Gary Hallman has joined LeBeau Excel Sales and Marketing as the sales representative for the Niagara and South western Ontario region.
Hallman comes to the company after several successful roles in the health food retail industry in Canada. He has spent the last five years in a variety of roles with the most recent as general manager for Healthy Foods & More in Waterloo, Ontario.
Hallman holds a BA with honours in Political Science from Waterloo University and a minor in International Business.
LeBeau Excel announced the addition of Deborah Murdoch as marketing manager who will spearhead and lead the expansion in capacity and resources.
Murdoch has proven her sales and marketing acumen within the Niagara and Southwest Ontario regions and created great ideas for promotions.
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She will now perform in a national focused role and work with LeBeau Excel’s vendors to better execute various marketing campaigns.
Murdoch holds a BA from MacMaster University and a BEd from Western University, London, Ontario. She comes from a family of business minds enriched with entrepreneurial experiences and has spent several years in various retail positions.
Avril Supermarché Sante held a grand opening of its first store in Quebec on May 27 as part of the second development phase of Carrefour Saint-Romuald.
The supermarket brings together local organic, natural and gluten-free products, certified fruit and vegetables and fine grocery to residents. The 20,000 square foot facility also houses non-grocery items such as supplements, organic cosmetics, counselling services for homeopathy and a cafe with 60 seats offering health eating options.
Sylvie Senay and Rolland Tanguay, owners of the other three Avril Supermarché Santé stores, initiated this project. “For a few years now, the people of the Québec region have been requesting a store through our website,” says Senay.
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Tanguay adds, “We noticed during Expo Manger Santé that the people of Quebec are aware of the importance of a healthy lifestyle. We offer a 100% healthy and natural alternative to traditional supermarkets.”
Aside from providing healthy eating options, the store has led to the creation of 50 new jobs. Like all other Avril stores, this location also boasts an energy efficient approach and recovery and redistribution of heat generated by appliances as a way to keep the store floor radiated and warm.
Residents in other regions in Quebec will soon be able to visit an Avril store close to their homes.
Violations of the health code by Native Vancouver Pharmacy located close to downtown eastside, Vancouver, has led to a shutdown by the College of Pharmacists.
The inspection authorities documented a long list of violations that can lead to serious health concerns for patients and employees, such as presence of mice feces, mould on the floor and surfaces. Roach and mouse traps in various locations around the pharmacy, bad lighting, no hot running water among others.
“I am appalled,” said Anar Dossa, chair of the college board. “As a profession, we are dedicated to quality patient care. I want to assure members of the public that patient health is our top priority. We are taking this extraordinary action in order to protect the public health.”
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The college believes this poses a serious public and patient health risk and has ordered a suspension of this pharmacy’s licence effective June 12.
The owners of the pharmacy and patients frequenting the place have been given the two week grace period to move their business elsewhere. Despite its name, the Native Vancouver Pharmacy has no association with either the First Nations Health Authority or Vancouver Native Health Services, located nearby.
Despite share losses for the year 2014 – 2015, Vitality‘s sales increased to $63,916, owing to the increase in sales efforts by the company.
Last year’s shares for the organic health products company have shown a net loss of $177,712 which is comparable to a net loss of $184,774 for the same period last year.
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The increase in sales is due to the release and distribution of their new line of health products in fall of 2013. The ever expanded natural health business market has already seen 92 products released by the company ever since its conception.
All lines are available Canada-wide in more than 150 stores from the coast to coast to coast.
St. John Ambulance wants you to know the signs and symptoms of a stroke
June is stroke awareness month and St. John Ambulance reminds everyone how to recognize the signs and symptoms of a stroke.
According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation 2014 Stroke Report, “over the past decade, strokes in people in their 50s have increased by 24 per cent and in those in their 60s – by 13 per cent. Studies also say that stroke rates among younger people will double in the next 15 years.
What is a Stroke? A stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks a narrowed artery in the brain depriving the brain tissue beyond the clot of oxygen causing tissue death. A stroke can also be caused by a ruptured artery. A severe stroke can cause death or permanent brain damage and disability. If you suspect a stroke time is of the essence, seek emergency medical help immediately.
Signs and Symptoms of a Stroke The signs and symptoms of a stroke vary depending on what part of the brain is being affected. More often than not symptoms are only manifested on one side of the body. If you suspect a stroke think F.A.S.T:
Facial droop – One side of the face doesn’t move as well as the other side. Ask the affected individual to smile and watch the corners of his/her mouth.
