Is Waiting Longer for New Prescription Drug Approvals Necessarily a Bad Thing?

 Why Canada’s ‘slow and low’ approach to new pharmaceuticals may be the prudent approach. The newest report from Canada’s brand name drug makers on access to new drugs has one key message: compared to other countries, Canada goes slow and low.  New drugs are slower to be covered by our

Blair Animal Hospital: Customizing Pet Care

 Pets are like family. The moment they step into our lives, they hold a special place in our hearts. As pet owners, it is of utmost importance to provide them with veterinary care throughout their lives to support their health and quality of life. The team at Blair Animal Hospital

Bring on the Needles for Stress Management

 When it comes to finding the balance between work, home, family and personal obligations, feeling overwhelmed, stressed and anxious is unfortunately common. So much to do, so little time! While some stress is a normal part of a life, in excess it can impair productivity and, more importantly, affect our

Ambulance Fees are an Obstacle on the Road to Care

 Imagine you’re a physician seeing a six month old child in clinic. She has a fever and cough, she’s working hard to breathe and her oxygen levels are falling. You know she needs assessment in the emergency room and requires transportation in an ambulance in case her condition worsens en route.

‘GumDocs’ Serving Patients & Creating Smiles for 20 Years

 Photo credit: Peter Waiser When it comes to anniversaries, twenty years is a special one for businesses. This year, GumDocs, the periodontal and implant clinic located on the fourth floor of a brownstone at Catherine and Bank is marking that special milestone. While the space has had a few makeovers

New Hospital Funding Model is a Leap of Faith

 Activity-based funding may discharge patients from hospital ‘quicker but sicker’ Most Canadians probably don’t realize that health care in Canada is quietly undergoing a major transformation in funding that could significantly impact patients.  Three provinces—Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia—are implementing a new funding model for hospitals and other provinces are

Youth on the Streets: Anything but Hopeless

 Kevin Belisle begs for money and attention. He sits on Bank Street, holding a carton that reads, “Extremely hungry. Please help.” In his backpack: high school equivalency, a criminal record and a dirty jacket. Homeless Kevin Belisle, 23, asks the government for a job, so he doesn’t have to beg

Look to Alberta Today, Not 20 Years Ago, for Guidance on Private MRIs

 Allowing private MRI clinics does not shorten wait times in public system  This past week, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall took to twitter to ask the question “Is it time to allow people to pay for their own private MRIs in Saskatchewan like they can do in Alberta?” This came after

Dr. Shadi Shadid – The Dentist Who Gives You a Reason to Smile

 Humour, warmth, understanding and excellent care. These are the things you can expect when you walk through the door at Dentistry at the Crossing. Ditching the guilty lectures on plaque build up or swollen gums, Dr. Shadi Shadid, the charismatic owner of Dentistry at the Crossing, instead focuses on the

Orthodontic Treatments – Starting Young Can Improve Results

 At the age of six, an orthodontist is usually able to see if a child has an underlying orthodontic problem or is a likely candidate to develop one. Whether caused by genetic influences or dental anomalies, when detected early, orthodontic problems can either be corrected or their impact greatly reduced.

Making Memories Last: The Memory Clinic of Outaouais

 The Memory Clinic of Outaouais, in Gatineau, Quebec, is open and ready to help the community. Specializing in research on neurological disorders, the Memory Clinic strives to ensure its patients receive the best possible care. Dr. Richard Bergeron (M.D., Ph.D., FRCPC) is the owner and principal investigator. He assists patients

Why Canadian Medicare Should Neither ‘Go Dutch’ or ‘to the Dogs’

 Canada’s health care system faced some provocative comparisons recently. First was Sarah Boston’s new book, Lucky Dog, in which she details her personal experience with thyroid cancer and navigating the Canadian health system. Boston, a veterinary oncologist, claims Canadian dogs often have better access to health care than their human

Why You Can’t See a Psychiatrist

 And why adding more psychiatrists to the mental health system may not be the answer. We are talking openly about mental illnesses and addictions now more than ever--and that’s a good thing. Efforts to address the stigma associated with mental illnesses have made it easier for people who have been

Report Card on Wait Times in Canada Omits Important Developments

 Canadians might have been inclined to take a sedative for an anxiety attack after reading about the Wait Time Alliance’s (WTA) 2014 report card on waits for medical care in Canada. The WTA gives Canada a failing grade on the structural changes it says are needed to have the timely

Community Leaders Rally to Support the OICC Approach to Cancer

 Spring has finally sprung in Ottawa and with it tulips and daffodils are popping up everywhere… not just the daffodils in your garden but the ones you pin on as a reminder that cancer is all around too. But there are havens of hope, and one such oasis of healing

Canada Health Infoway: Better Health Through Digital Technology

 Better Health Together through new technology. That’s what it’s all about. An important trend in health care these days is patient-centred care and convenience. The idea is that in a world driven by technological innovation, patients should be able to securely access their full medical records online. Many in the