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Download (3.25 Mo) This Lunch & Learn webinar, presented in partnership with CareNow Ontario, is an overview of clinical tools that can support better diagnosis and treatment of Myalgic Encephalitis (ME, formerly known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), Fibromyalgia (FM), and Positional Orthostatic Tachycardia Sydrome (POTs).
# Overview
Symptoms of environmental illness often emerge after an accident or acute illness. These infections can trigger long-lasting conditions characterized by debilitating fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, autonomic nervous system instability, sleep disruption, and pain, limiting daily functioning. Because they are so often debilitating and have whole-person impacts, these conditions are often best managed in a comprehensive, team-based primary health care setting, with coordinated support that includes physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and social work. However, this post-infectious pattern is not always recognized in clinical practice, contributing to delays in diagnosis and care.
New, evidence-informed tools are now available to support better Management of ME, FM, and POTs in primary health care settings. Created by the Centre for Effective Practice (CEP) in partnership with clinicians and people with lived experience, these practical resources help clinicians identify core symptom patterns, conduct focused assessments, and build individualized management plans that include both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic strategies. They also promote person-centred care, recognizing the wide variation in symptom severity and presentation.
# Presenters
Dr. Farah Tabassum, a family physician with the Environmental Health Clinic at Women's College Hospital and over 15 years' experience working in Community Health Centres in Ontario.
Kathleen Dennis, a former nurse and lived-experience advisor with CareNow Ontario, an advocacy organization for people who have chronic and complex environmentally linked illnesses.