Health care delivery

Anatomy of a referral: Why wait times for specialists are still too long

Nancy is “beyond frustrated” with how long her family has had to wait to see specialists. She has been waiting 16 months to see a rheumatologist, and has been told there’s a two-year wait to a pain management centre to help with … READ MORE

Mark Pickup challenged AADL policy to get a replacement power chair

Mark Pickup is a gifted writer who chooses words thoughtfully, methodically and philosophically. So it’s no big surprise to hear the phrase he used to describe his experience last week. I have been disabled with aggressive multiple … READ MORE

Controversial changes to physiotherapy coverage put on ice: Alberta Health Services

‘The hardest hit people would have been the working poor or people who are struggling to get by.’ Alberta Health Services has backed away from planned changes that would have restricted physiotherapy services now covered. … READ MORE

Reducing frustration with health care for adults with chronic medical conditions

Navigating the U.S. health care system can be frustrating for anyone, but for adults with chronic medical conditions, the frustration can become overwhelming as they juggle multiple providers, medications and treatments. A pain point … READ MORE

Aids to Daily Living program could be outsourced to Alberta Blue Cross: AUPE

The province’s largest public sector union has some concerns about an anticipated move by the government to outsource the Aids to Daily Living program. Alberta Aids to Daily Living, AADL helps Albertans with a long-term disability, … READ MORE

Publicly funding drugs for all Canadians could save over $4 billion a year

Universal public coverage of 117 essential medicines could address the needs of most Canadians for pharmaceutical drugs, and possibly save more than $4 billion a year, according to a new study published in the Canadian Medical … READ MORE

Four ways Canada can shorten wait times for specialists

Vanessa Milne, Joshua Tepper & Sachin Pendharkar, Healthy Debate February 23, 2017 Two weeks ago, we reported on some of the difficulties around referrals to specialists. Shortly after our story ran, the Canadian Institute of … READ MORE

Caring for special-needs children at home brings high cost

Study finds that home care is beneficial for the children, but it comes at great cost to family members or guardians. U.S. families provide nearly $36 billion [USD] annually in uncompensated medical care at home to children who have … READ MORE

Ontario’s ambitious Patients First legislation met with hope and skepticism

Carole Ann Alloway’s husband, Bill, had seven ankle surgeries due to recurring infections that were eventually found to be caused by bacteria on the hardware that had been inserted 30 years ago. Elderly’s family caregivers need … READ MORE

Keeping nursing home patients out of hospital

A significant number of hospitalizations among nursing home patients are potentially avoidable, several studies in recent years have shown. What’s more, skilled care patients do better overall when they don’t have to be moved … READ MORE

Electronic health records ‘inflict enormous pain’ on doctors

Electronic health records slow doctors down and distract them from meaningful face time caring for patients. Hidden treasure. View from behind a cataloging desk, Army Medical Library, Washington, DC, ca. 1955. National Library of … READ MORE

Many treatment guidelines are written by experts with financial conflicts

Physicians typically rely on treatment guidelines issued by medical associations, but a new study finds that many experts involved in assembling these guidelines in Canada have financial ties to drug makers. And the study authors … READ MORE

Canada spends over $400 million on medicine that harms seniors

Canada spends more than $400 million annually on drugs prescribed to seniors even though the medicines should be avoided for older patients, according to new UBC research. PEI doctor warns about dangers of over-medication. Dr. Roland … READ MORE

Telemedicine sucks as much as in-person care

Telemedicine proponents have argued for years that virtual care is at least as effective as in-person care delivered in a traditional clinical setting. Based on new research, they may be more right than they had thought. Neil Versel, … READ MORE

Us and Them: Why patient-defined health teams don’t communicate well

Patients and their families have many people who contribute to their care – different types of providers in different departments and institutions. Yet, despite sharing the goal of improving the same patient’s health, providers … READ MORE

Family technology rules: What kids expect of parents

Put your phone away when I’m talking to you. Don’t text while you’re driving — not even at red lights. Stop posting photos of me without my permission. A new study from University of Washington human centered design and … READ MORE

Remote orthopaedic care successful with common conditions

In new study, nearly 80 percent of rural fracture patients avoided travel to an urban medical center, saving $3.7 million in transportation costs. “These results show that you don’t need an expensive, elaborate system to … READ MORE

Telemedicine popular with the young and chronically ill

“In 5 to 10 years, we’re not going to talk about telehealth, it’s just going to be health.” – John Kornak LAS VEGAS — Barriers to telemedicine are persistent, but physician groups are looking for ways … READ MORE

Telehealth services increasingly popular with consumers and insurers

Telemedicine has been more widely offered over the last five years, promoted by health plans such as Cigna Inc and New York-based insurance startup Oscar Health. As many as 15 million people used the services this year, up 50% from … READ MORE

Why can’t you email your doctor?

Email may be the preferred communication method with clients in many industries, but many health care clinics are still relying on phone and fax to connect with patients. Only about 11% of Canadian primary care doctors communicate … READ MORE

Digital health can serve the safety net, but only if done right

Still, it’s important to understand the needs of safety-net populations, according to a new report from the California HealthCare Foundation. Michigan’s Health Care Safety Net: Catching the uninsured when they fall. Blue Cross … READ MORE

Letting patients read the doctor’s notes

The patient, a wiry businessman in his 50s, needed a copy of his medical records to bring to a specialist for a second opinion. He assumed that getting the copies would be straightforward; the records were, after all, his. By Pauline … READ MORE

In-home tele-rehabilitation following total knee replacement

Patients who received rehabilitation instruction via video tele-conference, or tele-rehabilitation, following total knee replacement (TKR) surgery, had comparable outcomes to patients who received in-person physical therapy, … READ MORE

Apply for AADL benefits

Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL) helps Albertans with a long-term disability, chronic or terminal illness to pay for basic medical equipment and supplies. Services and information Approved vendors list Authorizers and vendors Find … READ MORE

AADL Authorizer and vendor information

Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL). AADL helps Albertans with a long-term disability, chronic or terminal illness to pay for basic medical equipment and supplies. The AADL bulletin provides notices, updates and reminders to AADL … READ MORE

AADL program information

Cost sharing of benefits The Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL) program helps Albertans with a long-term disability, chronic illness or terminal illness to maintain their independence at home, in lodges or group homes by providing … READ MORE

Change your AADL service provider

You can change your AADL vendor or supplier based on need or choice: choose a new AADL approved vendor from the list complete the AADL Change Vendor Request form (PDF, 158 KB) fax or send the completed form to AADL Contact AADL You … READ MORE

Improving value in musculoskeletal care delivery

Improving value in musculoskeletal health care has emerged as an important objective in both the United States and Canada. In order to achieve this objective, providers need to have a clear definition of value and an infrastructure … READ MORE

Assured income for the severely handicapped, AISH

Financial and health benefits for eligible Albertans with a permanent medical condition that prevents them from earning a living. University of Calgary researcher Susan Samuel is leading the Transition Navigator Trial to improve the … READ MORE

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