“Improving health and nurturing a culture of wellness are both important to me, especially when it comes to our youngest Ontarians. It is great to know that women planning on getting pregnant can get help using the new Preconception Healthcare Tool. This tool can help ensure the best start for infants and their new mothers while encouraging discussions on health promotion which is one of my priorities.”
-Dipika Damerla
Associate Minister of Health and Long-Term Care (responsible for Long-Term Care and Wellness)
The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has engaged the Centre for Effective Practice (CEP), in partnership with the Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP), to develop and disseminate a series of clinical tools and health information to support primary care providers. The first of which is a Preconception Health Care Tool developed using CEP’s integrated knowledge translation development methods.
Introducing the NEW Preconception Health Care Tool
Improve maternal and infant health outcomes in your practice by guiding your discussions of health promotion and illness prevention strategies with your patients of reproductive age.
This Tool contains links to websites and other external resources (“Third Party Resources”) that are operated by and/or created by third party organizations.
These third party organizations are solely responsible for the information contained in, and the operation of (as applicable), the Third Party Resources.
Quick Menu:
In the Know: Video Overview of the Tool
Copyright Information and Referencing
Quick Facts:
- Optimizing patients' health and knowledge before conceiving improves maternal and infant outcomes.
- Patients with chronic conditions may not be aware of the impact or adverse effects the condition or treatment may have on their infant.
- This tool may facilitate conversations regarding risks associated with delayed childbearing.
Intended Use:
- Primary care providers are the target users for this tool.
- Information is organized for use over a series of visits with your patients of a reproductive age to:
- Assess a patient’s preconception health,
- Address issues before patients become pregnant,
- Consider the potential impact when diagnosing a patient and providing treatment, and
- Counsel on current behaviours.
- You can code time spent implementing the tool with patients using the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) billing code for individual care counselling (K013).
In The Know: Interactive Video Series
Check out our video on the Preconception Health Care Tool featuring Rebekah Barrett, NP and Dr. Deanna Telner for information about the tool, how it was developed and how primary care providers can use it in their practice.
Copyright and Referencing
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs CC BY-NC-ND
View License Deed | View Legal Code
This tool was created by Centre for Effective Practice under an Attribution-Non Commercial-NoDerivs license. The tool is free to distribute in its original form if not used for commercial purposes (e.g. use in proprietary EMR’s). If you/your organization intends to adapt, integrate or build upon this tool you must contact [email protected] to obtain permission.
This tool should be referenced as follows:
Centre for Effective Practice, Barrett R, Telner D. Preconception health care tool. 2015 Jan. Available from: www.effectivepractice.org/preconception
Disclaimer
The Preconception Health Care Tool (the “Tool”) was funded by the Government of Ontario and developed under the leadership of the Centre for Effective Practice, with Rebekah Barrett, MN, NP-PHC and Deanna Telner, MD, MEd, CFPC, FCFP as the Clinical Leads at the Centre. In addition, external reviews of the Tool were conducted by primary care providers and other relevant stakeholders.
This Tool contains links to websites and other external resources (“Third Party Resources”) that are operated by and/or created by third party organizations. These third party organizations are solely responsible for the information contained in, and the operation of (as applicable), the Third Party Resources.
This Tool was developed as a guide only for primary care providers in Ontario and does not constitute medical or other professional advice. Physicians and other healthcare professionals are required to exercise their own clinical judgment in using this Tool.
Neither the Government of Ontario, the Centre for Effective Practice, the Ontario College of Family Physicians, the contributors to this Tool nor any of their respective agents, appointees, directors, officers, employees, contractors, members or volunteers: (i) are providing medical, diagnostic or treatment services through this Tool; (ii) to the extent permitted by applicable law, accept any responsibility for the use or misuse of this Tool by any individual (including, but not limited to, primary care providers) or entity (e.g. primary care providers), including for any loss, damage or injury (including death) arising from or in connection with the use of this Tool, in whole or in part; or (iii) give or make any representation, warranty or endorsement of any of the Third Party Resources, including any information or advice contained therein.
