Special protocols are in place at local doctor’s offices

Dr. Sabra Gibbons and her team at the Verona Clinic are continuing to serve their patients needs this week, but some of the protocols at the clinic have been changed in order to protect both the patients and clinic staff from any risk of exposure to COVID-19.

“We are open for business during our usual hours,” said Gibbons, in a phone interview on Tuesday morning.

But patients, whether or not they have an appointment, are being asked to call first. The clinic has been contacting patients who have appointments, offering virtual visits over the phone in some cases, and determing which patients do require in person visits.

“We are trying to be sensible,” said Dr. Gibbons. “Our waiting room is tiny, so it affords little or no social distancing, so we are have in people wait in cars and we go get them when it is their turn.

Patients displaying symptoms of a respiratory illness are encouraged to call the clinic before travelling to it in person, and they will be evaluated to determine if they should stay home, or travel to hospital for treatment or testing. If they need to be seen in the clinic, a separate entrance will be used and staff will use protective gear when assessing them and the cleaning protocals in the clinic, which are already in place, will be employed

“If I, or a member of my staff, develop any symptoms, we will self isolate immediately and will carry on our work through virtual means,” she said.

She said that the clinic is in contact with other clinics in the area and is also in contact with KFL&A Public Health.

“The situation is evolving constantly, as you know” she said, “and we are working to make sure that not only are our patients and the community taking steps to avoid transmission of COVID-19 but that the ongoing health needs of our patents are still being addressed.

As of Tuesday morning, there were 186 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ontario, and 1 death. There were still no cases in Kingston or Frontenac County.

“That is certain to change,” said Dr. Gibbons.

(for further information on medical services in other locations, call your local clinic, or see the public service ad on page 7 from the Sharbot Lake Family Health Team)

Ask anyone on the Villages Beautiful committee and they’ll tell you that the idea is to make the entire Township of Central Frontenac more appealing.

As such, they hold a fundraiser each Christmas season, the Festival of Trees, to raise funds that are distributed to the various hamlets and settlement areas to use as they see fit.

Each year, there’s a central theme that entrants adhere to. This year, it was Down Home Country Christmas.

“One of the best things is it’s for the whole Township,” said committee member Sarah Hale. “We all support each other to make the whole area more attractive.”

Doris Campsall, a veteran of “at least 20 Festivals,” said “it was a dream of Rosemarie Bowick along with Mardie Brown from Arden. The idea of using the festival as a fundraiser actually came about because Bill and Rosemarie Bowick had experience in such things,” said Hale. “We’d tried other fundraisers which weren’t very successful.

“One year, after having the Festival the previous year, we tried a dance. There was an outcry.”

Hale said it’s important to connect the winter festival to summer projects.

“We buy barrels and benches and trees and flowers,” she said. “The various committees decide what to do with them in their communities. In Arden this year, we’ll be focusing on the footbridge.”

“In Parham, we focus on ‘the corner’ (of 38 and Wagarville Road),” said Campsall. “And on the fairgrounds. But there are also projects in Tichborne, Mountain Grove and others.”

“But it’s also to mark the Christmas season,” said Hale.

Brenda McKinstry is a relative newcomer to the Festival of Trees community, but she likes what she’s seen so far.

“I was involved a little bit last year,” she said. “I’m amazed at how much detail and effort is put in. There’s a lot of organization involved too — but it’s all good.”

2019 Winners and the lucky people who drew the winning ticket for them

Large Trees

1st — Memories of Christmas, W.A. Robinson Asset Management – Krista Raymo

2nd — Rustic Cozy Cabin, Township of Central Frontenac – Colleen Steele

3rd — A Rustic Country Christmas, Friday Night Ladies – Laura Wood and Home Made Christmas, Community Living – Ethan Godfrey

Medium Trees

1st — A Cozy Cabin Christmas, North Frontenac Telephone Company – Mike Fraser

2nd — “Country Road, Take Me Home,” Lake District Realty – Rudy Hollywood

3rd — A Sharbot Lake Down Home Country Christmas through the Years, St. Lawrence College Employment Services – R. Cook

Mini Trees

1st — “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” Pin Point Appraisers – Tim Procter

2nd — Glitter all the way, Rural Frontenac Community Services Youth Hub and Kids Club – Natalie Wotherspoon

3rd — Old Fashioned Christmas, Parham UCC Sunday School – the Herns

Anything Goes

1st — Family Gnomes Down Home Country Christmas, Opening Minds Innovation – Betty Ann Blythe

2nd — Owl Be Home for Christmas, Linda Devries – Liz Bonser

3rd — Legend of the Christmas Stocking, Treasure Trunk - Natalie Hickey, and Delicious Traditions, Community Drop-In – Madison Robideux

Baskets

1st — A Cardinal Christmas, Cardinal Café – Margo McCullough

2nd — A Homemade Down-Home Christmas, Sharbot Lake Family Health Team & Community Exercise and Lifestyle Program – Shirley Gunhouse

3rd — The Christmas Remedy, Sharbot Lake Pharmacy – Marie Vinkle

Gingerbreads

1st — A Down Gnome Country Christmas, Northern Connections Adult Learning Centre – Jenn Clark

2nd — An Udderly Amazing Down Home Country Christmas on the Farm, Whan Family – Jack Mclean

3rd — Christmas Fun in the Country, Sharbot Lake 39-ers – the Giroux’s

Wreaths

1st — A Country Christmas at the Farm, Arden Seniors – Mickie ?

