Primary care

Doctor-Patient communication, a thorny challenge

Many veteran doctors have probably been there: You sit your patient down and explain their diagnosis. You walk them through how to take their medication. They nod and promise that they don’t have any questions. Next visit, you … READ MORE

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

Shared doctor-patient orthopaedic treatment decisions improve outcomes, patient experience

Well-informed patients who decide with their orthopaedic surgeon what treatment is best for them have better outcomes and higher patient satisfaction rates, according to new study presented today at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the … READ MORE

Alberta stroke treatment now among fastest in world

Quality improvement program cuts time for life-saving drug treatment from 70 to 36 minutes. The clot-busting drug tPA (tissue Plasmonogen Activator) can be used with ischemic stroke patients to greatly improve their care. John … 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

Exercise can significantly improve brain function after stroke

Structured exercise training can significantly improve brain function in stroke survivors, according to research presented at the International Stroke Conference 2017. American Heart Association, MedicalXpress February 22, 2017 … READ MORE

Part 2: When a knee replacement specialist needs his own new knee

A noted surgeon gains insight into managing postop pain—his own. In part 1 of his account of his knee replacement surgery, knee replacement specialist Ira H. Kirschenbaum MD, chairman of the Department of Orthopedics at … READ MORE

Safely managing acute osteoarthritis in the emergency department

An Evidence-Based Review. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common problem, the incidence of which is increasing every day. By 2030, as much as 25% of the adult population is expected to have self-reported or physician-diagnosed arthritis. … READ MORE

Rehabilitation, treatment and orthotic management of stroke

The effective treatment and rehabilitation of stroke patients requires a multidisciplinary team approach. Ankle foot orthoses for patients with weak dorsiflexion. Otto Bock Healio O&P News April 1, 2004 The World Health … READ MORE

Embedded 3D videos enhance visualization in Journal of X-Ray Science and Technology

The current issue of the Journal of X-Ray Science and Technology now features 3D imaging embedded within its articles for the first time. Use of this digital and multimedia technique enhances the value of five papers, which focus on … READ MORE

Alberta auditor general sharply criticizes aid program for severely handicapped

The bureaucratic mess will make you mad. The human harm could make you weep. Don Braid, Calgary Herald. Alberta’s auditor general says the government is failing the severely disabled through its income supports program. … READ MORE

Topol on physician and patient attitudes toward new technology

Two years ago Medscape did a survey of physicians, healthcare providers, and consumers to gauge relative acceptance of new technologies and attitudes toward medical information sharing. We also published that survey in a peer-reviewed … READ MORE

Fixing electronic health records is good

Adding scribes is even better. Scribe Warren Lam (right) works on notes, as attending physician Dr. Laura Burke (center) and Dr. Daniel Willner discuss a patient case, at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Emergency Department on … READ MORE

Most people’s medical records are fragmented

Full ‘Medical Records’ for Trump and Clinton? That’s Fiction. Casey Quinlan is a patient advocate who has a tattoo of a QR code — a type of bar code to store and track data — for her medical records. Credit Chet Strange for … 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

OpenNotes reaches 10 million

The OpenNotes movement is excited to share a milestone — 10 million Americans can now read their medical notes securely online. Overwhelmingly, patients agree that reading their notes helps them feel more in control of their health … READ MORE

$54.5M gift creates a brighter future for children and women

Largest single donation to the University of Alberta means better health outcomes. The sound of footsteps ascending the stairs heralds six-year-old triplets David, Ryan and Liam Ennis. They spill into the living room laughing and … 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

Quality of physiotherapist led orthopaedic triage compared with standard practice in primary care

Physiotherapist-led orthopaedic triage, where physiotherapists diagnose and determine management plans, aims to enhance effectiveness and provide the best care. However, scientific evidence for the effectiveness of this model of care … READ MORE

Akira and the rise of telemedicine in Canada

“…an international health policy study in 2010… showed that Canada had the lowest rate for availability of same-day appointments at 45 per cent and the highest rate of people who had to wait six days or more for an … READ MORE

First ever stroke rehabilitation guidelines from AHA/ASA

The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) has issued guidelines for the first time on rehabilitation after stroke, calling for intensive, multidisciplinary treatment. Banff Springs Golf Course and Hotel. … READ MORE

Improving surgery outcomes for children with cerebral palsy

Children with cerebral palsy frequently undergo invasive surgeries — lengthening tendons, rotating bones, transferring muscles to new locations — in hopes of improving their physical ability to walk or move. Walk-DMC is a new, … READ MORE

Increased use of mobile devices in clinical settings

Use of mobile devices as a tool in the clinical setting among orthopedic surgeons and trainees has increased during a 48-month period, according to results. From August 2010 to August 2014, researchers sent a questionnaire to 678 … READ MORE

Walk for stroke recovery

Regular, brisk walking after having a stroke could help boost your physical fitness, mobility and quality of life. You can walk without exercise equipment at any convenient place in the community. Whitetail Golf Club, Eganville … READ MORE

Drop foot mechanics outweigh etiology

When prescribing an ankle foot orthosis or neuroprosthesis for a patient with acute drop foot following stroke, lower extremity practitioners should consider the device’s potential effects on neural plasticity and motor relearning … READ MORE

As hospitals go digital, human stories get left behind

The official reason for my patient’s visit, according to her electronic medical chart, was fatigue, though that was far from her only concern. In the exam room, this usually upbeat woman had a sad tale to tell. Several months … READ MORE

Is hip arthroscopic surgery a sham?

Minimal access hip arthroscopy surgery has become the treatment of choice for hip pain in young adults, especially athletes, but a team of McMaster University surgeons is looking to see if the procedure is a sham. “The evidence to … READ MORE

Stroke rehabilitation program for adults and seniors: AFOs

Support and stability for people with drop foot due to stroke. Braceworks welcomes referrals for ankle-foot orthoses, AFOs. The Stroke Rehabilitation Program offers support for inpatients and outpatients in a number of Calgary … 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

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