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Family medicine-maternity care: A romantic idea facing an uncertain future

Physicians who practice family medicine and offer maternity care are shrinking in numbers. Their future is uncertain. What do we stand to lose?

Could AI make health care more human?

An AI program in a Toronto hospital seems to be saving lives. Does it also offer a glimpse of a future in which AI makes health care more human, not less?

‘I can’t take deep breaths anymore’: Some young adults feeling long-term effects from mild cases of COVID-19

Youth and young adults who had even mild cases of COVID-19 are experiencing lingering symptoms like shortness of breath for months. Recent research may shed some light on why.

Seniors with dementia in LTC homes are using virtual reality to relive their pasts

During the pandemic, elderly people with dementia in long-term care homes have used virtual reality to relive their pasts. Is this dementia care's future?

Virtual simulation in nursing education: Balancing care for the ‘failing heart’ and the ‘breaking heart’

COVID-19 has increased the use of virtual simulations in nursing schools across Canada. But how big of a role should they play in nursing education after the pandemic?

‘Some people describe it as being magical’: Horses provide a unique form of relaxation therapy for front-line workers

Front-line health-care workers are coping with stress and burnout by spending time with horses, an experience that some describe as "magical."

Finding shelter space like running an ‘obstacle course’

Helping someone who is homeless in Toronto access an indoor place to stay can be “like a gladiator’s obstacle course.”

‘The way I talk has become different’: Isolation taking mental toll on LTC residents

Many elderly adults with dementia in long-term care homes have experienced a large increase in memory loss due to the isolation caused by visitor restrictions.

‘I felt I failed them completely’: Doctor describes shame, frustration as she responds to crisis in India

Dr. Rajani Surendar Bhat talks about the toll that treating COVID-19 in India is taking on her mental health.

The double pandemic: Canadian doctors running “parallel wards” for family and friends in India

Samir Gupta answers medical questions from family and friends with COVI-19 in India from 10 PM until the early morning. He is one of many Indo-Canadian doctors who are battling a "double pandemic" in both Canada and India.

Making the most of the 15 minutes of post-jab waiting time

How can we make the most of the 15 minutes of medical observation that comes after getting vaccinated?

Why scary vaccine headlines are actually good news

We’ve all seen the headlines linking COVID-19 vaccines to rare blood clots. While this development may be worrisome, it is a reassuring sign that vaccine safety surveillance is doing its job.

‘This is not on their radar’: PTSD among COVID survivors an emerging public health threat

Canadian critical care experts are warning that we are not prepared to treat the large number of COVID-19 survivors who suffer from PTSD because of their experiences in the ICU.

Communities are taking the lead on vaccinating hot spots

Community-health organizations are trying to make the rollout of vaccines in hot spots as accessible and equitable as possible by directly reaching out to hot-spot residents.

Saying Goodbye on FaceTime

Nurses have been using platforms like FaceTime to host visits between patients critically ill with COVID-19 and their loved ones. It's contributing to burnout – but also sometimes providing them with beautiful moments of human connection.

Hero status putting strain on health-care workers

When the pandemic hit last year, doctors were hailed as heroes. But the hero-worship may be putting them at higher risk of moral injury – and its potential long-term, detrimental consequences.

‘Mindfulness’ for cancer patients: Has a popular trend gone too far?

In the rush to embrace mindfulness, cancer centres should be cautious and practice trauma-informed care.

Social media behaviour ‘a thermometer’ of mental health

As social media increasingly dominates day-to-day life, it’s not uncommon to see a sudden shift in a friend or family member’s online behaviour. The change in attitude may be an indicator of an emerging or reoccurring mental health issue.

‘Paradigm shift’ needed to deal with mental-health catastrophe

Provincial governments cover only half of treatments for mental-health conditions. It’s not that the public system can’t afford to cover such services. It’s that we can’t afford not to.

Patient Navigator: Hospital program aims to boost vaccination rate among health-care workers

Paul Taylor responds to people asking why hospitals aren't requiring health-care workers to get vaccinated – or get placed on unpaid leave.