has soaked up most liquid.

Stir in zucchini, tomatoes, lentils, chickpeas, salt and pepper. Cover and cook 5 minutes. Stir in dill. Serve with optional sprinkling of feta, lemon, thyme or fresh parsley on top. This dish is also delicious cold!

To learn more about healthy eating, register for a free Ask a Dietitian group appointment by calling 403-284-3726 ext 206. You can ask personal nutrition questions and book a one-on-one follow-up appointment with a dietitian. For more pulse recipes, visit Pulse Canada’s website at pulsecanada.ca.

Pulse & Barley Salad Serving Size 1½ cups • Recipe by Pulse Canada.

Andrea Kroeker, a registered dietitian with the Calgary

Foothills Primary Care Network (PCN), talks pulses and why

they are good for you.

Healthy Eating

ON THE PULSE: Chickpeas and lentils are among the best foods for your health.

I really like pulses, such as chickpeas, beans and lentils. They are an underrated food. In fact, if I could advertise the best foods out there, this would be one of them. Pulses are rich in soluble fibre, which helps balance blood cholesterol levels and blood sugars – and they don’t need to taste bland to be healthy. Pulses are also inexpensive and serve as a good meat alternative, because they are high in protein and they won’t add unwanted saturated fat. This salad is a great option for dinner or lunches and can be prepared ahead of time in big batches. And since the vegetables are cooked, it can also be stored in the freezer. Enjoy!

cfpcn.ca 11

IT is not just the residents who value Tammy

Rogers, nurse practitioner at the Bethany Care

Centre in Cochrane. Their families say she

gives them peace of mind. “Tammy listens

to our concerns,” says the daughter of one

resident. “We have a rapport with her.”

Since 2007, a Calgary Foothills Primary

Care Network (PCN) nurse practitioner has

worked within Bethany Cochrane with the

aim of increasing residents’ access to primary

health care.

A team effortDay-to-day, Rogers works closely with

each resident’s family physician. She

also collaborates with other health care

professionals, including a clinical pharmacist

and an occupational therapist, to offer long-

term care.

“With the help of the team, I provide on-

site medical care,” says Rogers, who explains

her nurse practitioner role as an advanced

form of nursing. “Because of my extended

education, I’m able to assess and treat many

issues, order tests and prescribe medications.”

Many residents at Bethany Cochrane have

more than one health concern, which adds

to the complexity — and the value — of

the nurse practitioner role and the diversity

of skills required from the whole team.

“By tackling these as a team — taking into

account each health team member’s expertise,

whether that is pharmacy or psychology —

we are able to look at the whole picture and

provide care holistically.”

Families in the loopYear-round support is extended to residents’

families, helping to build a sense of rapport.

The team also meets formally with residents

and their families once a year. “This is a

chance for the family to ask questions and be

involved,” Rogers says.

It is also an opportunity for everyone to

hear all of the team members speak about

their care plans and assessments.

“It’s important for us to build a relationship

with the families,” Rogers says. “Trust is part

of providing quality care.”

Lyle, the son of one resident couple, says he

and his family feel valued by Rogers and the

team. “There is an open door policy here,”

he says.

Five nurse practitioners work within Calgary

Foothills PCN. They help patients in a range

of maternity, aged care and general practice

settings.

"Trust is part of providing quality care"

SUPPORT TEAM: Cochrane Bethany Care Centre residents Harold, far left, and wife Mary, with son Lyle and Tammy Rogers.

REASON FOR EATING

I’M BORED

I’M STRESSED

I’M HUNGRY

BECAUSE IT’S TIME

SOMETHING SMELLS GOOD

I’M UPSET

WE’RE CELEBRATING

I DESERVE A TREAT

I SAW AN AD ON TV

I’M TIRED

TYPE OF HUNGER

See quiz on page 8.Eatin

g Q

uiz

Ans

wer

Gui

de

Caring team brings peace of mind

By Kelly Parks

12 CONNECTING CARE • SUMMER 2014

Access 365 Clinic The Access 365 Clinic runs 365 days a year. It offers after-hours appointments for non-emergency medical care. Access the clinic by calling Health link Alberta: 403-943-5465.

Pain Management Clinic (PMC)Chronic pain? A team of health specialists at PMC helps patients with chronic pain. Ask your doctor if this service is right for you.

Ask a DietitianMeet with a registered dietitian to learn label reading and more. This group appointment is free to patients of PCN member physicians. To register, call 403-284-3726 ext 206.

Craving Change™Join this free four-session workshop for adults and change your thinking to change your eating habits. To register, call 403-284-3726 ext 206.

TrymGymMeet with a personal trainer and dietitian as part of a structured exercise program. Patients of member physicians get a $200 discount when they join. To register, call 403-220-4374.

Tobacco CessationJoin this free group session if you are ready to quit or just thinking about it. Ask your doctor for a referral.

Need-A-Doctor WebsiteNeed a family doctor? Register at www.needadoctorcalgaryandarea.ca or call Health Link Alberta at 403-943-5465.

Navigation TeamThe Navigation Team cares for frail patients with complex health care needs. Ask your physician for a referral.

Walking Programs calgary Join Walk with a Doc to exercise monthly with a group that includes a family doctor. Or, join a walking group weekday mornings in North Hill Mall or at Confederation Park in the summer. Register at 403-284-3726 ext 206.

cochrane Join men’s and women’s walking groups at Mitford Park year round. Call 403-851-2534 for information.

Crowfoot Primary Care CentreDo you live with a chronic condition? Don’t have a family doctor? This clinic may be able to help you. See Need-A-Doctor below.

Riley Park Maternity ClinicsCare is available to pregnant women who do not have a family doctor or by referral from your family physician.

Clinics and Services

Programs

Calgary Foothills PCN

Programs & Clinics

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Our staff is certified to provide consultations and professional fittings.

Post Surgical NeedsCompression Garments

Drain Containment Camisoles

Lymphedema SupportSleevesGloves

Donning AidsMedical Compression Stockings

Mastectomy Needs Breast Forms

SwimwearSports Solutions

Sports Injury RecoveryCompression Garments

Braces (ankle, knee, etc.)Hernia Supports

Air Casts Alberta Aids to Daily Living vendor

Two Calgary locations to serve you.9309 Macleod Trail SW 403-252-22664938 Richmond Road SW 403-299-4488

calgarycoop.com/home_health

Products and exceptional service for better health and healing.