2nd — Welcome Home for Christmas, North Frontenac Food Bank – John Lee

3rd — Jingle all the Way, Linda Truchan – Shirley Cuddy

Wall Hangings

1st — Christmas on the Farm, Janice Anderson – Chris Parks

2nd — We’ll All be Home for Christmas, Arden Batik – Chantelle Gilpin

3rd — Christmas, Laurie Love Godfrey Grocery – Leslie M.

When you’re trying to make healthy eating choices, the holiday season can be challenging to navigate. Gatherings, festivities, and social events are a wonderful time to get together and celebrate with loved ones, and they are almost always centred around food. Sometimes, these foods can be high in salt, sugar, and fat. Drink choices can include alcoholic beverages or other high calorie drinks. Enjoying these foods and drinks in moderation during the holidays and other special occasions can be part of healthy eating, but overindulging can throw your efforts off track. Here are some tips for healthy eating during the holiday season:

Include healthy choices

Whether you’re preparing a dish for a potluck, hosting a social event, or enjoying a meal at a gathering, choose healthy ingredients and dishes that include vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, such as seasoned roasted vegetables, a festive and colourful salad, or a fruit and cheese platter with whole grain crackers.

Eat regularly

Some people skip meals earlier in the day if they have a big event in the evening. Doing this can result in being famished all day long, and they then overeat when the event finally arrives. Afterwards, they may feel ill from eating too much. For people with diabetes, this can also cause extreme fluctuations in blood sugar levels. It is best to eat regularly during the day, including a small pre-event snack if hungry, to keep you from overeating at social events.

Use the healthy plate

When serving yourself at a party, try to build a healthy plate for a portioned and balanced meal. Fill ½ of your plate with vegetables and fruit, ¼ of the plate with grains and starches such as pasta, rice or potatoes, and ¼ of the plate with protein foods such as meat, fish, beans etc. Refer to the Canada’s Food Guide website for more information: www.canada.ca/foodguide

Be mindful

Eat slowly and mindfully, focusing on your food and taking the time to savour every bite.

Listen to your body, notice your feelings of hunger and fullness, and stop when your body tells you. Practice saying “no thank you, I’m full” when you feel pressured to eat food that the host has prepared.

Rethink your drink

Many holiday drinks can be higher in sugar and calories. Make healthy beverage choices such as coffee, tea, water, naturally flavoured water, club soda, light beer or wine spritzers.

Hold the guilt

If balance and moderation are a usual part of your lifestyle, it’s okay to overindulge once in a while. Remember the “80-20” rule, which says that if you are making healthy choices 80% of the time, it’s okay to splurge within reason for the rest of the 20%. So, enjoy your piece of cake during the holiday season.

Please contact the Sharbot Lake Family Health Team at 613-279-2100, if you would like more information about healthy eating or to make an appointment to see Saman Shaikh, Registered Dietitian. Visit our website at www.sharbotlakefht.com for more information about our Programs and Services.

The Seniors’ Fitness and Lifestyle Program will be starting up on Monday September 26 at the Sharbot Lake Medical Centre in the Community Room. This free program consists of aerobic and strengthening exercises instructed by a Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging certified seniors’ fitness instructor, monthly healthy lifestyle education sessions, seasonal social activities, and more! There will two moderate-vigorous level classes held twice per week from 9am-10am and 10:15am-11:15am on Mondays and Thursdays. There will also be a gentle chair-based class held once per week from 11:30am-12:15pm on Thursdays. For more information or to register please call 613-279-2100.

Are you sometimes confused about what healthy eating looks like when you have diabetes? Have you ever been told to avoid certain foods or entire food groups in order to control your blood sugar levels? Sharbot Lake Family Health Team Dietitians are here to help clear up all the confusion!

Starting Tuesday September 6 from 1:30-4:30pm the dietitians will be offering Diabetes Friendly Cooking Classes every Tuesday for 5 weeks. Topics covered will include: The importance of including healthy carbohydrates, high fibre choices, heart healthy eating, lower sugar eating, and how to read a nutrition label. Each session will also include cooking a healthy recipe and group discussion. Classes are open to anyone diagnosed with Prediabetes or Diabetes as well as anyone caring for someone with Diabetes. Call Megan at 613-279-2100 ext. 107 for more information or to register.  

