Public Health

Misinformation: Yep, still a problem

We are seeing a strange revisionist spin on the issue of misinformation. But misinformation has done and is continuing to do serious harm. It is killing us.

Connecting the dots: Standardizing EMR data essential to improving care, easing burnout

The developers and engineers at eHealth are aiming to ensure that as patients move through the health-care system, their information follows them. But there are still obstacles to the development of effective electronic medical records (EMRs).

Emergency brain surgery showed me the best of Ontario health care – and the worst

It’s true that when faced with a crisis, some of the best health-care professionals in the world are available to care for us. But that system is at its breaking point.

Team-based care key to alleviating primary-care crisis

Primary care is in crisis and there aren't enough doctors to go around. Done right, team-based care can expand the capacity of family doctors to care for more patients.

Synthetic data may revolutionize clinical trials – and save lives

Behind each clinical trial, there are real human lives at stake. Advancements in synthetic data could lead us to a future in which every cancer patient enrolled in a clinical trial is guaranteed hope.

Primary health care is everyone’s political responsibility. Let’s share the best solutions

In the wake of the recent federal-provincial health-care funding agreement, the time is now to be bold in Ontario and across Canada to deliver health care better and more equitably.

‘Technology to help bridge the gap’: Smart homes and sensors ease caregiver burden

Smart home technology has become ubiquitous in recent years. Now researchers in Ottawa are finding ways to use this same technology to aid health-care workers, family caregivers, and allow patients to age in place.

Give me a primary-care provider who understands me

What do Canadians want in a primary care doctor? The OurCare survey results highlight that an ongoing relationship between a clinician and patient is key.

How to keep young children with RSV out of the ICU

Nearly every child will contract RSV in their lifetime. Therefore the challenges lies not in preventing RSV infection, but in preventing infections from becoming severe. Breastfeeding may be one way to overcome this challenge.

Beam me up, doc: Adding touch and feel to virtual reality

New developments in virtual medicine could soon allow doctors to "touch" patients and provide even more comprehensive exams remotely.

Virtual care must be integrated into public system, not driven by profit

Virtual care is here to stay. But how it should be used and who should own the services are important to patients, OurCare survey shows.

More than 6.5 million adults in Canada lack access to primary care

Results from the OurCare national survey estimate that more than one in five Canadian adults do not have access to a family doctor or nurse practitioner. It's time we invest in primary care.

Newfoundland and Labrador first province to impose a sugar tax to combat obesity and diabetes. Will it work?

Newfoundland and Labrador is the first Canadian province to join the international beverage sugar-tax club. This effort aims to combat the "growing and silent epidemic" of diabetes impacting more than 11.7 million Canadians.

Model that predicts MS relapse highlights AI’s expanding role in health care

AI can be taught to do a lot. But can it help doctors make better clinical decisions? One MS clinic in Ontario is trialing an AI model that could help doctors determine how to treat their patients.

There is no miracle cure to the health crisis – but here’s where to start  

Dr. Alika Lafontaine, president of the Canadian Medical Association, reflects on the problems and solutions facing a health-care system in crisis.

To ease shortage, Ontario must expand pathways to licensure for internationally trained physicians

Amidst health-care system collapse, thousands of internationally trained physicians in Ontario face barriers to becoming licensed and applying their skills. But there is a way we could reduce skills underutilization and boost the supply of health professionals.

#codePink: Canada must protect mental health of our children and youth

The effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic are still being felt, particularly for youth. There are 8 million children who deserve better access to mental health care in this country. It's time we did better.

Hospice care, not hospital beds: Investing in palliative care will help solve the health-care crisis

6,000 patients in Ontario currently need an “Alternate Level of Care” (ALC). They do not need to be in hospital, but there is nowhere safe for them to go. Government investment in palliative care is a crucial part of the solution.

Artificial Intelligence: Kinks to iron out but a boon for health care

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to change our lives. Now, with the release of the AI tool ChatGPT, it's knocking on the door of your doctor’s office and the hospital wards.

Canada’s dental program only matters if it gets children into dental offices

The Canadian government recently committed to implementing a national public dental program. This benefit is an important first step. But we need education and outreach to ensure that kids in particular are getting the regular access and dental care they need.