Health policy

Should you have a copy of your medical record? These experts say yes

Experts say patients will feel more informed, empowered in their care. Experts say patients should have a copy of their medical records, but they acknowledge there are still many barriers to getting this information into the hands of … 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

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

Makeshift dividers, hallway medicine are signs of a system in crisis, say Alberta front-line staff

AHS says province’s 16 largest hospitals had 423 overcapacity beds as of September. Alberta’s hospitals rely on so-called ‘overcapacity beds’ to deal with patient demand. Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press … READ MORE

Patients, providers suffer as ERs are overwhelmed yet again: CMA

David Saddler CC Flickr Dr. Kathleen Ross, Canadian Medical Association January 11, 2024 Many emergency rooms (ERs) across the country are overflowing and patients across Canada are waiting far too long to receive necessary care. The … 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

Canada’s primary care transformation slow, fragmented: Study

The study is the first to compare and evaluate primary care transformation across all of Canada’s provinces and territories. Photo by bady abbas on Unsplash By Bonnie O’Sullivan, University of Toronto November 29, 2023 … READ MORE

Number of Canadians with disabilities doubles in 10 years, hits 8 million: StatCan

Statistics Canada data shows that 27 per cent of people 15 and older — about eight million Canadians — reported having at least one disability in 2022, about twice the percentage of people who reported a disability 10 years ago. … READ MORE

Major Canadian cities lacking in accessibility for people with disabilities, says study

Study says 60% of public spaces in Calgary, Vancouver and Ottawa not fully accessible. A report from the ‘Mapping our Cities for All’ project, led by the University of Calgary, suggests nearly 60 per cent of public spaces … 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

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

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