It's been two months since Brenda Bonner retired after working for eight years as a Nurse Practitioner (NP) at the Sharbot Lake Family Health Team.

At 64, she was feeling that it was time to take a step back from full time work in a clinic. She saw patients at the clinic four days a week, often working through lunch and into the early evening, and she did a lot of paperwork at home.

“All in all it was a full time commitment,” she said this week from her home in Perth. Her work as a nurse practitioner, which came after a long career as a registered nurse, was some of the most rewarding in her career, and after taking a step back for a few weeks she has thought about her own future, about the future for nurse practitioners in general, and about their role in a reformed healthcare system in Ontario.

For her own part, Bonner has been considering a number of options.

“I would like to keep working, but with more balance in my life, more time for family,” she said.

She is considering taking on patients for house calls.

“For various reasons, including transportation issues, there are patients who require care in their own homes, so I might do some of that work. It is not covered by OHIP, but some supplemental health insurance policies will cover it,” she said.

She might be doing relief work in a community health centre in the vicinity of her home in Perth, and also some in-service education to health care organisations, to promote and maintain health knowledge and skills.

“I didn't have any of these ideas when I left Sharbot Lake, but over the last couple of months I have been considering how I can continue to work on my own terms by setting these things up. It is different for me since my whole career has basically been as an employee at only two jobs, as an RN in one location for 30 years and as an NP for eight years in Sharbot Lake. It's a change to be setting up a business of my own at this time,” she said.

Bonner has also spent time, before and after she left the Sharbot Lake Family Health Team, considering potential changes in the role that nurse practitioners play in the heath care system.

She supports some of the initiatives that are being promoted by the Nurse Practitioners Association of Ontario (NPAO).

“When the NPAO made submissions to the Ministry of Finance for the upcoming Ontario budget, they highlighted a few items that would make a difference for NPs and save money for the system as well,” she said.

One item that was featured in the submission is to deal with the pay and benefits gap between NPs who work in hospitals and those who work in primary care clinics.

“Salaries have been frozen since 2006 in clinics, which has led to a $30,000 pay gap, plus, NPs who work in hospitals enjoy the pension and benefits plans in the hospitals. This means that when positions in hospitals come open, NPs leave clinics, often rural clinics, for those jobs,” said Bonner.

The NPAO also supports the “right care in the right time in the right place, by the right provider”, an initiative of the ministry that intends to redirect healthcare dollars so they start to follow the patients and not the providers.

Bonner cited a case that illustrates how this is not happening currently. Public health units that were running sexual health clinics led by nurse practitioners have been switching to contracted clinics run by doctors. This has been done for financial reasons. The health units pay the NPs out of their own budgets, whereas the doctors can bill OHIP directly for the service. This is a financial benefit for the cash-strapped health units, but since the doctors’ billings are higher than the cost of clinics led by the nurse practitioners, ultimately there is a greater cost to the healthcare system as a whole and the ratepayers who fund it.

Finally, the NPAO is supportive of an initiative to locate NPs on a full time basis in long-term care facilities.

“Acuity level is increasing in long-term care facilities. Seniors are staying at home longer, and they are older and sicker when they go into long-term care. Nurse Practitioners on staff save doctor visits and visits to emergency units at hospitals,” said Bonner.

Are you interested in having wholesale fruits and vegetables available in Sharbot Lake? Ordering in groups helps to decrease costs of fresh, healthy produce below regular store prices! If there’s enough community interest, Mike Dean’s and Sharbot Lake Family Health Team are ready to offer this deal to the community.

$10 small box includes approx. 10 items

$15 large box includes approx. 15 items

Although food prices fluctuate, the Good Food Box prices will stay the same each month and we will work to provide variety month to month.

Pay by the 1st Thursday of each month at the Sharbot Lake Family Health Team and pick it up on the 3rd Friday of each month between 2 and 4pm in the Sharbot Lake Family Health Team downstairs community room.

This program was offered several years ago and was quite popular; however, it was discontinued primarily due to lack of space for packing and storing the boxes. Our hope as a Family Health Team is that this can help make it easier for you and your family to eat healthy fruits and vegetables!

Need some motivation to start increasing your fruit and vegetable intake?

A diet rich in a variety of fruits and vegetables can lower the risk of heart disease and stroke. Individuals who eat more than five servings have about a 20% lower risk of coronary heart disease and stroke, compared with individuals who eat less than three servings per day.

Some types of fruits and vegetables may protect against certain cancers.

Increased consumption of leafy vegetables and whole fruits is associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. High consumption of fruit juice however, is associated with a greater risk of type 2 diabetes.

