UXBRIDGE — Area seniors got some important tips for staying healthy and avoiding emergency rooms at a recent Seniors Health Forum.
Uxbridge resident Dr. Sonia Sabir, an emergency room physician at Markham-Stouffville Hospital (MSH), organized the event, which featured informative talks from fellow health care professionals Dr. Carlye Jensen, chief of staff at Uxbridge Cottage Hospital; Alice Watt, hospital pharmacist at MSH; and Katie Turkington, a nurse practitioner for geriatric medicine and the seniors health clinic at MSH.
The topics discussed ranged from antibiotic use to falls prevention and medicine errors, all aimed at helping seniors avoid hospital visits and stay healthier at home.
“I’ve seen a lot of you in my clinic or in emergency, and it’s usually for an infection,” Dr. Jensen explained, noting people often see a doctor looking for a prescription to fix their ailments.
“Often these conditions don’t require antibiotics at all, and we need you to trust us that we know what treatment is most appropriate.”
She listed several key indicators that help her distinguish between viral and bacterial infections, such as symptoms being confined to one system only, such as throat or sinuses, or symptoms improving and then suddenly becoming worse again, which can indicate a secondary bacterial infection.
“We are people pleasers, believe it or not,” Dr. Jensen said of why one physician may prescribe something when another may not.
“Sometimes it’s longer for me to explain why you don’t need it, or sometimes we do it just to be on the safe side. But we’re treading into dangerous territory of just to be on the safe side.”
Dr. Jensen pointed to complications of over-prescribing, including antibiotic resistance, C difficile, rash, allergic reactions and more.
On top of antibiotic issues, pharmacist Alice Watt, who is also a medication safety specialist for the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) Canada, warned attendees of the possible dangers of medication interactions or errors.