RCP New and Updated RCP Resources – RCP has been working on the development of new education and practice resources as well as updating existing ones. These clinical resources are intended to support perinatal and newborn care provider practice. Several are highlighted below:
Perinatal Orientation eLearning Series: Antenatal Assessment and Care – This free self-directed course has been updated in a new format. The aim is to equip nurses and other health care providers with the foundational knowledge necessary to conduct comprehensive antenatal assessments of the childbearing person and family, identify potential risk factors and warning signs during pregnancy, provide evidence-informed nursing care in relation to common perinatal health concerns during pregnancy, and promote access to the resources needed for health during pregnancy. Check out the RCP website for more details and to take the course.
RCP Webinar Series – The most recent in our series is: Maritime Newborn Screening: An Overview for Perinatal and Newborn Care Providers. Presenter Corey Filiaggi, Genetic Counsellor and Clinical Coordinator with Maritime Newborn Screening. To watch the recorded webinar on the RCP website, click here.
Launch of the RCP OAT Continuum of Care Practice Resource - RCP is excited to share that the Continuum of Care for pregnant persons diagnosed with Opioid Use Disorder: Comprehensive Summary and Clinical Toolkit will be released this March. This comprehensive summary will serve as an accessible, inclusive, and evidence-based resource that informs care provider practice and education across Nova Scotia in caring for persons who are diagnosed with opioid use disorder, their newborns, and their families. The resource was created using a diverse, interdisciplinary team, including patient partners, to ensure the practice guidance and recommendations within the comprehensive summary align with and enhance care provider clinical practice and the patient’s personal experience. Join us for the launch webinar: March 24th, 2025, from 12:00-1:00pm, AST via MS Teams. Go here to register.
Prenatal Record Companion Questionnaire: A Provider Resource – This resource has been created for perinatal care providers as an additional (optional) tool to support the provision of antenatal care. The content of the tool has been intentionally designed to align with the content of the RCPs Nova Scotia Prenatal Record (PNR). Care providers are encouraged to use the resource to assist with completion of the NS Prenatal Record in both formats; paper or electronic. Use of the PNR Companion Questionnaire has been found to provide efficiencies and enhance patient flow in clinical care, particularly when using an electronic medical record (e.g., Accuro). The questionnaire can be accessed for care provider use on the RCP website.
Sign-Up for Smart Parent - The IWK Health Centre and Nova Scotia Health Public Health have launched the SmartParent pilot program. SmartParent is a free evidence-based text messaging program that sends information to achieve a healthy pregnancy and birth, timed and tailored to the specific stage of pregnancy. We are requesting your support as our healthcare and community partners in the pilot program in sharing the details of this valuable prenatal resource with colleagues, patients, and families. Additional information is available for parents on the IWK website and for care providers on the SmartParent website. SmartParent also provides posters which can be downloaded and posted in public spaces and online. Please encourage your perinatal patients and clients to sign up for SmartParent so they can benefit from the information shared throughout this transformational time in their lives. Enrollment can be completed by texting the keyword ‘Baby’ to 12323 or by going to www.smartparent.ca and clicking ‘Enroll Now’.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Resources - The Public Health Agency of Canada has endorsed the following FASD resources supporting both healthcare providers and families. The resources have been developed in partnership by FASD NL and FASD Atlantic.
For Healthcare providers – Talking About Alcohol & Pregnancy- Information for Healthcare Providers
For Families:
• Breastfeeding (fasdnl.ca)
• FASD Prevention for Couples (8.5 x 11 in) (fasdnl.ca)
• Did You Know-KD&LS (fasdnl.ca)
Feel free to print and post within your clinic spaces and share with your colleagues, patients and families.
Health Canada Recall on Feeding Device - Health Canada has recently issued an advisory for infant-self feeding devices. These products are now banned in Canada and have been removed from the sale from the online seller. Infant self-feeding devices (and any device/practice that supports an infant to feed themselves unattended) poses a significant health and safety risk that could result in illness or death. Health Canada is aware that 60 of these devices have been sold in Canada.
Please see the advisory issued by Health Canada for more information and related media articles below:
Health Canada Advisory: Health Canada warns that infant self-feeding devices available on AliExpress.ca pose choking and aspiration hazards - Canada.ca
Related Articles:
• Health Canada warns that infant self-feeding devices available on AliExpress.ca pose choking and aspiration hazards - Canada.ca
• Parents, toss infant self-feeding devices ‘immediately’: Health Canada - National | Globalnews.ca
Please share with your patients and families.
Registration for the 2SLGBTQIA+ Affirming Care Conference is Open - PrideHealth, in partnership with Nova Scotia Health and IWK Health, invite you to the annual 2025 2SLGBTQIA+ Affirming Care Conference! This event brings together clinicians, researchers, and advocates to share best practices, lived experiences, and strategies for delivering culturally safe health care to 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and communities.
Some of the featured sessions include:
• Political Climate & Affirming Care with Dr. Bast & Mixhi Marquis
• We Are Allies Campaign with Trans Care BC
• Sex & Gender: Birth, Infant, & Juvenile Interventions with Veronica Merryfield
• Pronouns 101 with Drew Bruchell
And many more sessions covering a range of affirming care topics provided by clinicians, researchers and 2SLGBTQIA+ advocates!
Join three days of virtual learning, collaboration, and critical discussions on queer health. This is an opportunity to expand your knowledge, connect with experts, and strengthen your approach to inclusive, patient-centered care. Register here.
Professional/health-related upcoming awareness events/days:
February:
• African Heritage Month
• Recreation Therapy Month
• Turner Syndrome Awareness Month
• Heart Month
• Psychology Month
• Congenital Heart Disease Awareness (Feb 7-14)
• Heritage Day (Feb 17)
March:
• Epilepsy Awareness Month
• Kidney Health Month
• Liver Health Month
• Music Therapy Awareness Month
• National Social Work Month
• Nutrition Month
• Child Life Month
• Endometriosis Month
• Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month
• Pharmacy Appreciation Month (PAM)
• World Birth Defects Day (March 3)
• World Obesity Day (March 4)
• Employee Appreciation Day (March 7)
• International Women's Day (March 8)
• Dental Assistants Recognition Week (DARW) (March 3–9)
• Safe Sleep Week (March 10 to 14)
• St. Patrick's Day (March 17)
• National Poison Prevention Week (March 16 to 22)
• Medical Genetics Awareness Week (March 18–21)
• World Down Syndrome Day (March 21)
• International Day of the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (March 21)
• National Indigenous Languages Day (March 31)
• International Transgender Day of Visibility (March 31)
Feel free to share the RCP’s e-News with your colleagues.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact the RCP office at rcp@iwk.nshealth.ca.
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