New electronic medical record system

In the next few weeks, we will be implementing a new electronic medical record (EMR) system that will help improve safety & quality of care. Wait times may be longer than usual.

Thanks for your patience!

The City of Cornwall has two community eco gardens, one on Brookdale Ave. and one on Race St. With the relaxation of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, the gardens are open for the season, with some new safety and social distancing measures in place.

The importance of community gardens

The gardens are managed by Centre De Santé Communautaire De L’Estrie (CSCE) in Cornwall. Ivan Labelle, Community Health Agent with CSCE explained the importance of these gardens to the community.

They may be an essential source of food for some but not necessarily for all,” Labelle said. “Anyone in our community can apply for a garden, we don’t ask about income any other personal questions. What a community garden does offer is an opportunity to access fresh produce, but also offer many other benefits: the fresh air, the sun, the physical labour feed the body and soul. The low-level concentration to weed or plant help refocus the mind and forget about others stressors for a while, which helps with mental health.”

Labelle explained that there are waiting lists for both gardens every year, but there is frequently turnover as people move in and out.

Some of the rules

One of the rules of the community gardens is that only annual plants are allowed to be grown.

“Typically beans, carrots, onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce. The reason we don’t allow perennials is  that is some plants spread,” said Labelle.

Other rules include keeping workspaces clean and for users to but their tools back where they found them. Labelle said that a few new rules were being encouraged because of the pandemic.

“The COVID-19 has added challenges, so we encourage people this year to bring their own tools, wear personal protection, mask, gloves, disinfect surfaces, wash your hands before and after gardening, observe physical distancing, sign the registry, don’t come in if you have symptoms, only registered members are allowed. No visitors,” he said.

Text and photo from Nick Seebruch, Seaway News, May 22, 2020.

Every year, in the first full week of May, people rally for CMHA Mental Health Week. It’s a Canadian tradition bringing communities, schools and workplaces together to celebrate, protect and promote mental health.

This year, things are looking a little different. We are confined to our individual living spaces, in a time of collective uncertainty and physical distancing.

We’re learning that we need each other now more than ever. It is precisely the time, during and in recovery from the pandemic, to lean on each other. Even if we can’t be close physically with one another, we need to stay close emotionally.

Let’s have real conversations about how we’re all really doing. We’re in this together. Here are seven ways to #GetReal about how you really feel – one way for every day of Mental Health Week.

Check in on how you really feel

How many times in a week do you ask—or answer—the question, “How are you?”

And how many times do you go through the motions, and skip the opportunity to really connect? Chances are you’re feeling more or less than just “fine.” The English language has literally thousands of words to describe how we feel. Check out our article, More than simply fine a long list of ways to express yourself. Next time someone asks you how you are doing, tell them like it really is. See how it changes your conversations.

Get social on social media

We’re living in a digital age in which the world is just a touchscreen away. We can reach hundreds, even thousands of friends, family members and peers with the tap of a finger. Now is the time to really harness the power of social media and take the opportunity to use our platforms for good. Download the toolkit and #GetReal by mix-and-matching your favourite social media images and posts. Take it a step further and customize our blank social media images with your own text and then upload to your profile.

Tip: Use #GetReal and #MentalHealthWeek in your post to be part of the online conversation!

Be Generous

Research shows us time and time again that by giving to others, you give to yourself. Whether you volunteer your time, do random acts of kindness or donate to a cause, helping others will boost your mental health and wellbeing. Our communities need us more than ever, so for Mental Health Week, give back. In whatever way you can.

Practice Listening

The key to real connection? Listening. Really listening. And some studies show we could do so much better at it. The good news is that listening is a skill you can build, and we’ve collected some tips to help you do just that.

So, do your part and brush up on your listening skills. Check out our tips for some pointers and then dive in and practice with a friend. Top it off by reviewing your skills with our Listening Checklist. You’ll be a careful, active listener in no time.

Check in on your mental health

What better way to celebrate Mental Health Week than to check in on your own mental health? While feeling well means different things to different people, some things might actually apply to all of us: in order to thrive, we all need a good sense of self, and we all need a sense of purpose, contribution, hope, resilience and belonging.