Arm Drift – Have the person hold both arms out in front of him/her. One arm may not be able to move or will drift back down unconsciously.
Speech – The person may slur words, use the incorrect words (act confused), or be unable to speak at all.
Time – Get medical help immediately. The earlier a stroke is treated the better the survival and recovery outcome is for the casualty.
Please join ALS Canada in their initiative to help the ALS community.
Walk for ALS
With 90 walks taking place across Canada, 60 per cent of the proceeds raised will provide support and services for people living with ALS and the remaining 40 per cent will go towards research to find a treatment.
You can register here
Donate
As of today, ALS is a terminal disease. Please donate to help ALS Canada to continue to support ALS community and research to make the disease treatable.
More information here
Spread the word
Use #ALSAwareness Month hashtag in your social media and encourage others to share it. Join the conversation and follow ALS Canada on Twitter and Facebook.
Please support Canadians living with ALS.
You’re undoubtedly noticing in your practice that as your patients get older, they’re also becoming more aware and concerned about declining mental ability.
We all know deep down inside that our short term memories are going to become less accessible and our cognitive pathways won’t be as crisp and efficient as they once were. And why should they be? After all, we have full lifetimes of memories to sort through and less urgency and need for efficiency in our daily lives. We’ve earned the right to relax, and yet we tend to hold ourselves to the standards by which we’ve led our lives. We allow these memory lapses and moments of absentmindedness to seem much more profound and portentous than they should.
It’s perfectly normal to experience phenomena like:
Some of your patients will come to you with a real sense of urgency if these lapses are becoming more frequent or making them noticeably less functional. And as a professional, you should be able to recognize signs and symptoms of phenomena like strokes and dementia and advise them about immediately seeking medical attention.
But when they come back to you, as so many of them will, because the medical establishment can’t provide satisfactory answers and solutions and your patients feel a need to be proactive – you need to be able to provide lifestyle advice that will help them manage and monitor their own mental health.
For many, that simply involves everyday things like maintaining a certain level of social engagement and physical activity, getting enough sleep and controlling mood and anxiety. Many of these things are at least partially manageable through diet. They should be seeking out natural source anti-oxidants from foods like walnuts and tomatoes and essential fatty acids through seafood or supplements. They would probably benefit from adding supplements to their regimen – even something as basic a good daily multivitamin to make sure they’re getting enough vitamin D, E, C and K.
And when they really want to get serious about feeding their brains – your patients will be heartened to know that you’re on top of all the trends and research about the very best steps and supplements they can take to look after their mental health.
While most people are very interested to learn about cutting edge anti-aging and dementia research – they are also aware of the lag time between scientific discoveries and the transformation of that new data into new treatments and medications.
We present a list of ingredients known to:
Antioxidants inhibit oxidization and the resulting production of free radicals, which can damage or kill brain cells. Recommended anti-oxidants:
Vitamin B 12:
High levels of the amino acid, homocysteine, contribute to brain shrinkage and increased risk of dementia. Vitamin B12 is an effective homocysteine suppressor.
As our society eats less meat – the main natural source of vitamin B12 – and gravitates toward more vegetarian diets, the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency increases. Our bodies don’t do a particularly good job of absorbing the nutrients we need and almost all vitamin B12 is absorbed through our small intestines. This process tends to get less efficient as we get older.
Traditional vitamin B supplements contain cyanocobalamine, in which the B12 is bound to cyanide. We depend on our livers to convert this to naturally occurring methylcobalamine – but of course, our livers also tend to do their job less well as we age. It makes sense to look beyond the traditional delivery system and
eliminate the need for conversion by taking methylcobalamine sublingual tablets (which dissolve under the tongue) and skin absorption (via a skin patch).
Omega-3s:
With almost 10 per cent of our brain’s matter comprised of the “essential fatty acids” known as omega-3s, it should come as no surprise that supplementing
Omega-3s may be the best way to prevent brain shrinkage and prevent nerve cell death. Recent studies even suggest that omega-3s can actually reverse some types of age related brain cell damage.
Efficient absorption becomes more of a challenge as we age – and since the shorter chained, plant based omega-3s known as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) are harder for us to synthesize – we should probably lean toward the more readily usable, longer-chained, marine-based omega-3s docosahexanoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentanoic acid (EPA)
Phospholipids:
Because we each have different genetic backgrounds and all have different body chemistry (governed by diet, lifestyle and by the list of other medications we are taking), we all have different needs to restore balance and achieve and maintain optimal health. There are no one-size-fits-all solutions and it may be necessary to go through a process of figuring out what works best for each individual patient.
