Health policy

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

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

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

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

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

Canada’s health-care system has a data problem, experts say. And it puts patients at risk

‘It’s not good to be flying blind,’ says one doctor pushing for change. Nurse Dave Riar checks on a patient in the intensive care unit at the Royal Columbia Hospital in New Westminster, B.C., on Thursday, March 31, … READ MORE

At least 2,095 Albertans died of COVID in 2022, roughly matching the death toll from 2021

Year marked by arrival of Omicron variant, removal of nearly all public health restrictions. Health-care workers attend to a ICU COVID-19 patient at Peter Lougheed Centre in this file photo. Leah Hennel, Alberta Health Services. CBC … READ MORE

How Canada’s largest pediatric hospital’s ICU was saved from near collapse

SickKids’ intensive care unit is at 120% capacity and has been under immense pressure for weeks. The SickKids ICU is at 120 per cent capacity and has been under immense pressure for weeks. Pediatric hospitals across the province … READ MORE

Stollery Children’s Hospital redeploys staff as it struggles with surge of patients

Intensive care unit at 100 per cent capacity, but has ability to add beds. Stollery Children’s Hospital’s pediatric intensive care unit is currently at 100 per cent capacity and is bracing for a further increase. Peter … READ MORE

Doctors warn Alberta’s pediatric hospitals in ‘chaos’ as more children face care delays

5 outpatient clinics at Alberta Children’s Hospital now postponing patient care as viral illnesses surge. Alberta Children’s Hospital is now delaying some outpatients as it redeploys 65 staff members. The Stollery … READ MORE

To mask or not to mask. The sequel

Kieran Moore is a Canadian physician and public servant who serves as the current Chief Medical Officer of Health of Ontario. Healthy Debate photo by Maddi Dellplain, Healthy Debate November 22, 2022 Canada’s provincial medical … READ MORE

What do disability biases look like in practice?

To patients with disabilities, stereotypes can affect care. College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario photo By Stuart Foxman, eDialogue December 17, 2021 ▽ Table of Contents Introduction Seen as extra work A focus on the … READ MORE

Alberta hospitals battle wave of sick children as viral illnesses surge

Posted wait times have spiked to 17 hours since late September as pediatric hospital admissions rise. Alberta’s pediatric hospitals are dealing with a wave of respiratory illnesses, including RSV, influenza and COVID-19. The … READ MORE

This mom sits outside her child’s school all day. She wants more help for students with disabilities

An estimated 1 in 6 students in Ontario have a disability and face barriers to education, advocate says. Michelle Cousins makes herself comfortable with a pillow and a blanket in her accessible van while she camps out near her … READ MORE

Canadians less satisfied in their access to health care than Americans: poll

15% of Canadians satisfied with access to care, while 29% of Americans satisfied with access, poll finds. A health-care worker pushes a patient across a connecting bridge at a hospital in Montreal, on Thursday, July 14. The findings … READ MORE

Please parents, mask your children as they return to school

I can recall clearly the first day that each of my three children walked to and from school on their own. I worried about whether they would get there without mishap. But I took for granted that, once at school, they would be safe. (I … READ MORE

Time for fast action on a Canada Disability Benefit

Over one million Canadians with disabilities live in poverty. If implemented, this new benefit will work in the same manner as the Guaranteed Income Supplement and the Canadian Child Benefit. Photo by Marcus Aurelius from Pexels By … READ MORE

Experts plead for more pediatric telehealth

A specialty group is asking federal and state governments to preserve and expand access to telehealth services for children with developmental and behavioral problems. Monterey County pediatricians adjust to shelter in place. Monterey … READ MORE

Canadians with disabilities getting new benefit — but critics say it’s coming late and with few details

Bill creating monthly disability benefit for working-age Canadians died when Trudeau called 2021 election. The Liberal government has reintroduced legislation to create a monthly disability benefit payment for working age Canadians. … READ MORE

COVID concerns of disabled people multiply as health protocols lifted

Governments must act to make sure disabled people are not left behind in the next wave or pandemic. Policy Options by Nancy Hansen, Shannon Sampert, Originally published on Policy Options March 28, 2022 In the two years we’ve been … READ MORE

The end of public health in Ontario

“A recent report commissioned by the Canadian Medical Association showed that delayed or missed health care services may have contributed to more than 4,000 excess deaths not related to COVID-19 infections between August and … READ MORE

The doctor won’t see you now: Why access to care is in critical condition

In addition to patient care, many doctors also have heavy administrative burdens, including insurance company requests and government forms that advocate for their patients’ needs, as well as all the challenges of running an office. … READ MORE

Jason DaSilva’s new film tackles the unpredictability of MS

Jason DaSilva’s award-winning film, When I Walk, raised awareness of what it is like to live with primary progressive multiple sclerosis. Photo by Charlie Samuels Ian Ruder, New Mobility February 22, 2022 Award-winning filmmaker and … READ MORE

Study shows troubling lack of knowledge by physicians about the Americans with Disabilities Act

To achieve more equitable care and social justice for patients with disability, considerable improvements are needed to educate physicians about making healthcare delivery systems more accessible and accommodating. – Lisa I. Iezzoni … READ MORE

Alberta government’s failure means we must protect ourselves

It has become clear that the Alberta government has given up on its role to protect us from the acute and long-term risks of COVID-19. “Everyone will get it” seems to be the mantra of the day. This defeatist ethos is a … READ MORE

How a worker shortage is affecting Albertans with disabilities and their families

Disability workers say a chronic problem has become a crisis in some parts of the province. MIchael Marchuk, 47, is currently living with his brother Stan in Vancouver because of a lack of disability support workers in his Alberta … READ MORE

CERB helped Canadians during COVID-19 — but not the most vulnerable

To coincide with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Dec. 3, Statistics Canada released new data about workers with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Low employment rates, coupled with limited government … READ MORE

Breaking down barriers: ‘Learning health systems’ for communities

At every clinic and hospital, scientists work with health leaders to test health-care innovations. Umayangga Yogalingam, Illustrator Wendy Glauser, Healthy Debate June 10, 2021 As you read this, researchers are trying to improve … READ MORE

Pandemic disproportionately affects those with disabilities and chronic health conditions

‘The pandemic has exacerbated pre-existing inequalities,’ says UTM professor David Pettinicchio, who launched a national online survey of 1,027 Canadians with disabilities and chronic health conditions to find out how … READ MORE

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