Free access to dietitians for First Nations Communities in Saskatchewan – Dietitians of Canada

SASKATCHEWAN — Starting this week, a locally operated dietitian call centre will provide access to trusted food and nutrition advice via telephone or email to First Nations communities in Saskatchewan. Dietitians of Canada and the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch in Saskatchewan are partnering for the three-month pilot project to increase access to information about healthy eating.

“Many of the serious health-related challenges that people in our communities are facing can be prevented, treated and managed through food and nutrition,” says local dietitian Danielle Switzer who will be operating the call centre. “This call centre will allow us to reach more First Nations people and communities. I’m looking forward to working with all First Nations communities in Saskatchewan to encourage healthy lifestyles and provide information which could help reduce chronic disease.”

The dietitian call centre will be piloted for a three month period beginning January 8, 2018 and ending March 29, 2018. Hours of operation will be from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday.

This service is available to all First Nations communities in Saskatchewan and their health care providers. All inquiries are welcome. If you would like to ask a dietitian a question, you can call 1-833-782-7800 or email your question to info@eatwellsask.ca

Fast Facts about Dietitian Call Centres:
In Canada, three provinces have already implemented a dietitian call centre with great success – Dial-a-Dietitian in Manitoba, Dietitian Services at HealthLink BC and EatRight Ontario. Demonstrated benefits associated with the service provided by these dietitian call centres include:

  • Increased and easy access to dietitians for trusted, evidence-based and consistent nutrition information for the public and other service providers.
  • Addresses barriers of geography, user fees, and wait times. Dietitian call centres provide remote access from any geography within the province being served.
  • Improved health outcomes of clients who use the service including improved blood sugar control for those with diabetes, increased consumption of vegetables and fruit, decreased total and saturated fat intake, reduced body weight and decreased waist circumference.
  • Increased support for primary care providers through the provision of timely nutrition advice for patients and those individuals awaiting individual nutrition counselling for newly diagnosed health conditions.
  • High user satisfaction with the service.

About Eat Well Saskatchewan
Eat Well Saskatchewan is a three-month pilot project being funded through the First Nations Inuit Health Branch, Government of Canada in partnership with Dietitians of Canada to support the health of First Nations communities and improve access to the trusted advice of dietitians.

About Dietitians of Canada
Dietitians of Canada is the professional association for dietitians, representing members at the local, provincial and national levels. We aim to advance health through food and nutrition and to provide leadership in shaping food and nutrition policy. Dietitians are driven by curiosity to understand the science behind food and its connection to health.

Dietitians of Canada supports the access of Canadians to evidence-based food and nutrition information and helps them locate a dietitian for nutrition counselling and nutrition services at dietitians.ca/find.

Additional Information:

For more information, or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Kate Comeau, MSc, RD
Manager, Public Relations and Media
Dietitians of Canada
Tel: 416-642-9316
Cell: 902-412-6523
kate.comeau@dietitians.ca

NT5

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