Nevertheless, most of the ingredients we present here are good for everyone – and many are essential in helping your maintain a healthy mind.
As in any other business, there is no single chartable route to success as a naturopath or an entrepreneur running your own clinic, but there are plenty of commonalities. The most essential part of the process of becoming established in a practice requires intense involvement in the community at large. The establishment of personal relationships with clients and the resulting referrals is often the single most important factor in determining the success of an ND’s practice.
Engagement with the Community
Dr. Brian Davies of Westcoast Integrative Health in North Vancouver stresses that it is important to “Leave your ego at the door. Clinical practice is 100% about supporting the patient. Medicine is steeped in preconceptions, misconceptions, and beliefs about disease and treatment. As such, the focus needs to be on what the patient wants. Being a good listener and learning to manage expectations is one way I have worked to meet the needs of my patients.”
“I was extremely studious throughout my university career (University of Victoria and the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine.) I wanted to know absolutely everything about medicine, to be able to recite it all forwards and backwards. Although my understanding of the discipline has been essential in clinical practice, knowledge isn’t everything. Equally important in my opinion, is how well you use this knowledge to educate and be educated by your patients.
“These concepts where not things that I learned in school but have allowed me to excel in my practice of naturopathic medicine. “
As far as actual marketing is concerns, Dr. Davies takes an even more low key approach. He volunteers in the community, teaches courses and gives lectures when the opportunity arises and says he gets 100 per cent of his business through referrals, a loyal patient base and networking in the community. He can identify a single occasion when he spent money on advertising during his ten plus years in practice.
Determining and Providing the Services that are Most Essential
Dr. Cathryn Coe, owner of North Vancouver’s Marine Drive Naturopathic Clinic has taken quite a different path. She regards it as vital to reach out to the people most likely to need your services – to educate them regarding possible causes of symptoms or conditions, and offer them solutions to these concerns. She is not averse to reaching outside of her immediate neighbourhood and putting the word out in nearby communities through advertising in both community newspapers, magazines and publications in the lower mainland. Even as an associate working out of someone else’s clinic, she advertised quite aggressively. Dr. Coe’s specialty is endocrinology and menopausal health and Marine Drive Naturopathic has benefitted and grown from her reputation and drive to get the word out about her services and personalized care. By establishing close and trusting relationships with her patients and offering her own expert insights and suggestions, the circle often widens – so that other family members come in to see her. This creates something of a RIPPLE effect, bringing attention and new clients to her associates – who themselves offer a diverse range of specialties. Her Marine Drive Naturopathic Clinic is experiencing considerable success and popularity, situated as it is in a well established community of people ranging from young professionals to active parents to productive and engaged retirees.
“I have used the same model both as an associate and as a business owner., “explains Dr. Coe, “identify the needs of your community, educate them about the steps that can be taken for them to overcome their symptoms or condition, and offer solutions. Even if patients don’t book with me directly, the type of advertising I do is educational, and for that reason benefits the profession as a whole.”
Every business decision Dr. Coe makes is calculated to deliver maximum benefit to her patients and her communities. She chose the physical location of her clinic because it is in the neighbourhood that has demonstrated the greatest demand for and appreciation of the work she does. “I can’t emphasize enough the importance of creating the right environment for your clients. In my clinic, your treatment begins right when you walk through the door.”
It’s All Personal
Regina’s Dr. Marika Geis agrees wholeheartedly with the need to establish personal relationships with patients.
Owner of Daziran Integrative Health, which operates out of the Cathedral Centre for Wellness in Regina, Dr. Geis enjoys a broad primary care practice emphasizing family medicine including women’s health issues, pediatric care, fertility counseling, perinatal care and stress syndromes (fatigue, insomnia, digestive issues, immune dysfunction and pain complexes).
Dr. Geis thinks of her patients almost as family – with whom she pursues relationships based on education and enlightenment: using nutritional counseling, botanical medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, clinical nutrition, lifestyle counseling and hydrotherapy – whatever speaks to and works for her individual patients. Determining and examining the physical, emotional, environmental and spiritual influences impacting the patient’s health – allows her to tailor treatments for each patient – bring them to a state of independence in their health, a sense of understand and having vital input into their own states of wellness.
