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Public Health Matters is a quarterly e-newsletter from York Region Public Health that covers topics relevant to today’s health care professionals. It offers resources you can use in your practice and highlights programs offered by Public Health that are useful to you and your patients. Complete the subscription form by providing your email address to receive future editions directly to your inbox.

Subscribe to receive health status and surveillance reports from York Region Public Health’s Infectious Diseases Control Division

For information about the novel coronavirus visit the 2019-nCoV Information for Health Professionals page, which includes all recent communications on 2019-nCoV to health professionals, sector-specific guidance and links to additional resources.

• August 28, 2020 - Updates on Influenza and Pneumococcal Pneumonia Immunization and Ministry of Health Guidance for Immunization Services
• August 28, 2020 - Influenza Clinic Planning Checklist
• August 25, 2020 - Guidance for Immunization Services during COVID-19
  • Guidance for Immunization Services during COVID-19 - FR
• August 25, 2020 - Health Unit Immunization Programming and Services during COVID-19
• December 19, 2019 - Keep Watch on the Flu with the Influenza Season Weekly Update
• December 2019 - Duty to Report Animal to Human Bite/Exposure Incidents
• November 11, 2019 - Use of Antivirals for Treatment and Prevention of Influenza
• November 8, 2019 - HD-TIV Influenza Vaccine Supplies Depleted
• Flu FAQ for Health Professionals
• October 30, 2019 - Launch of the 2019-20 Universal Influenza Immunization Program
• October 23, 2019 - Recent Diphtheria Case a Reminder to Be Ready
• York Region Student Drug Use and Health Use Survey Report

Frequently Used Forms and Resources

• Vaccine order and return forms
• Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) form
• Diseases of Public Health Significance and Notification Form
• Support and Resources for Mental Health and Pregnancy and Postpartum 
• UPDATED: 2019 Red Flags guide - A quick reference guide for early years and health care professionals in York Region that assists in identifying when children could be at risk of not meeting their expected health outcomes or developmental milestones.
• Child and Family Health Referral Form

For use with patients

• Echat: York Region Public Health now offers expectant and new parents the ability to ask a registered nurse health questions confidentially and anonymously through online chat - york.ca/nursechat
• York Region Public Health’s Perinatal Mental Health Pathway is a tool that enables health care providers to better connect their patients with community supports and resources. The pathway utilizes the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) which is a validated tool recommended for the routine screening of individuals for perinatal depression and/or anxiety
• Healthy Aging e-learning module registration
• Nurse-Family Partnership ® (NFP) - a home visiting program for new mothers
• Spa Safety guide for infection prevention

Resource Libraries

• Health Professionals Resources
• Infectious Disease Fact Sheets

External Resources and References

• Cannabis
  • Cannabasics - Canadian Public Health Association
  • Resources for Professionals - Windsor-Essex County Health Unit
  • Information for Health Care Professionals - Government of Canada
• Radon
  
  • Radon Continuing Professional Development Course Toolkit (Health Canada)
  • Opioids Clinical Primer Course (MacHealth)
  • Radon: Is it in your patients’ home? - a free, accredited program
• Alcohol
  
  • Guidelines for Healthcare Providers to Promote Low-Risk Drinking Among Patients
  • Communicating Alcohol-Related Health Risks
  • Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral
• Physical Activity Guidelines