To make it easy, we’ve created a simple checklist to guide you in checking in with yourself. Encourage the people you love to check in, too.

Turn your camera on

We’re lucky to be living in an age when we can have face-to-face conversations regardless of the distance between us, thanks to video technology. If you have a computer, a smart phone, or a tablet, you can set up video for free using Skype, Messenger, WhatsApp and other video services. If you want to meet in a group, Zoom is for you (zoom.us).

The possibilities are truly endless. Try having a virtual coffee date, game night or just a simple check-in. Even if you can’t be close physically, the virtual face-to-face time will strengthen your connection.

Care-monger

Celebrate Mental Health Week by being kind to others. There’s even a new (Canadian!) term for that: it’s caremongering. Showing kindness can actually work to decrease stress, which we’re feeling more of lately. Thank someone for their friendship, or send a kind message on social media. Or reach out to that neighbour who might need your kindness more than ever. What only takes a few minutes, can make somebody’s day.


Source: Canadian Mental Health Association

Chest pain? Difficulty breathing? Discomfort in chest, arms, back, neck, shoulder or jaw? Don’t ignore heart symptoms. Here is an important message from University of Ottawa Heart Institute:

All our clients must make an appointment by telephone before entering one of the CSCE sites. You don’t have an appointment? Call before you show up. Thank you for your collaboration.

PLEASE PUT A MASK AND WASH YOUR HANDS WHEN YOU ENTER THE CSCE.

CSCE Preventive measures (PDF)

Important!

If you have at least one of the following symptoms: fever and/or new onset of cough or difficulty breathing OR at least two of the following symptoms:

  • chills
  • muscle aches
  • fatigue
  • headache
  • sore throat
  • nasal congestion
  • lost sense of taste or smell
  • digestive issues (nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain)
  • for young children and infants: sluggishness or lack of appetite

Contact us by phone or call Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000.

Please note that due to the exceptionally high call volume, the CSCE phone lines may be busy when you call. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience and understanding.

Coronavirus

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more serious respiratory infections like bronchitis, pneumonia or severe acute respiratory syndrome.

Coronaviruses are spread mainly from person to person through close contact, for example, in a household, workplace or health care centre.

Your risk of severe disease may be higher if you have a weakened immune system. This may be the case for:

  • older people
  • people with chronic disease (for example, diabetes, cancer, heart, renal or chronic lung disease)

Treatment

Symptoms range from mild – like the flu and other common respiratory infections – to severe.

Complications from the 2019 novel coronavirus can include serious conditions, like pneumonia or kidney failure, and in some cases, death.

There are no specific treatments for coronaviruses, and there is no vaccine that protects against coronaviruses. Most people with common human coronavirus illnesses will recover on their own.

You should:

  • drink plenty of fluids
  • get rest and sleep as much as possible
  • try a humidifier or a hot shower to help with a sore throat or cough

If you start to feel symptoms of COVID-19

  • Anyone who begins to feel unwell (fever, new cough or difficulty breathing) should return home and self-isolate immediately.
  • People who are self-isolating should seek clinical assessment over the phone – either by calling their primary care provider’s office or Telehealth Ontario 1-866-797-0000. If you need additional assessment, your primary care provider or Telehealth Ontario will direct you to in-person care options.

If you need immediate medical attention you should call 911 and mention your travel history and symptoms.

How to protect yourself

Coronaviruses are spread mainly from person to person through close contact, for example, in a household, workplace or health care centre.

There is no vaccine available to protect against the 2019 novel coronavirus, but there are actions you can take to help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses.

Everyday actions

Take these everyday steps to reduce exposure to the virus and protect your health:

  • wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer
  • sneeze and cough into your sleeve
  • avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
  • avoid contact with people who are sick
  • stay home if you are sick

Poster: What you need to know to help you and your family stay healthy

Physical distancing

Everyone in Ontario should be practicing physical distancing to reduce their exposure to other people.