Any entrepreneur in any field faces challenges common to the marketplace – weighing foot traffic against cachet, worrying about accessibility and signage, paying the rent, making budgets and managing cashflow.
But integrative healthcare practitioners have a unique role. Just by coming to see you in the first place, your patients are, as human beings, demonstrating their willingness – or even eagerness – to take responsibility for their own health, their own life and the lives of those they love.
As their caregiver, you can empower them further by giving them an understanding of their condition – and their options, roles and responsibilities in their own wellness.
Your toolbox contains an endless array of effective resources ranging from your understanding of physiological processes; knowledge of breaking research; awareness of and openmindedness to newly developed therapies and insights. But more than anything else – and perhaps more than in any other profession – your success depends on the relationships you create and maintain.
It’s not like you’re selling bread or auto parts or some other interchangeable product that your patients can find cheaper just down the road. The advice you give and the relationships you form are unique, valuable and irreplaceable. They come to you because of who you are and what you can give them that others can’t. The trust you build is your coin in trade.
Just ten minutes from Halifax, in peaceful Upper Tantallon, rests a center of calm and healing known as Cornerstone Naturopathic – a state-of-the-art naturopathic clinic that represents the crossroads between a relaxing, regenerative environment and a sophisticated centre dedicated to the enhancement of medicine and continued recovery. Founder Dr. Ben Connolly believes that nature has an incredible power to help people heal and is an essential aspect of naturopathic medicine. As you arrive at Cornerstone Naturopathic and exit your vehicle you immediately hear a rushing river beside the clinic. While you take in your surroundings you see a beautiful view of St. Margaret’s Bay and a lush softwood forest. Finally you are greeted by a beautiful timber frame entrance to the clinic, this moment is when your healing begins. The new location for Cornerstone Naturopathic’s new clinic was chosen in Upper Tantallon outside of the city as almost all patients can benefit from a break away from the stresses of urban living.
Due to the overarching principle of building a clinic in nature, there is little to no foot traffic on the street outside the clinic, yet always lots of patients inside. This has been made possible by word of mouth, many public speaking engagements in the community by their doctors, a strong social media presence, an excellent website and targeted trade shows.
Having just opened the doors to their new location in November 2014, Cornerstone is a one of a kind facility. With 7000 square feet, housing three full-time NDs, a full service infusion clinic, two registered massage therapists, a holistic nutritionist, a full gym onsite with personal training, an onsite nursery for patients to leave their children under supervision while they receive much needed treatment – it is one of the largest, most forward thinking Naturopathic Health Centers in Canada.
They are an evidenced based clinic, staying on top of the latest developments to help patients achieve an increased quality of life. This involves their doctors regularly travelling to conferences and taking courses across North America to bring back advanced treatments. In their state-of-the-art infusion room you will find patients receiving IV treatments such as tryptophan, taurine and aminosyn infusions for anxiety and depression through to L-carnitine and multi-vitamin infusions for mitochondria support for patients suffering from fatigue.
They also have an active full service multi-purpose/community education room which brings people into the clinic, which has featured smoothie workshops, movie presentations, birthing classes and make your own skin care product workshops.
Each Naturopathic Doctor at Cornerstone has specific focuses in their practice. Dr. Colin MacLeod focuses on sports medicine and treating chronic and acute pain. He utilizes diet, lifestyle, acupuncture, injection and intravenous treatments for optimizing his patients’ health, performance and reducing their pain. Dr. Jillian Cole has a focus in mental and neurological health utilizing nutrition and supplements as well as individualized infusions. Dr. Ben Connolly divides his focuses between chronic and neurological pain utilizing nutrition and a variety of injection techniques including prolozone, neural and neuralprolo therapy. He also has a interested in cosmetic therapies.
Connolly believes that supporting the Naturopathic profession is as important as running a successful practice. Educating up and coming ND students outside of the classroom and providing them with opportunities to apply their knowledge hands on is crucial to a well-rounded ND upon graduation. They frequently have ND students in the clinic shadowing and currently run two externships a year with opportunity to increase up to six. They are also developing a residency program for new grads set to launch in 2016.
Cornerstone Naturopathic aims to bring Naturopathic Medicine to all of Nova Scotia and as a result have created a Cornerstone Satellite clinic in Yarmouth with three naturopathic doctors, while Dr. Colin MacLeod has created a satellite clinic serving the community in Port Hood, Cape Breton.
