Category: News

This month we’re checking in with Krysta, our Operations Manager to find out about Winterberry’s second location.

Krysta, I hear there is a new Winterberry Family Medical office. Where is it?

It is located at 35 Upper Centennial Parkway on the second floor. Just 5 minutes from our current location.

That’s great! Why was an additional office added?

In Ontario, 2.3 million people don’t have a family doctor, including over 55,000 in Hamilton. Both numbers are expected to double by 2026, according to the Ontario College of Family Physicians.  At Winterberry we are able to put excellent providers in front of patients to help with this problem.  This allows us to not only grow as a medical office, but also to perform high quality clinical research; which results in life changing/saving treatments.

Everyone at Winterberry must be very excited. Will the staff work at both offices or just one? 

Many staff will have their home base at one office, but there may be times when they work at both offices.

When do you expect the new office to open?

We are hoping for the beginning of 2025!!

When will patients be able to start booking appointments at the new office?

As early as January!

Does having a second office mean that more staff members were added?

Yes, over the last couple months we have added 10 new staff members.  We are looking forward to the continued growth.

Will there be a Grand Opening?

Yes – we will have a Grand Opening day where patients can come see our new space and enjoy some treats.

Treats are nice!, In the meantime, if patients have questions about the new office, who can they contact?

Patients are free to contact either myself or Rachel in HR by calling our Winterberry office.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of respiratory illness, particularly among infants, young children, and older adults, affecting the lungs and airways. RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis, a common chest infection that affects infants and toddlers. Immunization is available to help prevent serious outcomes, such as hospitalization, caused by the virus.

When you visit Winterberry, we will encourage you to receive your RSV vaccination if you are eligible.

Certain high-risk adults aged 60 years and older may be eligible for the vaccine. Adults aged 60 years and older who don’t qualify for the publicly funded program can still purchase the vaccine with a prescription from their family doctor or other primary care provider.

Symptoms of RSV are similar to those of the cold or flu, including:

Coughing, a runny nose, fever, wheezing, a decrease in appetite and energy, irritability in children

Because these are common symptoms, it is easy to mistake RSV for other respiratory illnesses, such as the flu or COVID-19. While most RSV symptoms will go away in a few days, seek medical attention if you or your child have trouble breathing, are not drinking enough fluids or are experiencing worsening symptoms.

Most people who get an RSV infection will have mild illness and will recover within a week or 2 without the need for medical attention or treatment

For some people, RSV may result in severe infections, particularly among infants, young children and older adults (RSV can also make chronic health problems worse)

People are most likely to catch RSV from late fall to early spring, when the virus is most active

RSV is very contagious and spreads the same way as a common cold by:

Touching droplets containing the virus after someone coughs or sneezes

Being close (less than 2 metres apart) to someone with the infection who is coughing or sneezing

After exposure to the virus, it can take 2 to 8 days before becoming sick. People are usually contagious for up to 3 to 8 days. Children are often exposed to and infected with RSV outside the home, such as in school or childcare centers, and can then transmit the virus to other members of the family.

In most cases, you can take care of someone with RSV at home as long as they are breathing comfortably, their skin does not look blue and they are drinking and urinating as usual. Most people get better within a week or 2.

Because RSV is a virus, antibiotics will not help someone get better faster.

Use over-the-counter acetaminophen or ibuprofen

Do not give ibuprofen to babies under 6 months old without first talking to your doctor or other primary care provider

Never give aspirin to children

It is important to drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration (loss of body fluids)

If your baby is having trouble drinking, try to clear nasal congestion gently with a bulb syringe or with saline (salt water) nose drops

A lukewarm bath or wet face cloths will not change someone’s body temperature, but may help them feel more comfortable

Avoid cold baths because they are uncomfortable and can make the person shiver, raising their temperature

Alcohol baths or rubs are not recommended

Dress in light clothing, to allow the body to cool down and help increase comfort

If the person starts to shiver, add warmer clothing — remove them when the shivering stops

Before combining natural or herbal supplements with medicine, as some of ingredients may interact

Some medicines, like over-the-counter cough and cold medicines, contain ingredients that are not good for children

Some people can develop a severe form of RSV, which may result in pneumonia or, in infants and children, bronchiolitis. These illnesses can be serious and may require a visit to a health care provider or to the emergency department.

Go to an emergency department if someone:

Has trouble breathing (working hard to breathe, breathing faster than normal), pale skin, lips that look white or blue, asthma or wheezing

Has any of the following symptoms:

Severe RSV infections can result in lung infections or pneumonia in some older adults and those with underlying health conditions. RSV can also lead to worsening of:

Asthma

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) — a chronic disease of the lungs that makes it hard to breathe

Congestive heart failure — when the heart can’t pump enough blood and oxygen through the body

Adults who experience difficulty breathing should seek immediate medical attention.

Stay home: Stay home if you or someone you’re caring for are sick and until you/they have no fever and symptoms are improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours if there was nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea). Wear a mask when you are outside your home and in public places for 10 days from when your symptoms started.

Clean surfaces: Clean surfaces in your home that are touched often on a regular basis.

