Practicing Well Community of Practice

Harmful use of alcohol contributed to 17,000 deaths in Canada in 2020, with an estimated $6.3 billion spent that year on healthcare cost related to alcohol use. However, patients may be misinformed about the risks associated with alcohol use, how to reduce risk, or unaware of the first-line treatments available for alcohol use disorder. Family doctors often provide advice on reducing harms associa...

Patients with anxiety can often overuse health-care resources by presenting multiple health concerns to their physician. Family doctors can face difficulty if the cause of a patient's concern is anxiety. Diagnosing a patient with anxiety early allows patients to be treated for anxiety instead of ordering multiple unnecessary tests or counselling patients on why they do not require specific tests....

There is a large differential for chronic pain and it can be difficult to address. Some patients with chronic pain take high amounts of opioids, leading to discomfort with continuing the prescription. Chronic pain can lead to opioid dependency, overprescribing and can affect patients' mood and quality of life. Listen as our panel discusses the Power Over Pain portal and various resources for carin...

It is often difficult to help patients wean off benzodiazepines (benzos), especially if the patient has been using this medication for a long time and alternative treatments do not work as well for them. Elderly patients who take benzos are at a higher risk for falls, and patients can develop tolerance to them, which can lead to addiction. In this session, the panel shares their experiences and pr...

The increased administrative burden on family doctors, along with a rise in complex patient cases, have led to extended work hours, leading to burnout within family medicine. In this session, we share invaluable strategies and time management hacks to combat burnout and enhance both professional satisfaction and personal well-being. The panel offers insights and tips on optimizing charting and pap...

It can be difficult to pinpoint the cause of a non-migraine headache and symptoms can be vague. If left untreated, headaches can lead to poor mood, sleep and a reduced quality of life. Missed red flags can lead to significant harm to patients such as stroke and malignancy. How can family doctors address a patient's headache to help improve their quality of life and prevent overreliance on pain med...

There are few treatment options for patients with personality disorders and these patients can pose a challenge for doctors and clinic staff, leading to burnout. If a personality disorder is not addressed, patients may not receive the care they need and family doctors may not want to continue with the individual as a patient or may become burned out from treating them. Listen to our session as we...

Legalized cannabis and the marketing of its products has led to patients experiencing an increased dependency on cannabis to manage pain and anxiety. Family doctors don't always know when cannabis is indicated and the messaging available may come from sources with a conflict of interest. What can family doctors do to support patients experiencing cannabis dependency? Listen to our session as our p...

Insomnia can be caused by multiple factors and may require a longer appointment, but family doctors don't always have the time. If the issue is not addressed, overreliance on sleep aids can lead to patient dependency and poor sleep can lead to substance use, as well as decreased productivity and mood. Listen to this session as our panelists discuss experiences treating insomnia with non-pharmaceut...

Women's pain issues, including menstrual and pregnancy related pain, can often go dismissed due to a lack of training in pelvic pain. This can lead to the undertreatment of pain symptoms in women. How can family physicians better recognize and offer treatments to ensure these issues are being addressed? Listen to this session as our panelists offer personal experience with managing female patients...

Smoking can cause serious health issues and is the leading cause of death among substance use disorders. Listen to this session as your fellow family doctors share personal experiences with managing patients who smoke. The panel will discuss motivational interviewing, provide an overview of treatment options and share available referral pathways that can support a patient. The Practising Well Comm...

Do you find yourself experiencing stressful interactions with patients, other physicians or allied health providers? These conversations in the workplace can leave us feeling isolated and burned out. Listen as we share personal experiences in navigating stressful interactions, provide insights into what we've learned and tips for managing these situations, including how to navigate maintaining or...

Family doctors are often the first contact patients may have with the health care system and a missed diagnosis could lead to comorbidities. Listen to our panel as they share tips to recognize and address a potential eating disorder with a patient. They will also share ideas on how to help patients feel comfortable talking about an eating disorder. Panelists: Dr. Marina Abdel Malak  (Mississauga,...

