Few measures in medicine are of such proven value against infectious diseases and as easy to implement as are immunizations. Immunizations carried out as recommended will provide good basic protection for most children against the many diseases. Following a provincial schedule ensures that the maximum available protection is achieved. Sometimes modifications of the recommended schedule may be necessary because of missed appointments, illnesses or transferring from other countries.
Our qualified healthcare professionals can discuss the provincial schedule of immunizations with you and coordinate times to immunize your child here at NECHC.
An essential member of the integrated professional healthcare team is our foot care specialist. Our Registered Nurse is skilled in assessing the needs of our clients and managing both chronic and acute conditions affecting the foot and lower limb function.
The role of the foot specialist is to maintain and improve patient mobility, alleviate foot pain, provide health education, and thereby improving one’s quality of life. The diverse range of services and conditions treated include general foot care, corns, calluses, nails, heel, arch, forefoot, and knee pain; flat feet care; wart removal; ingrown toenails; athlete’s foot and fungal nails; diabetic foot care including ulcers; arthritic foot care; sports injuries; and children’s foot care.
Preventative care such as foot care education for clients living with diabetes and teaching clients how to maintain good general foot health is also provided.
Three out of five Canadians live with a chronic disease such as obesity, diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, and high blood pressure. We are committed to the prevention and management of chronic disease. Our programs and services are based on client education and providing you with the tools to make changes that support a healthy active lifestyle. Self-management goals, action plans, follow-up, and support from peers and professionals create a safe environment to help you make a change for the better.
Patients and families struggling with chronic illness have health care needs specific to their abilities and daily challenges. They require planned, regular interactions with their caregivers, with a focus on function and prevention of complications.
All NECHC staff incorporate health promotion with each visit. In addition to the physical assessments of blood pressure and blood sugars, for example, nurses and nurse practitioners spend the time to teach clients about their illness and factors that affect control and self-management. Their emphasis is to provide the necessary information for the client and family to take control of their illness; this includes the acceptance of where the client is today and understanding that change happens at different times for everyone. Referrals are readily available to our in-house certified diabetes educator, registered dietician, social worker and other foot care nurse.
The Certified Diabetes Educator and the Registered Dietitian apply proven behaviour change techniques and counselling methods tailored to your needs. The diabetes educator can assist with starting insulin and making medication adjustments. Lifestyle interventions delivered by dietitians can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 60% in at-risk clients, and counselling is associated with improved health behaviours such as increased fruit, vegetable and fibre intake. Research has shown that after at least three months of dietary counselling, clients with chronic disease have experienced weight loss, reduced blood pressure, cholesterol, and glycated hemoglobin levels.