Practice Support Program

Opportunities and Updates

Winter 2024

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Hello 2024!

We are pleased to share the following Practice Support Program opportunities and updates from the Primary Health Care and Chronic Disease Management Network.

The Practice Support Program is one way we support staff and providers in optimizing their practice and teams to deliver the highest-quality primary healthcare to Nova Scotians.

For an overview of upcoming practice support offerings, you can click here.

Immediate opportunity for physician, NP, and clinical/administrative involvement!

Our Practice Support Program is growing, and we are identifying new ways for individuals to be involved.

There is an immediate opportunity beginning January 2024 for family physicians, nurse practitioners, and clerical/admin staff to become involved on our task team to update our panel identification and maintenance resources. This role would be in an advisory capacity and would work with us to ensure our resources meet the needs of busy PHC providers and team members.

The total time commitment would be approx. 4-5 hours over the months of January-February.

If you are interested in learning more, please get in touch with carah.macisaac@nshealth.ca to discuss further details and ways we can support you to participate.

Behaviour Change Counselling Development Program

All Staff Stream - As we enter into the holiday season, consider thinking about your next steps for professional development in the New Year. Self-Management Support and Behaviour Change is a cornerstone of primary health care that applies to all practice areas. If you are new to Primary Health Care, now is the time to start your training. If you have taken the training before, now is the time for you to have a refresher.

Click here to view the training pathway or see attached. Register for self-directed modules and virtual practice workshops in LMS by searching “PHC.”

Physician/NP Stream – 42 MainPro+ Credits. Registration for this program will begin in March 2024. Stay tuned.

Adult Mental Health Practice Support Program

This PSP is designed to increase skill and confidence among primary care providers and teams for the care of patients with mild to moderate mental illness.

Over the 20-week program duration, participants are expected to commit to attending a pre-module meeting and four learning sessions and complete three action period templates between learning sessions with scheduled coaching.

There are no fees associated with participation in this program, and it is certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada. If you would like more information about this program, you can click here.

The Winter 2024 offering of the Adult Mental Health Practice Support Program is at Capacity. To be added to the waitlist for the Fall 2024 program so that you will be notified when registration opens click here or scan the QR code below.

Social Prescribing

Social prescribing enables healthcare professionals to refer people to local, non-clinical services, including community and social services.

The Social Prescribing Practice Support Program (SP PSP) supports primary health care providers and teams to build their knowledge and awareness around social prescribing and how this approach can enhance our work.

If you missed the social prescribing information session in April, please visit our new Social Prescribing Practice Support Program page to learn more about this approach and to watch the recorded videos.

We have many people within our PHC system, and the community is already doing this great work. Learn with us about this evolving international approach of linking Primary Health Care to community-based services and supports.

Practice support tool – Click here to access the self-directed module.

Mental Health First Aid for Admin Staff

Mental Health First Aid Certification Training is being offered as a part of the Adult Mental Health Practice Support Program to admin staff who identify mental health as a learning need AND who work for the Primary Health Care System.

Mental Health First Aid Virtual 9 hour certification is being offered for admin staff who support Primary Health Care. Please email PHCPRacticeSupport@nshealth.ca to register for the Spring co-hort. Winter program is full with a waitlist at the moment. It is our hope we can open this up to other PHC staff in the future and appreciate your inquiries around this. We have heard loud and clear that this training is a need in our teams.

HealthyNS.ca

Online Health and Wellness Resources and

Virtual Programs to Support Your Patients

We are delighted to announce that HealthyNS's newly launched Physical Activity Counselling program is receiving excellent uptake. Patients can access this program through self-referral and easily book their appointments through our online sign-up. You can find a poster to share with your patients here.

New handouts have been developed to promote Health Goal Coaching and our Self-Directed Modules. Please share it with your patients and display it in your waiting rooms as appropriate.

Planning has begun for our Spring/ Summer schedule! If you have a program you would like to offer virtually; please reach out to healthyns@nshealth.ca

Physical Activity Counselling Practice Support Program

Click HERE to view our Physical Activity Counselling Practice Support Program.

Live Physical Activity Counselling Workshops: These workshops cover an overview of our Physical Activity Counselling Practice Support Program, including resources and practical strategies to take back to your practice. After this session, you will understand why physical activity counselling is so important and how you can use it to help your patients.

Tuesday, January 23^rd at 8:30 a.m. Register here.
Monday, January 29^th at 3:30 p.m. Register here.