Primary Care

Lose the calculator: Physician champions weight-inclusive care rather than calorie counting

Katarina Wind is a family physician in British Columbia who has her patients focus on healthy behaviours without setting a goal of weight loss or gain.

Financial side-effects of treatment can be devastating in our ‘free’ health-care system

Health-care providers must also begin to take proactive steps to ensure that patients are not only aware of the medical side effects of their care and treatments, but the financial side effects, too.

Innovation challenge rewards ideas to ease workplace crisis

Desperate to retain health-care workers and reduce burnout, a non-profit health agency is offering monetary prizes for workers to come up with innovative ideas to ease the workplace crisis.

Lessons in patient partnership from a patient and health communications expert

Organizations that prioritize patient voices while championing equity, diversity and inclusion stand to gain immensely in not only enhancing their reputation among their patient communities, but also in leading the way as models for other institutions to follow.

OurCare Manitoba: System is nearing collapse but we have faith it can be changed

The Manitoban primary care system is at risk. We cannot just stand to the side watching as issues mount. We need change now, while we can still turn things around. Here's how we fix it.

Clinic offers a ‘one-stop shop’ for brain care

The Brain Medicine Clinic – a novel clinical model that is a “one-stop shop” for diagnosis, symptom management and treatment – is serving those who don’t have a clear home elsewhere in the health-care system.

Diabetes management has come a long way but barriers to effective treatment still exist

With their ability to provide continuous, painless monitoring, sensor-based glucose monitoring systems empower individuals living with diabetes to make informed decisions regarding their nutrition, activity and medication. But there are still barriers to their widespread use.

Expanding access to physiotherapy will help break logjam in primary care

Lack of access to primary care is a constant theme in health-care discussions. Incorporating physiotherapists into primary care teams could help reduce the backlog of patients seeking care for musculoskeletal problems.

Financial toxicity: The relationship between cancer and poverty

Beating cancer doesn't always mean patients will lead healthy and fulfilling lives. They also face the challenge of staying out of the poverty cycle and debt traps throughout the course of their treatment.

Including social workers in mental health care is a win-win for patients and providers

Primary care is one of the most common ways people access mental health treatment in this country. But with limited access to primary care providers, more patients are likely to slip through the cracks. Integrating social workers into primary health care teams could help.

National dental program leaves the vulnerable behind, critics say

The federal government is about to embark on the largest investment in oral health in Canadian history. But critics say this landmark investment may not reach the people who need it most.

Anxiety vs. stress: The right definition will lead to better mental-health care

Conflating stress and anxiety in medical settings can have serious implications for patients. New research on "social prescribing" could pave the way for more effective treatment.

Naturopathic doctors: Underutilized partners in public health and primary care

Naturopathic doctors (NDs) have an important role to play in the health-care system. We need a pilot project to assess the viability of ND integration into team-based primary care models.

There is no quick fix for chronic pain but there is a path forward

Patients need to be at the centre of their own care, and they need to manage their pain for what it is, a chronic disease. The time to reimagine chronic pain care is now – we can’t afford not to and the millions of suffering Canadians can’t afford to wait.

Canada’s diverse caregiving community in dire need of federal strategy

Canada is a nation of caregivers. But caregivers and care recipients alike are at risk for burnout. We need a concerted policy response that meets caregivers where they are.

‘I want to finally start living my life’: Added residency year for family practice draws criticism

A three-year family practice program will almost certainly exacerbate the current primary care crisis. For Canadians, this will result in fewer family doctors practicing community care and less access to preventative care, cancer screenings and treatment of chronic diseases.

It’s not all pretty in pink: To prevent breast cancer, let’s stop missing the forest for the trees

Breast cancer rates, even among young people, are on the rise. For this Breast Cancer Awareness month, there's more we could be doing to prevent the disease before it starts.

We must change our mindset about our health-care system

No system, public or private, can cover all the health needs and wants of every person all the time. It's time for difficult conversations about our health-care system.

Beyond birth control: The benefits of universal contraception don’t end at pregnancy prevention

Contraceptives are a key part of health care for half of Canada's population and their benefits extend beyond family planning alone. It is time to expand universal contraception to the entire country.

Yes, patients and caregivers are experts

Does being a patient make you an expert on your condition? Does formal education and credentials to comprehend a disease outweigh the rigor of experiencing life with the disease? There may be more room for patient-expert buy-in in health care decisions.