What's New in Healthcare!
Ontario is protecting the health care system against fraud by ensuring the final transition to a more secure photo health card. As of July 1, 2020, these cards will no longer be accepted for appointments or services by any healthcare provider within the province. (News Release)
If you present EWFHT with a red and white health card after July 1, 2020, THERE WILL BE A CHARGE FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT.
Photo health cards can be obtained free of charge at any Service Ontario location. To switch your red and white health card to a photo health card, you will need to attend a Service Ontario Centre with 3 documents:
- Proof of Citizenship/Immigration Status (passport or birth certificate)
- Proof of Residency in Ontario (driver’s license, utility bill, property tax bill)
- Proof of Identity, must display your signature (credit card, driver’s license)
This letter to red and white cardholders includes instructions on how to obtain a photo health card and the form needed to complete this process at any Service Ontario office or for further information:
| Visit: | ServiceOntario.ca/HealthCard |
| Call ServiceOntario: | 1-800-268-1154 |
| To book a Service Onario appointment: | ServiceOntario.ca/Appointment |
Should you have questions or need guidance, please speak to our Front Office Staff at any time.
As one of 14 core partners of the Guelph & Area Ontario Health Team (GAOHT), East Wellington Family Health Team is delighted to share that on Nov 29th Honourable Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, announced the GAOHT as one of the first 24 teams in the province to implement a new model of organizing and delivering health care that better connects patients and providers in their communities to improve patient outcomes.
The areas of focus for the first year are complex mental health and addictions, palliative care, implementation of integrated primary care teams and governance. The expectation is to implement an integrated system of care with evolving digital health capabilities that follows the patients throughout their health care journey.
We will continue to build on what we already strive for - collaborating to meet the needs of patients. Together we are able to achieve much more than we can separately.
For ongoing information about the Guelph & Area Ontario Health Team, please click here.
As of October 1st, the Ministry of Health has amended the Hospital Act. Primary care preoperative assessments are no longer required nor are they covered under OHIP, with some exceptions for frail elderly or housebound patients. This eliminates the duplication of preoperative history, physical and assessment by family physicians.
Please discuss your needs with your dentist or surgeon, as pre-operative assessments now fall under their discretion to complete.
Ear Syringing
OHIP no longer covers routine ear syringing, so please try these methods first. If they are unsuccessful, please speak to your healthcare team.
What is earwax and earwax impaction?
Earwax helps protect the insides of the ears and prevents injury or infection.
Earwax impaction is when earwax builds up enough to cause symptoms, such as:
- trouble hearing
- pain in the ear
- hearing a ringing noise in the ear
- feeling like the ear is plugged or blocked
Can I treat earwax build-up at home?
Yes, only if you do NOT have a history of a hole in your ear drum, tubes in your ears, or ear surgery. If you have a history of any of the above, please book an appointment with your healthcare provider.
What can I do to remove impacted earwax?
Recommended strategies for earwax removal are listed below. All of these products can be purchased at your local drug store.
b.) Hydrogen Peroxide: Tilt head to the side so the affected ear is facing upward. Use an ear dropper to apply 3-4 drops of hydrogen peroxide mixed with equal amount
water in the ear. Wait 15-30 minutes, and gently flush with warm water using a bulb syringe. Note: Hydrogen Peroxide can bleach the surrounding hair.
c.) Murine Ear Drops: Tilt head to the side so the affected ear is facing upward. Use the dropper to apply 5 drops in the ear canal. Wait 5-10 minutes, and then gently flush with warm water using a bulb syringe. Repeat daily for 3-5 days.
What NOT to do? NEVER use Q-tips or other small objects to scratch the ear canal as they may push wax further into the canal and/or damage the eardrum.
