Aaron Saunders: From the Deck Chair
WOMEN HAVE UNIQUE NEEDS WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTH ... OFTEN THESE NEEDS TAKE A BACK SEAT TO THE DEMANDS OF THEIR BUSY LIVES
AWomen’s Wellness Program offers women a comprehensive assessment customized for optimal health and wellness. Women have unique needs when it comes to health and wellness. Often these needs take a back seat to the demands of their busy lives. It can be challenging for women to find all the resources to address their physical, emotional and mental needs. Educating oneself regarding the information, options, and tests available can be daunting and scheduling appointments with various specialists and services can be a nightmare.
However, sometimes it’s not what you know, but who you know.There is now an option for a comprehensive program that makes the process simpler and that takes the challenge out of scheduling. That’s why women across the lower mainland are making the choice to experience the Women’s Wellness Program offered at the False Creek Healthcare Centre.
The program provides women of all ages with a detailed series of assessments including thorough physical examinations, cancer screening, ultrasounds, cardiac stress tests, blood tests, and more. It’s all part of a comprehensive effort to evaluate each woman’s current state of health and identify, as early as possible, any health-related concerns, so that they can lead healthier, more balanced lives. Women of reproductive age have diverse health and wellness needs that typically include contraceptive counselling, pre-conception counselling, and early pregnancy care. There is also a strong focus on preventive health, including cancer screening and cardiovascular risk assessment.
Women in the peri-menopausal stage, typically experience irregular menstrual cycles and fluctuating hormone levels. These natural changes often lead to unwelcome symptoms, including hot flashes, mood swings, insomnia, weight gain, depression, incontinence, vaginal dryness and decreased sex drive.
Post-menopausal women face a heightened risk of certain diseases, including osteoporosis, heart disease, and some forms of cancer. Symptom management, proper screening, preventive health and risk factor modification are all necessary to achieve optimal health outcomes.
From start to finish, the initial assessment takes about four hours, and appointments are scheduled to accommodate busy lifestyles. Patients return to the centre the following week to review results and discuss recommendations made by a team of experts, which include physicians, nurses, and diagnostic technicians. A registered dietitian also uses the assessment results to create a customized nutritional plan.
Patients can also opt for the centre’s premium program, which includes all of the above plus a consultation with a reproductive health and menopause practitioner, a psychological and life/ career counselling session, and a threemonth summary visit to follow up and review progress.
“The Women’s Wellness Program utilizes a patient-centred approach,” states Dr. Lauren Fineman, the program director.