Healthcare Delivery

Burnout in health care: A personal reflection and evidence-based perspective

Coping with burnout requires a combination of personal resilience and systemic support. Health-care institutions must prioritize the emotional and psychological health of their staff.

Lessons learned: Reflections from out-of-province medical learners

Medical learners who leave home deserve recognition and structured support, as the value of training lies not only in knowledge but in the perspectives we carry forward.

‘The war against dogs continues’: How 150 years of policy denied animal control to Indigenous communities

Unequal access to pet care in rural and Indigenous communities has led to dogs being shot when they pose a risk to the public. A century and a half of policies that have left these communities without animal-control systems are to blame.

‘Things went horribly wrong’: Patient advocates spreading the word about dangers of Botox

Much of the conversation about Botox centres on whether it looks good or bad, or if getting it can be considered a “feminist” choice. Less attention has been given to the fact that research indicates that one in six patients who are injected with Botox experiences adverse effects from the procedure.

We can’t afford to wait for health care any longer 

Canada’s health-care system remains one of our greatest national ideals. But ideals don’t shorten waitlists.

Pharmacists are essential in bridging the gap between AI and patient-centered care

In a world pushing toward data-driven systems and algorithms, pharmacists can safeguard the human element of care by acting as a nexus between health and technology.

Queering the curriculum: Sexual orientation and gender identity in Canadian comprehensive sexuality education

Comprehensive sexual education plays a vital role in equipping young people with knowledge about their bodies, identities, rights and relationships. But access remains uneven across the country.

From Miami to Mississauga: The Golden Girls and Ontario’s $1.1B homecare plan

Whether in the fictional world of The Golden Girls or the real-life province of Ontario, the tension between independence and formal care is real.

Fail-first drug rules defy logic, deny timely access for people with rare diseases

Despite the recent approval of targeted biologics that can significantly improve quality of life, Canadians living with Myasthenia Gravis continue to face unjust policy barriers.

Needle phobic? Nasal spray flu vaccine allays fear but has limited access in Canada

Canadians who avoid the flu shot because they fear needles have an alternative that won’t make them hold their breath until it’s over. But availability may pose a problem for access.

The words we use: Why inclusive language in health care is about safety

Inclusive language is a living practice. Let’s treat it that way – with care, intention and the humility to keep learning.

Sleepless in Scrubs: The myth of the invincible doctor

While trainees may joke about exhaustion, its impact is anything but humorous. Chronic fatigue in medical education is not just normalized but is also institutionalized.

I used to envy socially transitioned trans kids for having the childhood I never had. Now I am not so certain.

While more research will continue to provide useful information on how socially transitioned children manage through their adolescence and adulthood, it will never be able to answer whether transitioning is the best choice for any gender-variant child.

A roadmap for change: Building the health workforce Canadians deserve

A well-planned, integrated workforce can deliver access, improved outcomes and support our health professionals. It’s time to put the future in motion.

Climate change fuelling the spread of tuberculosis

With floods in Pakistan, cyclones in Madagascar and droughts in Somalia, it is crucial that we learn to recognize the critical links between climate change and disease.

Using ‘integration’ to silence culturally specific care

When culturally specific care is allowed to vanish under another name, we all lose a piece of the commons we rely on.

A call to action for the health sector on planetary health and a wellbeing society

An emerging national health sector coalition is working to spur action, at all levels from the grass roots to the national level, to create a Wellbeing society in which we achieve equitable health now and for future generations while living within planetary boundaries.

Emergency department wait times are deadly. They’re also avoidable

Until governments act on our scientific recommendations and commit to meaningful system change, Canadians will continue to wait in dangerous conditions – and more families will face tragic, preventable loss.

Ontario has a new way of measuring how hard family doctors work. What does it mean for doctors and their patients?

The new “Continuity of Care” measure included in the new agreement between the Ontario government and its doctors has good intentions but comes with severe penalties and without necessary checks and balances.

Knit one, purl two on the way to mental health

Addressing rising mental health rates will undoubtedly require a range of different tools, both pharmacological and non-pharmaceutical.