Best Care

Best Care is a lung health program providing care and support to clients with diagnostic testing, education, and establishing a client-centred treatment plan to better manage their respiratory health.

Best Care is offered in partnership with the Asthma Research Group’s team of Certified Respiratory Educators (CRE) working with clients’ primary care Physician or Nurse Practitioner to deliver all of the elements of evidence-based care.

The program is proven to dramatically improve patient health outcomes while achieving substantial reductions in hospitalizations. This is achieved by educating clients to be able to better cope and self-manage their condition and avoid or respond to flare ups.

 

‘STOP’ Smoking Cessation

Best Care includes the CAMH ‘Smoking Treatment for Ontario Patients’ or ‘STOP’ Program. STOP provides current smokers who want to quit with one-to-one counselling and up to 26-weeks of free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT).

NRT is over-the-counter or prescribed products used to help people quit smoking or vaping by providing controlled, low doses of nicotine without the dangerous toxins found in tobacco smoke. It reduces withdrawal symptoms and cravings and increases participants success of quitting when used correctly.

What to Expect

In the Best Care Lung Health program, the Certified Respiratory Educator will:

• Perform a breathing test, known as pre and post spirometry, to detect swelling and tightness in the airways.
• Discuss family history, medical history, smoking history, allergies, symptoms, and triggers (things that bother your breathing).
• Determine the severity of existing asthma or COPD and how it is affecting your quality of life.
• Educate you about your condition, recognizing your symptoms and how to respond to a flare up.
• Review medications and correct puffer use, smoking cessation (when applicable), regular exercise, healthy eating, breathing techniques, safe travel, advanced care planning, and how to cope with your condition.
• Make appropriate referrals as needed to (e.g. pulmonary rehab program and specialist consults).
• Create an Action Plan so you know what to do if your breathing gets worse.

In the STOP program you will address:

• Nicotine dependence
• Risks of continuing to smoke
• Benefits of quitting
• Aids to help you quit (such as NRT)
• Approaches to changing habits

A referral is needed from a Windsor Family Health Team physician or nurse practitioner to join the Lung Health/Smoking Cessation Program.