Wash your hands: Wash your hands often to reduce the spread of germs. Ask others to do the same.

Use your arm: Coughing or sneezing into your arm instead of your hands and putting used tissue into the garbage right away.

Don’t smoke: Make sure nobody is around cigarette smoke, especially in your car or home.

In fall 2023, Ontario introduced its first publicly-funded high-risk older adult RSV vaccine program.

Ontario will continue this program with expanded eligibility in 2024–25. This includes adults aged 60 years and older who are also:

Residents of long-term care homes, Elder Care Lodges, or retirement homes

Patients in hospital receiving alternate level of care (ALC) including similar settings (for example, complex continuing care, hospital transitional programs)

Patients receiving hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis

Recipients of solid organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplants

Those experiencing homelessness

Those who identify as First Nations, Inuit, or Métis

At Winterberry we are here to help you decide if the RSV vaccination is right for you. Book an appointment using our online appointment link and protect yourself.

Calling all 12-18 year olds! Book an appointment and let’s check-in and chat about your physical and mental health including stressors and goals.  Winterberry is a safe and supportive space,  let’s get you ready for back to school together.  

Booking is easy, just click here to visit our online appointment page.

Photo by Parker Gibbons on Unsplash

At Winterberry we are here to help you live your best life and that includes preparing you for weather events.

At this time of year, our attention turns to preparing you for extreme heat.

Although anyone can experience heat stress, the associated health risks are greatest for those over the age of 65, infants and young children, people with chronic conditions such as breathing or heart problems, and for those who work or exercise in the heat. Fortunately, heat-related illnesses are preventable.

Below is reliable information you can trust to help you “weather” our next heat event!

Find out how to keep cool and stay safe when temperatures rise.

Pay attention to heat warnings which inform you that an extreme heat event is forecasted or occurring.

Prepare your emergency kits. Learn more about what items to put in your kit, including quick and easy steps you can take right away at no cost

Make a household emergency plan that considers ways to prepare for extreme heat. Consider the specific needs of all members of your household, including older adults, children, pets, and anyone with additional health needs

Arrange for regular wellness check-ins or visits in person (or by phone or virtually) several times daily by family, neighbours, or friends

Many local governments offer relief strategies such as cooling centres, extended pool hours, or transportation services during extreme heat events. Check with your city or municipality to learn more

Be aware of your personal risk to extreme heat. Ask a health professional, such as a pharmacist, physician, or nurse practitioner how medications or health conditions may make you more susceptible to the heat

Know the signs and symptoms of heat-related illness and which groups are more at-risk for heat-related illness

During extreme heat events, people may spend more time outdoors. Be aware of extreme heat combined with humidity, wildfire smoke, and sun exposure

If you have an air conditioner, make sure it works properly

If you do not have an air conditioner, consider other ways to keep your home cool such as blocking the sun by closing awnings, curtains or blinds during the day. Opening windows may be advisable if the temperature outdoors is lower than indoors, while being mindful of any outdoor air quality warnings

When your home gets too hot, take advantage of public cooling centers or air-conditioned spaces that you can visit during heat events

If it is safe to do so, leave a couple of windows open at night to take advantage of falling temperatures

It is important to slow down, drink water, and stay cool during an extreme heat event because your body can’t function as well in high temperatures. Whether you are indoors or outdoors during extreme heat, you can protect yourself from the health effects of extreme heat.

Stay in an air-conditioned space or in the shade as much as possible

Stay hydrated and dress for the weather by wearing lightweight, light-coloured, and loose-fitting clothing

Pay attention to how you, and those around you feel and watch for signs and symptoms of heat illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke

Never leave people (especially children) or pets inside a parked vehicle, even on a moderately hot day

Check on older adult family members, neighbours, and friends to make sure they are comfortable and safe

Remember that indoor temperatures can remain warm, even after outdoor temperatures cool down. Continue monitoring the temperature of your home and watching for signs and symptoms of heat-related illness in yourself and others. If you experienced a heat-related illness during the heat event, consult with your health care provider to prepare for future heat events.

Source: https://www.getprepared.gc.ca/cnt/hzd/xtrm-ht-prp-en.aspx

At Winterberry, Nurse Practitioners are an essential and valued members of our team. That’s why we’re watching with interest the developments from the Ontario Ministry of Health indicating they are studying the possibility of expanding their scope of practice (what they can do with patients) and their responsibilities. The Ministry is consulting the College of Nurses of Ontario and other health care partners.

According to the Ministry, allowing nurse practitioners to better use their training, skills and education will help Ontarians connect to more convenient care and help free up more time for physicians to spend caring for patients with more complicated needs.

From the recent Ministry news conference we heard:

“Our government is continuing to use every tool in our toolbox to ensure people have access to the care they need, when they need it,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “By considering changes to allow nurse practitioners to provide more care to their patients, we will connect more people to convenient primary care, while reducing the need for referrals to other providers.”

Proposed changes include:

Providing faster care for someone in cardiac arrest by allowing nurse practitioners to order and apply a defibrillator, which provides an electric shock to help restore a person’s regular heartbeat.

Making it faster for people to receive care if their heart isn’t beating regularly by allowing nurse practitioners to order and apply cardiac pacemaker therapy.

