Health care delivery

Breakup of Alberta health ministry will create confusion, doctors and nurses say

Spokesperson for the province says ministerial changes won’t affect patients, public servants. Former health minister Adriana LaGrange was named minister in charge of primary and preventative health services in last week’s … READ MORE

Alberta’s measles outbreaks are now the worst in nearly half a century

868 measles cases have now been reported since the outbreaks began in March. Alberta’s measles case count jumped to 868 on Thursday. The last time case counts were higher was in 1979. Alissa Eckert/CDC Jennifer Lee, CBC News … READ MORE

With 710 measles cases now confirmed in Alberta, this marks the worst year since 1986

Disease continues to spread, primarily in kids and teens outside major cities. Of measles cases this year where the patient’s immunization status is known, 91% have been in individuals who never received a measles vaccine. … READ MORE

Here’s how measles cases are spreading across Canada

A dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination awaits the next patient during a vaccine clinic at Southwestern Public Health in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada, on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. Geoff Robins, The Canadian Press via … READ MORE

Why are measles case counts climbing so high in Alberta? Experts weigh in

With 326 patients reported, Alberta has the 2nd highest tally in the country. Alberta has confirmed 326 meales cases since the outbreaks began in March. CBC Jennifer Lee, CBC News Calgary May 12, 2025 Infectious disease experts are … READ MORE

‘Rifts in families’: Parents seek better talk on vaccines as measles outbreak grows

Professor says public health nurses are great sources of information but need time to build trust. Mackenzie Sailer and her one-year-old son, Wolfe, at the Henderson Lake playground in Lethbridge. She says vaccines are like religion … READ MORE

Alberta’s measles case counts have topped 500 and doctors are worried

South zone by far hardest hit with 362 measles cases to date. A colourized electron transmission micrograph of measles virus particles. (U.K. Health Security Agency) CBC. CBC News Calgary, May 22, 2025 It has taken Alberta less than … READ MORE

Health teams scramble to contain spread of measles in central and southern Alberta

170 cases identified in province since outbreaks began in March. Public health teams are working to boost immunization rates in outbreak areas, including the town of Two Hills. Rafferty Baker CBC Jennifer Lee, CBC News Calgary April … READ MORE

Health care students and clinicians support integrated care education

Integrated care—a coordinated approach that addresses patients’ physical, mental and social health needs—has been shown to improve patient outcomes, reduce health care costs and address health disparities. Darko Stojanovic … READ MORE

Increased lifespan of individuals living with cerebral palsy necessitates a broader perspective on care

A special issue of the Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine covers underrepresented topics associated with cerebral palsy impacting children, adolescents, and adults. EurekAlert! AAAS 6 June 2024 Amsterdam, June 6, 2024 – … READ MORE

Feds ‘committed to doing more,’ but minister offers no timeline for Canadian Disability Benefit boost

Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities Kamal Khera rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Patrick Doyle Spencer Van Dyk, … READ MORE

Alberta health-care workers say they’re demoralized, exhausted as patient surge looms this fall

AHS warns of ‘further capacity challenges,’ saying it’s taking steps to ensure patients get ‘care they need’ Health-care workers are being warned to prepare for an influx of patients during the coming … READ MORE

Woman with Cerebral palsy overwhelmed by outpouring of support

After returning home from yet another lengthy hospital stay, a 32-year-old with severe cerebral palsy has received over 500 letters of encouragement from across the country. Patrick Tehan/San Jose Mercury News/TNS by John Walk, … READ MORE

Toddlers with developmental delays are missing out on help they need. It can hurt them long term

Alexander, 3, who is being treated for developmental delays, watches Paw Patrol as one of his dinosaur toys lays nearby in the living room of his West Chicago, Ill., home Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023. Alexander qualified for five Early … READ MORE

WHO launches first ever Patient Safety Rights Charter

WHO / Jacqueline Christensen. World Health Organization 18 April 2024 Today, WHO launched a Patient Safety Rights Charter at the Global Ministerial Summit on Patient Safety. It is the first Charter to outline patients’ rights in the … READ MORE

