Primary care

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

Saskatchewan program allows online look at personal medical records

REGINA – A pilot program is being launched in Saskatchewan that will allow up to 1,000 people to view their personal health-care information online. Called the Citizen Health Information Portal, or CHIP, the six-month program … READ MORE

Doctors’ reminders keep people more engaged in their health care

Research led by UCLA professor on ‘OpenNotes’ model finds that follow-up emails are critical to keeping patients in the know. Enrique Rivero, UCLA Newsroom February 11, 2016 A study led by Dr. John Mafi, a professor at the David … READ MORE

Meniscus surgery criteria called into question

Surgeons should not necessarily operate on patients with degenerative meniscus tears whose knees catch and lock, researchers say. In a secondary analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial, such patients fared equally well … READ MORE

Canadian patients had higher major complication rates after TKA

Patients from Canada who underwent total knee arthroplasty experienced a higher rate of major complications compared with patients from the United States, according to results recently published in JAMA Surgery. by Casey Tingle, … 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

Doctors urged to ditch pagers in favour of smartphones

When Ann Marie McKenna uses her iPhone to communicate with colleagues at work, she’s upsetting the long reign of another device – one that is virtually obsolete outside her industry. Physician Jonathan Ailon uses a smartphone at … READ MORE

Stanford launches its HealthKit and Epic connected MyHealth app

Many large hospitals in the U.S. are evaluating or developing pilot projects around Apple’s HealthKit platform. Stanford Health Care is among the first to actually offer a working app that exchanges data between the Epic patient … READ MORE

5% of Ontario residents account for majority of health care costs

Five percent of Ontarians account for 65% of provincial health care costs for individual care, with the top 1% accounting for one-third of these costs, according to new research published in the Canadian Medical Association … READ MORE

Size matters – Alternatives to vertical integration

Alternatives to hospital dominated, vertically integrated systems. For decades, pundits have predicted the demise of solo and small practices, and health care systems have been pushing policies that hasten their demise. And yet, small … READ MORE

When not to fix: Thoughts of an orthopaedic surgeon

One driving force that is emerging in our high-tech, low-touch approach to healthcare is our tendency to rely far too much on technology such as MRI findings, and too little on our physical exam findings and on the story our patient … READ MORE

Out on a limb: Hockey gets hip to FAI

Despite evidence of significant lower extremity injury risks associated with ice hockey, even at youth levels, preventing those types of injuries has never been a priority in that sport. But that may be starting to change. Young ice … READ MORE

Battle of Achilles II: How the debate is informing clinical practice

Four years later, the ongoing discussion of the relative merits of surgical and nonsurgical management of Achilles tendon rupture is starting to affect practice patterns – even in the US. Sara Mearns, New York City Ballerina. … READ MORE

When hospital paperwork crowds out hospital care

Electronic health records present an enticingly clean and clear vision of clinical work, whereas real patients — their histories, their bodies — are messy, confusing and unpredictable. Sadly, all the attention given to our … READ MORE

How doctors use smartphones in hospitals

Findings suggest that medical residents are looking for quicker forms of medical confirmation and information, rather than multimedia formats that may be more time consuming to process during clinic. This is consistent with another … READ MORE

AAOS criteria for treating pediatric patients with knee osteochondritis dissecans

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) today released Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) to assist in the treatment and rehabilitation of pediatric patients with osteochondritis dissecans of the femoral condyle, also known as … READ MORE

Medical 3D printing for the radiologist

From personalized replacement body parts to safer surgeries, 3D printing is revolutionizing medicine. Dr. Frank Rybicki, an American expert in the field, tells Andrew Duffy what the future holds — and why he’s set up shop in … READ MORE

20 ways to see the heart

Our ability to see the human heart – its intricate valves, vessels and chambers – can mean less invasive procedures for patients. Better care for daughters, moms, dads, grandpas and more. A look inside the technology and … READ MORE

In-home physical therapy and rehabilitation service

Get personalized rehab in the comfort of your home. In Calgary and Edmonton, travelling therapists visit patients in their homes, assisted living, and long term care. Maintain or improve your mobility level – in one’s own … READ MORE

Knee surgery shows no benefit for mild osteoarthritis

A new study indicates that there is no apparent benefit to arthroscopic knee surgery for age-related tears of the meniscus in comparison with nonsurgical or sham treatments. Ballroom Dancing Shoes. When you plan to twirl, step, and … READ MORE

Sport and exercise medicine

Primary care is ideally placed to promote and prescribe exercise to patients. Inevitably some people will develop musculoskeletal problems and will need our help. In general these needs can be managed successfully without need to call … READ MORE

The upper limb in primary care

Upper limb in primary care, Part 2 Wrist, hand – joint, soft tissue and neurological disorders. There is increasing focus on GPs reducing the number of referrals that they make to secondary care. Wrist and hand disorders are a … READ MORE

The approach to the patient presenting with multiple joint pain

Upper limb in primary care, Part 1 Upper and lower arm, elbow. Patients present to their GP with symptoms rather than diseases, and often it takes time for musculoskeletal problems to evolve into a recognisable form. The challenge for … READ MORE

Introduction to musculoskeletal assessment

A guide for medical students and healthcare professionals. Musculoskeletal disorders are the commonest cause of disability in the UK. Each year 15 per cent of patients on a general practitioner’s list will consult their doctor with … READ MORE

Resistance exercise for spinal cord injury

Resistance training is important for persons with spinal cord injury, SCI. In general, regular resistance exercise improves one’s energy level and daily living, as well as enhancing body composition and overall motor function. A … READ MORE

Hip and Knee Referral Template

Referring physicians must use the provincially endorsed Alberta Bone and Joint Clinical Network Hip and Knee Referral template for all hip and knee replacement patients. Include with each completed referral form a relevant history or … READ MORE

Sports and exercise injuries

Exercise and sport should be good for your physical and mental health if you undertake it sensibly and take into account your current level of health and fitness. Visit Arthritis Research … READ MORE

When your child has arthritis

The best care for your child is a combination of medicines (drug treatments) and an active exercise programme. Visit Arthritis Research … READ MORE

Hip replacement surgery

If you’re thinking about having hip replacement surgery you’ll probably have lots of questions on your mind. In this booklet we’ll explain when hip replacement might be needed and what you can expect from surgery. To help you in … READ MORE

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