Orders for March are due Thursday March 3, 2016. Please contact Megan Burns at 613-279-2100 ext. 107 for more information or to place an order.

The Table Community Food Centre in Perth has reached out to the Sharbot Lake Family Health Team as a partner in running their wellness program called FoodFit. 

FoodFit is a 12-week program for anyone who wants to take steps towards a healthier lifestyle through moderate exercise and healthy eating. The goal is to give people the tools they need to make choices that will improve their health. The program combines fun, hands-on cooking sessions and food-based activities with take-home recipes, shared meals and snacks, easy-to-understand nutrition information, group exercise and self-directed goal-setting. We will be making soups, sauces, and salad dressings from scratch as well as healthy snacks and recipes with new and interesting flavours

With the help of a nurse from the health centre, we will track blood pressure and other health indicators at the start and end of the program, and provide pedometers so participants can monitor daily steps. A dietitian at the health centre will be involved in teaching nutritional topics as well as available to answer any specific questions.

“I am excited about running this program because it doesn’t pretend that everyone is at the same stage, it gives people room to set their own goals based on where they are at in life,” says The Table’s Community Kitchen Coordinator, Rosie Kerr. She explains that the Foodfit model is designed to respect the limits of people’s individual circumstances, and encourage everyone to “take small steps, and make changes they can live with.”

This program will be free of charge and open to any age. Childcare will be provided upon request. The program will take place at the Sharbot Lake Family Health Team Mondays from 1-4pm starting March 7. Priority will be given to community members who self identify as living in a low-income household.

For more information or to register contact Rosie Kerr, the Community Kitchen Coordinator at the Table, 613-267-6428 ext. 6 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Please register as soon as possible (preferably by March 1) for this exciting new program so organizers can prepare.

Are you interested in getting more active? Did you know there is a group that meets downstairs at the Sharbot Lake Family Health Team every Thursday at 1:30pm and goes for a walk until 2:30pm? Did you know that a nurse and dietitian also go on this walk and discuss important health topics each week? It’s true! There’s also equipment to use free of charge including: snowshoes, walking poles, hand weights, and pedometers. Everyone is welcome, it’s free to anyone, and everyone can go his or her own pace.

The benefits of walking are incredible. It is a simple, safe, inexpensive way to improve blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, bone health, weight, energy, alertness, stress, tension, sleep, the list goes on. Walking also exercises multiple muscle groups including the arms, shoulders, abs, quadriceps, hip flexors, and hamstrings! In addition, walking reduces the risk of colon cancer, builds bone mass which reduces the risk of osteoporosis, improves balance, improves heart health by increasing heart rate and circulation, decreases your risk of catching a cold by 50%, reduces glaucoma risk, and halves Alzheimer’s disease over 5 years. Walking is also an exercise option for all ages!

It is recommended that most people complete at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity aerobic exercise each week. When you are ready, resistance exercises such as lifting weights should be added into your routine three times each week. There’s never a bad time to start increasing your physical activity level. Things that can help to keep you on track are doing something enjoyable, have a buddy join you, set very small achievable goals and celebrate meeting these goals often!

Please call 613-279-2100 for more information or to register for the walking group out of the Sharbot Lake Family Health Team.

In an effort to spread awareness about addiction and mental health services that are available to residents in North, Central and South Frontenac, and Lennox and Addington, Melissa Switzer-Ferguson, an addictions counselor with Addiction & Mental Health Services of Kingston Frontenac Lennox and Addington (AMHS-KFLA), wants rural residents to be aware that she is currently offering a number of services in Sharbot Lake and in Verona. Ferguson, who is currently working with the Sharbot Lake Family Health Team at the medical center in Sharbot Lake, said that she hopes to make residents aware of the wide variety of free and confidential services that she offers. These include individual counseling for substance and behavioral addictions; group counseling services; rural mental health outreach; and other treatment groups for both mental health and addiction. Staff at AMHS-KFLA also partner with other community organizations to bring their services to those in need of them. All of these services are free of charge and confidential, and appointments can be made either through self-referrals, through family doctors, or by concerned significant other family members. While addiction services are easily available to urban dwellers, residents in rural areas, who can often tend be isolated, also face other challenges to accessing services like a lack of transportation, which can make getting the help they need an obstacle. Ferguson said that the goal of the rural outreach services are to make the services more available, while reducing stigma and letting residents know what sorts of programs are available to them.

“The ultimate goal,” Ferguson said, “is not only to raise awareness of the services that are available but to provide rural residents with equitable and accessible addiction and mental health services.” With the holiday season approaching, many people can find this time of year particularly difficult, and Ferguson said that her organization also has a crisis hotline that operates 24/7 and can be reached by calling 613-544-4229. Anyone wanting additional information about the many and varied supports and services offered through AMHS-KFLA can call 613-544-1356.