Metro City Medical Clinic - Calgary

Caring for patients with substance use problems in Calgary.

[Metro City Medical Clinic - Calgary @MetroCityYYC]

To our dear patients,

We want to make sure you can avoid travel on public transit and contact with crowded spaces without interrupting your medication treatment during #COVID19. We'll be calling you to make arrangements.

And if you fall sick, call us!
❤️

[Hakique Virani🟠 @hakique]

Some might be reductive about #HarmReduction, but we know it's Life Protection, Quality of Life Promotion and Social Inclusion.

My work family and our home families support supervised consumption services.

[Karine Meador @DrKLMeador]

I am a proud member of the @MetroCityYEG family 💜

[Hakique Virani🟠 @hakique]

Several experts and advocates are using this image for their social media profiles. Wherever you are, please consider retweeting and joining to show people in Alberta affected by the epidemic of drug poisoning that you care about them. #abpoli #abhealth #cdnpoli #harmreduction 🙏

[Hakique Virani🟠 @hakique]

A big congrats to @DrSAfridi - already a specialist in Public Health and Preventive Medicine in both Canada and the U.S. - now officially boarded in Addiction Medicine! Your colleagues are so proud of you, Saji, and we remain in awe of how devoted you are to your patients.

[Metro City Medical Clinic - Calgary @MetroCityYYC]

@MetroCityYEG @StreetworksAB You can pick up supplies from us in Calgary too!

[Metro City Medical Clinic - Edmonton @MetroCityYEG]

Please don't forget that clean supplies including cookers are available for free from our place and @StreetworksAB.

Check out the techniques described in this article to prevent transmission of infections.

Stay OK. ❤️
https://t.co/h3hPdgEYia

[Metro City Medical Clinic - Edmonton @MetroCityYEG]

We continued to treat and harm reduce today, on this National Day of Action on the drug poisoning epidemic. But we wanted to take a moment to send support to our friends calling for meaningful public health intervention in this emergency.
In Solidarity.

[Hakique Virani🟠 @hakique]

How will Alberta's next government protect public health and safety in an epidemic of drug poisoning death? Party leaders/reps, please DM for a link to a brief test that experts/advocates will grade. Report cards next week.
#abvote #ableg

[Metro City Medical Clinic - Edmonton @MetroCityYEG]

Good luck to Claudia from our team, who is interviewing this weekend for admission to med school!
You're an extraordinary Care Coordinator, and we're sure your compassion, intelligence, patience and natural understanding of #harmreduction will make you an amazing physician!

[Metro City Medical Clinic - Edmonton @MetroCityYEG]

Thanks, @crackdownpod!
Sometimes the red wrist surprises people.
Friends, if you inject, don't forget the inside of the wrist has nerves/arteries close to veins. Injuries to those structures can be serious.

#HarmReduction workers and peers around for resources and tips.

♥️ya

[Hakique Virani🟠 @hakique]

Two more mini Easter eggs from @garthmullins in this episode:
-listen to his description of the patient experience of urine tox testing as a condition of receiving agonist therapy
-consider the implications of compelling patients to pay a "clinic fee" for life-saving therapy /13

[Hakique Virani🟠 @hakique]

But, for argument's sake, let's just say organic chem isn't a thing. Say the explanation for poor responses to the new product really was "It's in your head." Doesn't that still count? That's where your brain is. It's a real organ. /11

[Hakique Virani🟠 @hakique]

Episode 1 of @CrackdownPod was a tough act to follow, but Episode 2 - dedicated to Chereece (RIP) - measured up. It was about methadone treatment, and specifically the experience that followed a product change for everyone on maintenance therapy.

Some thoughts /1

[Metro City Medical Clinic - Calgary @MetroCityYYC]

Harm reduction serves people who use substances AND the community at large. Our Dr. Kandola in @thestarcalgary: "The best approach is to start with the research that says it saves lives - lives worth saving - and it enhances public safety."
cc. @CMOGorman

[The Star Calgary @thestarcalgary]

The supervised injection site at the Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre was approved to continue operating by Health Canada on Thursday. https://t.co/O5jMQnr7tx

[Metro City Medical Clinic - Calgary @MetroCityYYC]

Thanks to everyone advocating for systems and communities that support mental health on #BellLetsTalk Day. Every day should be Let's Listen day.

[Hakique Virani🟠 @hakique]

(With permission)
When we first met, a patient was surprised when I guessed his 🍁#14 tattoo was paying homage to @TheoFleury14, a favorite player for us both. Today, he asked us to display his autographed poster knowing Theo's story will inspire others like it did him.

[Metro City Medical Clinic - Calgary @MetroCityYYC]

If the rise in emergency department visits for issues related to opioid use reflects that more people now feel they'll receive compassionate help there, that's positive, says our Dr. Persaud.

We're pleased to provide care for those patients 7 days a week.
https://t.co/KtfX7QdAtN

[Metro City Medical Clinic - Calgary @MetroCityYYC]

If the rise in emergency department visits for issues related to opioid use reflects that more people now feel they'll receive compassionate help there, that's positive, says our Dr. Persaud.

We're pleased to provide care for those patients 7 days a week.
https://t.co/KtfX7QdAtN

[Metro City Medical Clinic - Edmonton @MetroCityYEG]

Yes, we start treatment many times for some patients with substance use problems (like doctors do for many health issues) because evidence shows us we should.

Confession: We also do it selfishly because when patients get better, we feel really, really good.

(with permission)