Ottawa Valley Family Health Team

06/15/2026

Next week! 🩵
June 22nd 2026 - Loving Kindness Meditation

Looking for a boost of self-love? Join us virtually for a session of loving-kindness meditation! This peaceful practice, also known as metta meditation, will help you cultivate compassion and kindness toward yourself and others. By silently repeating phrases of well-wishing, we'll create a space to connect deeply with our own hearts and extend that love to those around us—friends, neutral acquaintances, and even anyone challenging in our lives. Let's come together to reduce negativity and enhance our overall well-being. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to nurture yourself!

06/10/2026

💙Happy Men's Health Week💙

Talking about health isn't always easy. Sometimes it's easier to put things off, ignore symptoms, or tell ourselves we'll get around to it later.
That's why Men's Health Week matters. It's a reminder to check in—with ourselves, our friends, our family members, and the men in our lives. Sometimes a simple conversation can be the nudge someone needs to take that first step toward better health. 💬💙
This Men's Health Week, we encourage everyone to help raise awareness about men's health and well-being. 📣

Men's Health Week is a chance to start conversations about important health topics, including:

🩺 Preventive care and regular check-ups
❤️ Heart and cardiovascular health
🎗️ Prostate health and screening awareness
🧠 Mental health and emotional well-being
💬 Breaking down stigma and encouraging open conversations

Small steps can make a big difference. Whether it's booking an appointment, asking a question, talking about stress, or checking in on someone you care about, every step counts.

Let's keep the conversation going this Men's Health Week. 💙

06/04/2026

Why Nurse Practitioners Are Such an Important Part of Primary Care 💙

Did you know that Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are highly trained healthcare professionals who play a vital role in keeping our community healthy?

The role of Nurse Practitioners came into emergence in the 1960's to service communities in Northern Canada. NPs have 6 or more years of academic and clinical training and are educated at a master’s or doctoral level. Their advanced education allows them to practice autonomously without physician supervision. They are qualified to provide comprehensive primary care and support for patients through every stage of life.

At our clinic, Nurse Practitioners:

✔️ Diagnose and treat illnesses
✔️ Order and interpret tests and diagnostic imaging
✔️ Prescribe medications
✔️ Manage chronic conditions
✔️ Provide preventative care and health education
✔️ Support mental health and overall wellness

NPs help improve access to care, reduce wait times, and ensure patients receive compassionate, high-quality healthcare when they need it most.

Research shows that patients connected to a primary care NP often experience:
• Fewer emergency room visits
• Reduced hospital readmissions
• Strong continuity of care

🩷 We are proud to have Nurse Practitioners as an essential part of our primary care team. Their expertise, dedication, and patient-centered approach make a meaningful difference for our patients every day 🩷

06/03/2026

Happy Pride Month! 🌈

This month, we celebrate the strength, diversity, and contributions of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and reaffirm our commitment to providing safe, inclusive, and affirming care for everyone.

At OVFHT, we are proud to offer gender-affirming care and support for transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse individuals. We welcome conversations, questions, and connections, and are here to help individuals and families access the care, information, and support they need.

A special thank you to our wonderful Nurse Practitioner, Krista Kennedy, who leads our gender-affirming care program and is always willing to connect with patients, healthcare providers, and community members who have questions about transgender care or how to create more affirming spaces in clinics and throughout our community.

We're also excited to be participating in the Perth Pride Parade this coming weekend! Be sure to say hello if you see our team—we look forward to celebrating with our community and showing our support for inclusion, respect, and belonging.

Happy Pride Month from all of us. Everyone deserves compassionate care, dignity, and the freedom to be their authentic self. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

05/26/2026

💙 Moving Through May with Physiotherapy

🌟 May is Physiotherapy Month! 🌟
We’re excited to now offer physiotherapy as part of our primary care team in Almonte.
Muscle and joint pain can impact daily life, and having a physiotherapist integrated into your care team can help you access assessment and guidance sooner.

Our physiotherapist can help assess concerns such as:
• Back and neck pain
• Joint or muscle pain
• Movement difficulties
• New injuries or discomfort
They will work alongside your Family Doctor or Nurse Practitioner to:
✅ Answer your questions
✅ Guide you through the next steps to support your care

For patients connected to our Almonte clinic, our team may book same-day physiotherapy assessments for muscle or joint concerns on:
📅 Mondays
📅 Wednesdays
📅 Fridays

💙 We’re proud to celebrate Physiotherapy Month by expanding the ways we support patient care in Almonte.

05/22/2026

🚨 We’re Hiring: Administrative & Governance Coordinator 🚨

The Ottawa Valley Family Health Team is looking for an Administrative and Governance Coordinator to deliver high-level administrative, operational, and project coordination support to the Executive Director and management team.
If you’re organized and interested in planning and governance, this could be the perfect fit!

🔗 Check out the full job description here:https://ovfht.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Administrative-Governance-Coordinator-Job-Description-April-2026.pdf

05/22/2026

‼️ OVFHT INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATE ‼️

📢 Our system is back up and running — thank you for your patience and understanding as we worked through this IT issue.

Our phone lines will be open and ready for your calls tomorrow morning. Please note that we are expecting higher-than-usual call volumes as a result of the outage, and we appreciate your patience while we assist everyone. 📢

⚠️ Infrastructure Outage - CARLETON PLACE CLINIC ⚠️

We are currently experiencing an infrastructure outage and are working closely with our IT team to restore systems as quickly as possible.

At this time, our phone lines will not be answered, if you're currently scheduled for an appointment please arrive for your regular appointment time.

We appreciate your patience and understanding. An update will be provided once our systems are back up and running.

05/20/2026

⏰ Friendly Reminder for Patients ⏰

To help keep appointments running smoothly and ensure you have enough time to check in, please arrive 10–15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time.

Arriving a little early allows time for:
✔️ Checking in at reception
✔️ Updating any information if needed
✔️ Completing forms before your appointment

Thank you for helping us stay on schedule and provide the best care possible for everyone. 💙

05/12/2026

Happy Nurses Week 💙🩺

This week, we proudly celebrate the incredible nurses of the Ottawa Valley Family Health Team (OVFHT)

Your compassion, clinical expertise, and unwavering dedication are at the heart of the care we provide every day. From supporting patients and families to collaborating with our teams, you bring skill, kindness, and strength to every interaction 🏥✨

Thank you for the care you give, the comfort you provide, and the difference you make in our community—every single day.

We are so grateful for you. Happy Nurses Week! 💐

05/12/2026

Happening Tomorrow!
Discover how playful moments can strengthen your connection with your child—see you there!

Spring is a season of connection, growth, and fresh starts 🌱💛

If you’re a caregiver looking to deepen your connection with the child in your life, we’d love to have you join us for something special…

The Playful Caregiver Club
A one-time free virtual workshop inspired by The Way of Play

Whether you’re feeling stuck, stretched thin, or just curious—this is a gentle, supportive space to reconnect through play.

📅 Wednesday May 13, 2026
⏰ 12:00 p.m. -12:50 p.m.
💻 Zoom: 895 6425 2011 Passcode: 608470
🎟️ Free to attend

No registration required!

Let’s rediscover the power of play, together 💫