Patient Education

A patient who is educated about their own health condition and treatment plan is in the best position to take control of their overall health. We offer this through Patient Education, the process of improving health outcomes when health care providers and other team members provide information to patients and caregivers. Patients can access this information through individual counselling and group classes to meet their needs.

Patient Education within Legacy’s clinic locations include:

Free Rapid HIV, Hepatitis C and Syphilis testing (finger sticks) are provided Legacy’s Montrose and Lyon’s clinic locations, as well as various off-site locations. Legacy also offers Couples HIV Counseling and Testing because getting tested and receiving your results together can start a conversation between you and your partner(s) about HIV and how to keep your relationship healthy.

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Our goal is to meet each patient’s overall health care needs through comprehensive primary care in a comfortable, safe and respectful environment. We recognize the unique barriers that transgender individuals face in seeking health services and seek to provide affirming care to all patients. To best serve our patients, Patient Educators will help individuals find health information and resources, and assist with the next steps for obtaining quality care.

Within this class, Patient Educators will orient pregnant women on what to expect during their first prenatal visit and routine visits to the clinic. They will also review signs of labor, when to call your doctor, normal progression of labor and birth, use of prenatal vitamins, nutrition, breastfeeding, various community resources available during pregnancy and upon delivery, particularly WIC and Medicaid

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A Lactation Specialist provides information and demonstrates techniques to help new mothers maximize their opportunity to establish successful breastfeeding. The benefits of breastfeeding for both mom and baby are also shared.

Experienced Patient Educators provide reproductive health and family planning education in a workshop format. Educational workshops are suitable for male and female participants. Topics include preconception health, reproductive life planning, birth control methods and other family planning-related issues.

Patients meet with a Registered Dietician who is qualified to provide clinical nutrition consultation. The Dietician will advise an individual on what to eat in order to lead a healthy lifestyle or to achieve a specific health-related goal.

Diabetes is a complex disease that requires daily self-management – making healthy food choices, staying physically active, monitoring blood sugar and taking medications as prescribed. A Patient Educator helps individuals with diabetes learn how to take care of themselves, guide through treatment and help with any fears, issues and problems someone might encounter along the way.

A complete cholesterol test — also called a lipid panel or lipid profile — is a blood test that can measure the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood. A cholesterol test can help determine your risk of the buildup of plaques in your arteries that can lead to narrowed or blocked arteries throughout your body. High cholesterol levels usually don’t cause any signs or symptoms, so a cholesterol test is an important tool. High cholesterol levels often are a significant risk factor for heart disease. Patient Educators provide information on understanding an individual’s lipid profile, about heart disease and how it can be prevented.

There’s a common misconception that people with high blood pressure, also hypertension, will experience symptoms such as nervousness, sweating, difficulty sleeping or facial flushing. Actually, hypertension is largely a symptomless condition. If you ignore your blood pressure because you think symptoms will alert you to the problem, you are taking a dangerous chance with your life. Patient Educators explain an individual’s blood pressure numbers and how to prevent or control high blood pressure.