Help people with skin conditions and lesions such as skin tags get them removed faster by allowing nurse practitioners to order and perform electrocoagulation.

Complete and sign mandatory blood testing forms for specific infectious diseases.

The government is also consulting on changes that would improve the end-of-life experience for families after the death of a loved one by allowing nurse practitioners to certify death in all circumstances, as well as allowing registered nurses to certify death when the death has been expected. This will help ensure deaths are certified in a timely manner to preserve dignity for the deceased and their families.

As part of the Your Health plan, the Ontario government is making it easier for highly skilled, regulated health care professionals, including nurse practitioners and registered nurses, to work to the full extent of their training and expertise to better serve the needs of people in a connected and convenient manner.

The College of Nurses of Ontario will continue to support patient safety and quality of care by providing practice standards and setting training and education requirements, to ensure nurse practitioners and registered nurses in Ontario have the knowledge, skill and judgment needed to deliver safe patient care.

Since 2018, Ontario has seen a record-breaking number of new health care professionals join the workforce, adding 80,000 new nurses with another 30,000 nurses currently studying at Ontario colleges and universities.

Since expanding the role of registered nurses to prescribe medications, 122 registered nurses have been authorized to prescribe, after meeting specific requirements, with close to 900 others in the process of meeting education requirements for RN prescribing.

At Winterberry we encourage you to protect yourself from COVID-19 if you are in a high risk category. We are opening up evening vaccination appointments to make getting your shot easy and quick.

You are at high risk if you are any of the following:

    • Adults 65 years of age and older.  

    • Adult residents of long-term care homes and other congregate living settings

       for seniors.  

    • Individuals 6 months of age and older who are moderately to severely  

       immunocompromised (due to an underlying condition or treatment).  

    • Individuals 55 years and older who identify as First Nations, Inuit, or Metis

       and their non-Indigenous household members who are 55 years and older. 

We are proud to have won best in this year’s Reader’s Choice Awards in three categories. We dedicate this award to our highly skilled, caring and professional team, without them we would not be one of the very best clinics in the country. Thank you to everyone who voted and congratulations to all of the other winners. To see the full list of award recipients visit https://www.hamiltonnews.com/readerschoice/

Dr. Steven V. Zizzo (Hamilton) is recognized for leading the team at Winterberry Family Medicine to inoculate 31,000 Hamiltonians—and counting—with COVID-19 vaccines. His innovative initiatives have helped to bridge the gap in delivery of vaccines, and he has disseminated his experience to the broader medical community through involvement with the Primary Care Digital Caucus for both his local and provincial Ontario Health Teams (OHT). To view the Award Program visit hwww.ontariofamilyphysicians.ca/ocfp-awards/2022-award-recipients/ocfp-2022-awards-booklet.pdf

The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) has recognized Dr. Steven Zizzo for outstanding contributions in community service. The award was presented at the 2022 Ontario College of Family Physicians awards ceremony on November 16, this award recognizes Dr. Zizzo “for outstanding community service for his COVID-19 vaccination efforts”.

Background on Dr. Zizzo’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts:

Dr. Zizzo seized every opportunity to improve community and public health because it benefits patients, all Hamiltonians, and our health system overall. As vaccine programs were announced, Dr. Zizzo quickly offered Winterberry Family Medicine’s resources, showcasing the significance of family medicine and the robust resources a holistic health team can offer. 

Since May 2021, Dr. Zizzo has led the team at Winterberry Family medicine to inoculate more than 31,000 and counting with COVID-19 vaccinations.  

The immunized included his own patients, patients of other practices, unattached patients, rural, disadvantaged, high risk, disabled, children; anyone who needed vaccination from Hamilton and the surrounding communities. 

Consistent with the pillars of Family Medicine, Dr. Zizzo identified an urgent gap in healthcare delivery and, given his capacities to deliver substantial help, volunteered his clinic’s services to Hamilton Public Health (HPH). The goal he set and met was to educate and immunize as many as possible.

Dr. Zizzo’s culture of “giving back” is rooted in the values of his late uncle, Dr. Angelo Zizzo, a respected community leader who hosted a weekly educational talk show, Health Matters, on CHML in the 1990s. Following in his uncle’s footsteps, Dr. Zizzo recognized the urgent need to support every resident in and surrounding his community through the pandemic. He felt that this is what his uncle would have done.  Of note, after the untimely death of Dr. Angelo during COVID-19, Dr. Zizzo resumed care for Dr. his patients, immunizing the vast majority of them. 

Dr. Zizzo felt it was our duty to volunteer our capacities to deliver high volume and safe education and immunizations immediately and safely. He personally funded, created systems to implement and oversaw tens of thousands of COVID-19 inoculations when no other family practices offered them. All costs associated with the distribution, including all technology, medical equipment, PPE, training and salaries were paid for personally by Dr. Zizzo, and he did this because he had the capacity and ambition to help – it was the right thing to do.

For many Hamiltonians, this was their first in-person visit to a family physician in more than a year, and Dr. Zizzo ensured his team was prepared for a variety of concerns that could be raised by patients while receiving their vaccinations.