Everyone in Ontario should do their best to avoid close contact with people outside of their immediate families. Close contact includes being within two (2) meters of another person.

If you believe you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 symptoms, you should begin to self-monitor for a period of 14 days. This means that, in addition to physical distancing, you should track how you feel. You should take your temperature daily and log any other symptoms that develop (for example, sore throat, new cough). You can share these records with your primary care provider over the phone if you seek assessment services.

How to self-isolate

Self-isolating means staying at home and avoiding contact with other people to help prevent the spread of disease to others in your home and your community.

All persons over 70 years of age and individuals who are immunocompromised are advised to self-isolate. This means that you should only leave your home or see other people for essential reasons. Where possible, you should seek services over the phone or internet or ask for help from friends, family or neighbours with essential errands.

When self-isolating you should:

Stay home

  • do not use public transportation, taxis or rideshares
  • do not go to work, school or other public places
  • your health care provider will tell you when it is safe to leave

Cover your coughs and sneezes

  • cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
  • cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hand
  • throw used tissues in a lined waste basket, and wash your hands. Lining the wastebasket with a plastic bag makes waste disposal easier and safer.
  • after emptying the wastebasket wash your hands

Wash your hands

  • wash your hands often with soap and water
  • dry your hands with a paper towel, or with your own cloth towel that no one else shares
  • use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available

Poster: How to self-isolate.

For more information and latest news:

www.BSEO.ca/coronavirus
www.Ontario.ca/coronavirus
www.Canada.ca/coronavirus

We recognize the significant strain that COVID-19 has placed on individuals and families across the country. Many people are concerned about their physical and mental well being. Canadians are being challenged in a number of ways because of isolation, financial and employment uncertainty and disruptions to daily life. Wellness Together Canada provides tools and resources to help get Canadians back on track. These include modules for addressing low mood, worry, substance use, social isolation and relationship issues.

Where to Start

Wellness Together Canada provides free online resources, tools, apps and connections to trained volunteers and qualified mental health professionals when needed. Create an account and answer a series of questions to guide you in choosing from a variety of tools and resources to get you back on track.

Visit Wellness Together Canada now

April 17, 2020 – Over the past few weeks, the Green Food Box Program in Crysler practically tripled its orders. Over 140 boxes were distributed on a biweekly basis throughout the communities of Crysler, Finch, Moose Creek, and most recently, Maxville. The Green Food Box Program in Bourget has equally achieved great success as of late, with a significant increase in the number of boxes distributed.


For Dominique Lanteigne, Health Promoter at the CSCE and the one in charge of the Green Food Box Program in Crysler, this substantial rise indicates that the program is both beneficial and necessary for rural communities, especially during these difficult times. “I am so proud to be part of such a great team. The Green Food Box Program really helps the community during these exceptional circumstances. I would like to thank the many volunteers and community partners who make all this possible!” said Dominique.

Please note that packaging and distribution of Green Food Boxes are done in compliance with health, hygiene and safety regulations in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, all employees, volunteers and clients must adhere to social distancing guidelines.

Green Food Box: a non-profit program that brings communities together!

The Green Food Box is a non-profit program that brings neighbouring communities together to buy a variety of quality fresh fruits and vegetables. Available monthly for either $10 or $15 depending on the site you order from. We have multiple order and distribution points across SDGPR (Bourget, Embrun, North Dundas, South Dundas and North Stormont).

Order and distribution addresses, dates and times can be found online.

Visit www.greenfoodbox.ca for more information.

Sunday, April 19, will mark the start of National Volunteer Week in Canada. It’s a coast-to-coast-to-coast celebration of the commitment, dedication, generosity and selflessness of Canada’s almost 12.7 million volunteers. This couldn’t be more timely!

Led by Volunteer Canada and local volunteer centres, the theme this year It’s time to applaud this country’s volunteers encourages all Canadians to loudly and proudly cheer for Canada’s volunteers.

“Volunteers work year-round to address critical social, economic, and environmental issues and the generosity is only amplified during floods, forest fires, and public health emergencies,” says Paula Speevak, Volunteer Canada President and CEO. “This year, we want to shine the spotlight on those volunteering to support essential services during this public health crisis, and to salute those who help by staying home to protect themselves and their communities.”

