Elgin Primary Care Update

September 2026

Health Provider News

New OH West Diagnostic Imaging Central Intake for CT & MRI Referrals

CT and MRI requisitions for any of the Ontario Health West region hospitals should now be faxed to this new Central Intake number 365-317-9260. Please update your address books and fax numbers attached to forms. You can select a hospital but if wait times are long the patient may be booked at a different hospital. If your patient cannot go elsewhere, tick the box at the bottom.

👉 If you do not have the new forms, download them here: https://www.wecare2image.ca/requisition-forms/.

After Nov 2 any forms faxed directly to hospitals will be returned to you!

🔗 Resource: View the Guide to the OH West Diagnostic Imaging Central Intake for additional information, FAQs, and referral guidance.

Cancer Genetics Referral Updates

Ontario Health has recently updated the Hereditary Cancer Testing eligibility criteria, expanding testing indications for several cancer types. Providers are encouraged to consider both newly diagnosed and previously diagnosed patients who may now meet the updated criteria.

To support referrals, please see the attached resources:

A one-page summary of the recent updates to eligibility criteria

A referral guide as per OH criteria

Our Cancer Genetics clinic referral form

Community Health Hub Self-Referral Resources

Please display these new self-referral promotional materials for the Community Health Hub to help connect patients with Hub services.

Download and share the promotional materials:

MHS ECHH waiting room slide.pdf

Mental Health Services ECHH Poster.pdf

Announcement: Family Medicine Residency Site in Elgin Seeking Host Clinic(s)

Many family physicians in Elgin have served as preceptors for Schulich family medicine residents completing their rural rotations in Elgin. We are excited to announce the opportunity for Elgin to become a satellite site where Schulich family medicine residents will complete the entirety of their residency program! If your clinic may be interested in becoming an academic teaching site, please see below for details and contact information.

Start date: July 2028

Number of positions: 2 (2 PGY1 residents in 2028, as of July 2029 there will be 2 PGY2 residents in addition to 2 new PGY1 residents)

Clinic requirements:

Ideally 2-4 preceptors will be available to share supervisory responsibilities, including one who will serve as Site Director
Clinic will need to be able to provide learners with the opportunity to follow a longitudinal cohort of comprehensive “cradle to grave” family medicine patients
The ability to offer learning opportunities in Long Term Care, hospitalist work, and palliative care home visits would be ideal

Off-service rotations/requirements (ER, Ob/gyn, peds, psych, general surgery, internal medicine, etc): also to be completed in Elgin with STEGH as the anchor

Previous Schulich preceptor experience: Previous teaching experience would be well regarded, but ultimately, preceptors would need to be able to obtain an Adjunct faculty appointment through Schulich

Application Deadline: December 2026 to express interest in becoming an academic site

An established curriculum is available from Schulich. A stipend is also available to offset some expenses.

This is an excellent opportunity to highlight all that our community has to offer and grow the next generation of Elgin physicians right here at home!

If you would like additional information, or to express your interest in becoming an academic site, please contact Dr Daniel Grushka (Postgraduate Program Director, Department of Family Medicine) at dgrushk@uwo.ca

Help Shape Regional Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment Pathways

The Regional Geriatric Program of Southwestern Ontario (RGP SWO) is seeking input from health care professionals to help inform the development of a regional pathway for new disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for Alzheimer’s disease.

With these therapies now approved for clinical use in Canada, feedback from providers will help RGP SWO better understand current approaches to identifying, assessing, and referring individuals with mild cognitive impairment or mild/early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, as well as potential challenges and opportunities for future DMT access.

Who: Health care professionals in Southwestern Ontario

Time: Approximately 10–15 minutes

Deadline: October 2, 2026

🔗 Complete the survey here

Patient Care

Secure Roots Parenting Programs in Elgin County

Families across Elgin County can access Secure Roots, a series of parenting programs designed to help parents and caregivers better understand their child’s needs, strengthen attachment, and build secure relationships.

Programs include:

Secure Steps, an introductory group that explores key Circle of Security concepts
Circle of Security, a parent reflection program focused on understanding children’s behaviour and underlying needs
Secure Connections, an ongoing drop-in group for parents and caregivers who have completed Circle of Security and want to continue practising and building their skills.

MDs and NPs are encouraged to download and display the attached posters in their clinics or share them directly with families who may benefit. Families can register at any time to be added to the program waitlist and will be contacted when a group becomes available.

Posters:

Secure Roots Flyer

Secure Steps Flyer

Secure Connections Playgroup Flyer

Circle of Security Poster

Advanced RN Footcare Referrals

Central Community Health Centre (Central CHC) is offering community-based Advanced RN Footcare for Elgin County residents who do not have access to footcare services through a benefit plan or other funding source. The service is offered in partnership with the Thames Valley Family Health Team.

Primary care providers can refer eligible patients, with priority given to individuals with diabetes mellitus with neuropathy, peripheral arterial disease, non-diabetic related foot neuropathy, or arthritic conditions. Providers are encouraged to include an updated cumulative patient profile, if available, and identify any service access challenges such as mobility or transportation barriers.

👉 Referral Form

ParaMed Physiotherapy Clinic Referral Form

Closing the Gap Physiotherapy is now ParaMed Physiotherapy. Primary care providers can use the updated ParaMed Physiotherapy Clinic Patient Referral Form to refer patients for OHIP-funded or private physiotherapy services at the St. Thomas clinic.

👉 Referral Form

Updated STEGH Bone Mineral Density (BMD) Requisition

St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital (STEGH) has an updated Bone Mineral Density (BMD) Requisition for providers ordering baseline and follow-up BMD scans. The new requisition includes guidance to ensure the test is booked in accordance with new OHIP-coverage rules.

👉 Requisition Form

Chronic Pain & Complex Chronic Illness Resources

The Woods Counselling Co. has developed two free resources for Canadians living with chronic pain and complex chronic illness, including POTS, MCAS, ME/CFS, and Long COVID.

1) Virtual Care Directory for Chronic Pain & Illness in Canada

2) Chronic Illness Care Navigation Hub

Sleep Therapy Group (CBT-I)

The London InterCommunity Health Centre is offering a free, four-week Sleep Therapy Group introducing Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). The program explores strategies to support healthy sleep, including sleep restriction therapy, stimulus control, cognitive restructuring, and relaxation techniques.

Interested clients will complete an individual assessment to determine whether the program is appropriate for them. Self-referrals and provider referrals are accepted, with ongoing registration available.

📍 London InterCommunity Health Centre – Argyle Location

For providers: Referrals can be faxed to 519-642-1532.

Resource: See the attached poster for self-referral and additional program information.

Email Us:

info@elginoht.ca

Visit our website:

https://elginprimarycare.ca