Canadian kids’ spinal surgery waits ‘far exceed’ recommendations: report

Severe spinal curvature painful, delays can lead to more complex surgeries with longer hospitalizations. Madison West-Pettigrew smiles in this undated photo. Madison waited a year for scoliosis surgery as the curvature in her spine … READ MORE

Long waits for hip and knee replacements persist in Canada

Wait times in Canada for procedures like hip and knee replacements were longer than 6 months at the beginning of the pandemic and in 2022, according to new data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). Healthcare … READ MORE

The Human Touch

From cradle to grave, touch brings us comfort, pleasure and sometimes pain, reminding us of our countless connections to the world and to humanity — including our own. pxfuel image By Meredith McGroarty, USC Dornsife Magazine … READ MORE

My fight for more home care is a fight for a lifetime of freedom

‘It’s incredibly difficult for me to live life to the fullest without 24-hour home care,’ writes Alex Lytwyn. Alex Lytwyn, who lives with cerebral palsy, says he tries to do daily tasks as independently as he can. … READ MORE

Can’t find a family doctor in Alberta? Training more medical students is not the silver bullet

The number of students choosing family medicine is declining in Alberta. While the increase in medical school spots in Alberta is much needed to support a struggling health-care system, the realities of solving the family medicine … READ MORE

New strategies needed to support parents of children with severe CP, study finds

Healthcare professionals should develop new strategies for helping to fulfill the now unmet needs of parents whose children have severe cerebral palsy, beginning with improving education about the disease and aiding them in getting … READ MORE

There is no miracle cure to the health crisis – but here’s where to start

What seemed like a “miracle solution” of breaking up our single-access system has now become the main problem. Dr. Alika Lafontaine is President of the Canadian Medical Association by Alika Lafontaine, Healthy Debate March 7, 2023 … READ MORE

Canadian doctors spend millions of hours on unnecessary paperwork each year: report

Report says Nova Scotia is leading the way in reducing administrative burden. Dr. Leisha Hawker said reducing unnecessary administrative work can help doctors have a better work-life balance and lead to more employee retention. Brian … READ MORE

Military dogs at Premier Rehab Center do push-ups and yoga

‘Canine tactical athletes’ are flown in from around the world for care. Some patients are so eager to get started they body slam the clinic’s doors. Hundreds of dogs are treated each year at the military working dog hospital in … READ MORE

Why mask mandates are lifting in hospitals across Canada

Most provinces will no longer require masks in hospitals — but that could change if COVID levels worsen. Watch | COVID-19 mask mandates dropped in more hospitals. The majority of health-care facilities in Canada have dropped … READ MORE

Alberta woman expected a 6-month wait for surgery. Two painful years later, she’s still waiting

‘It makes me feel insignificant,’ says woman awaiting surgery for scoliosis. Sarah MacPhail is a therapist and clinical social worker from Cold Lake, Alta. She says she has been waiting since 2020 for a spinal surgery to … READ MORE

Alberta parents can call Health Link with questions about their child’s development

811 now offers parents guidance about kids’ milestones. Health Link 811 is now offering a pediatric rehabilitation line, providing free advice and guidance. Robert Short CBC. CBC News Calgary March 17, 2023 A new service has been … READ MORE

Dramatic change from pandemic brought on stress for mothers

First large-scale study of mothers shows those who experienced greatest amount of pandemic-related change experienced symptoms of traumatic stress. Charles Deluvio, Unsplash. CC0 Public Domain By Hope Hamashige, Keck School of … READ MORE

Cerebral palsy doesn’t cause death in adults, so why is it still listed as an underlying cause?

Listing cerebral palsy as the main cause of death for adults with the disease can contribute to a lack of understanding about how the condition interacts with various secondary illnesses and complications. Cerebral palsy should never … READ MORE

Alberta, Ottawa sign health-care funding deal worth $24B over 10 years

‘This is a productive first step,’ Premier Danielle Smith says of agreement. Alberta has become the seventh province to sign an agreement in principle with Ottawa on health-care funding. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and … READ MORE

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