Although uncertainty is a common element of patient care, as doctors, we feel better when we think we have all the answers. Join your colleagues for a discussion about how to manage patients who have a complex diagnosis and share tips on time-management, resources for referrals and strategies to help manage our own feelings. Panelists: Dr. Merrilee Brown (Port Perry, ON) Dr. Lisa Del Giudice (Toro...

Nearly one in ten Canadians is believed to have experienced post-traumatic stress disorder, but the condition is often missed by doctors. It can be difficult to treat other issues if underlying trauma is not addressed, leading to a frustrating experience for both patient and provider. Join your fellow family doctors for a discussion about how to recognize and manage patients with PTSD and learn ab...

Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at 07:55 AM Family doctors routinely treat patients with disabilities, but the medical profession often stigmatizes physicians living with disabilities themselves. Connect with your fellow family doctors to learn tips and strategies to adapt your practice and create an environment where everyone can thrive. Learn practical tips for how to navigate taking time off and di...

Increased patient expectations and an overwhelming workload are two factors that have contributed to the heightened burnout rate in family medicine.  Join your fellow physicians to discuss how self-compassion and setting boundaries can help you take better care of yourself, your peers and your patients. Panelists: Dr. Patricia Rockman (Toronto, ON) Dr. Sue Shepherd (Port Perry, ON) Dr. Shira Taylo...

Do you want to learn more about the differences between nociceptive and neuropathic pain? Listen in as we breakdown the two and identify warning signs to look out for in a pain condition. We'll discuss treatment options with your fellow family doctors and learn how self-management, mindfulness and meditation can take a patient from a life of pain to one of possibility. Panelists: Dr. Amy Alexander...

Assessing a child with a potential mental health issue can be a complex process. Overlapping conditions and misinformation can complicate diagnosis and treatment. There are screening tools that can help. Join your fellow family doctors to discuss strategies and resources to support you in identifying children's mental health needs, services and educational materials. Panelists: Dr. Deema Abdul Had...

Family doctors are often the first medical professional that patients turn to when seeking help for a substance use disorder. But there is rarely enough time in a single appointment to provide in-depth counselling. Join in a discussion with your fellow physicians about how family doctors can use motivational interviewing to support patients during short clinical visits. Panelists: Dr. Melissa Holo...

Low back pain is one of the most common reasons that patients visit their doctor. Yet without effective intervention it can become a chronic condition. Join your fellow physicians to discuss approaches to treatment and share your own experiences helping patients with low back pain.  Panelists: Dr. Paul Hoogeveen (Barrie) Dr. Jennifer Young (Collingwood) Dr. Sheri Wark (Thunder Bay) Download the re...

The ongoing opioid crisis has only gotten worse during the pandemic. Join your fellow family doctors to discuss strategies for managing opioid use by patients, unique issues facing practitioners, and hear about alternatives to regularly prescribed opioids. Panelists: Lisa Bromley (Ottawa) Kate Lazier (Toronto) Joel Voth (Toronto) Accompanying resources are available on the Community of Practice se...

We discuss the latest on COVID including case counts, variants and vaccines. We also re-review IPAC advice given changing context, and we provide an update on Monkeypox in Ontario, including potential new guidance on testing.  Panelists: Dr. Allison McGeer, Microbiologist, Infectious Disease Consultant, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON Dr. Darrell Tan, Infectious Diseases Physician, Clinician Sci...

Coping with undesired change and loss can be difficult. Join your colleagues to consider and discuss strategies for recognizing and responding to grief and loss, and to learn about support for yourself and your patients. Panelists: Dr. Robin Beardsley (Kanata) Dr. Ramona Joshi (Toronto) Dr. Chase McMurren (Toronto) Accompanying resources are available on the Community of Practice  session page. Th...

Learn about different anxiety disorders and hear from your colleagues about approaches to caring for patients dealing with anxiety. Panelists: Dr. Jon Davine (Hamilton) Dr. Rachel Shour (Toronto) Dr. Karen Trollope-Kumar (Hamilton) Accompanying resources are available on the Community of Practice session page. This session originally took place on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.