Canada’s volunteers work tirelessly to achieve progress in their community, city and country. They give time in support of causes and programs they believe in and ask for nothing in return. Their time contributes billions of dollars to the Canadian economy every month, at last count over $55 billion per year. Their smiles bring happiness and hope.

Without volunteers and their more than 160 million hours of volunteer time each month, so much of what must get done, would go undone. Meals would have no wheels. Seniors would miss medical appointments. Cats and dogs would have no foster homes. Walkways and driveways of elderly neighbours would pile up with snow. Groceries at food banks wouldn’t make it to those in need. Children’s sports teams would all be benched.

Thanks to all CSCE volunteers!

Volunteers are key to the success of the CSCE. Their talent and the time and energy they invest in their role as volunteers enrich the work that we do.

We want all our volunteers to have a positive experience at the CSCE. It is important that every volunteer feels valued and has the opportunity to develop skills while contributing to the wellbeing of the community.

We encourage you to apply to become a volunteer!

Click here for more information. 

What is malnutrition?

“Malnutrition” relates to deficiencies or imbalances in the energy and/or nutritional intake of a person. It can weaken the immune system and make recovery from illness and injury slower and more difficult.

You are at higher risk of malnutrition if you have:

  • A low appetite
  • Difficulty chewing or swallowing
  • A loss of smell or taste
  • Unintentional weight loss
  • Depression / anxiety / dementia
  • Difficulty shopping for groceries and preparing meals
  • Insufficient funds to purchase food

Malnutrition increases the risk of:

Nutritional deficiencies, falling, weakness, fatigue, fractures, infections, weight and muscle loss, being readmitted to hospital or having a longer hospital stay, complications from other illnesses, etc.

How can the dietitian help you?

Dietitians are health professionals with expertise in food and nutrition. They provide guidance according to your preferences to help improve your appetite, regain energy and choose the best foods for your situation.

These services are offered at no cost and on an ongoing basis at an unrestricted frequency to provide adequate support.

Take the first step in reducing your risk today… Schedule an appointment with the dietitian!

Click here for more information about our nutrition services. 

March 30, 2020 – The Centre de santé communautaire de l’Estrie’s (CSCE) accreditation has been renewed for another four years, effective June 1, 2020 to May 31, 2024. In its final report, the Canadian Centre for Accreditation (CCA) stated that it was quite pleased with the CSCE’s performance review. All requirements were met, including 44 mandatory standards and 26 leading practice standards featured in the Organizational Standards Module and the Community-Based Primary Health Care Standards Module.

View certificate (French)

Several Strengths Were Highlighted

In its final report, the CCA highlighted several strengths, including the following:

  • The dedication and commitment of the Board of Directors, staff members and volunteers towards a common goal: helping clients by providing them with the services and resources they need to thrive.
  • Programs and services that promote community involvement and foster innovative approaches.
  • Policies and procedures that reflect the work carried out.
  • Strong partnerships that ensure the provision of services not offered by other community health centres.
  • Staff members that really listen to the needs of its community.
  • A commitment to health promotion and addressing social determinants of health.

Furthermore, the CCA encouraged the CSCE to maintain its strategic planning efforts and evaluation of client-based services and programs for the francophone population.

The CCA’s accreditation renewal, which occurs every four years, requires exhaustive planning and preparation as well as significant employee involvement from staff members and managers alike. The Executive Director would like to congratulate everyone who participated throughout the accreditation process for this successful achievement.

About Canadian Centre for Accreditation (CCA)

In response to growing interest in a Canadian accreditation program tailored to communitybased health and social services, five associations of community service providers came together to form CCA. CCA supports community service organizations to continually improve quality and efficiency in the services they provide. CCA supports community-based primary health care centres to meet new challenges and excel through standards that reflect best practices in community-based operations, services and programs. Accreditation with CCA positions community-based primary health care organizations to keep pace with accountability expectations and lead when it comes to service quality.

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