Patient and Family Centered Care at the Saskatchewan Health Authority

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Health Authority Issues Heat Advisory

A resident of Regina, Canada, in the Saskatchewan region, Imafidon Thomas Izekor, MD is a family physician at the Saskatchewan Health Authority. Here, Dr. Imafidon Thomas Izekor practices family medicine.

In June 2021, the Saskatchewan Health Authority issued a heat advisory and tips to stave off the negative health impacts of the warmer weather. A heat warning is typically issued when the daytime temperatures are 29 degrees Celsius, or higher and nighttime minimum temperatures are 14 degrees Celsius or warmer for two consecutive days.

The advisory came with tips to deal with extremely hot weather, including staying out of the sun during peak times and avoid physical exertion in warm temperatures. Peak times are usually between 11 am and 3 pm. In the event, a person must be outside, wear protective clothing (hat, sunglasses, loose clothing) to protect skin and eyes from the sun.

Staying hydrated is another tip. Drinking a lot of water and taking cool baths can help with keeping the body cool. Furthermore, avoid drinking alcohol, and eat colder foods with high water content (fruits and salads) to stay hydrated.

Family Physicians Play Critical Role

Dr. Imafidon Thomas Izekor, a family physician who earned his degree in medicine from the University of Lagos in Nigeria, provides comprehensive consultant level patient care at the Family Medicine Unit of the Saskatchewan Health Authority in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Imafidon Thomas Izekor, MD, maintains his membership with the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC).

In late April, the CFPC with the Canadian Society for Long-Term Care Medicine (CSLTCM) released the “Joint Position Statement on the Role of Family Physicians in Long-Term Care Homes.” The Family Medicine Professional Profile describes long-term care (LTC) homes as a primary setting where family physicians provide comprehensive patient care.

CFPC and CSLTCM have a long-standing partnership to advocate for system-wide improvements in patient care at LTC homes. The organizations recognized that the Canadian government allocated $3 billion over the next five years to support LTC.

In the position statement, CFPC and CSLTCM provided four courses of action to improve LTC in Canada. First, the national standards for patient care in LTC homes must be fully implemented. Second, there must be full support for family physician leadership, especially in medical director roles. Third, enhanced funding for LTC staff. Fourth, integration of effective and cohesive communication for continuing LTC support.

Health Benefits of Listening to Music

Family medicine practitioner Dr. Imafidon Thomas Izekor serves as a family physician under the Family Medicine Unit of the Saskatchewan Health Authority in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. When not working, Imafidon Thomas Izekor MD listens to classical music.

Scientific studies have proven that listening to classical music is good for the body and the mind. It has positive implications for physical and mental health, too. The following are some examples.

1. Researchers from Oxford University found that listening to classical music can lower blood pressure. The participants in the study listened to Mozart and Strauss for 25 minutes and recorded a substantial decrease in their blood pressure. Music without lyrics that change its rhythms and volumes, and repeats at certain intervals reduce blood pressure.

2. A study published in the National Library of Medicine said that listening to music can improve sleep quality. During the study, a group of participants listened to classical music for 45 minutes every day for three weeks indicated a significant statistical decrease in depressive symptoms. The researchers concluded that listening to relaxing classical music reduces sleeping problems.

3. A 2006 study discovered that listening to classical music helps relieve chronic pains. The researchers prescribed listening to classical music to a group of people going through chronic pains or recovering from surgery. The study found that the patients who incorporated music in their rehabilitation experienced ease in pain caused by a positive reaction to the music from the brain’s reward center.