With so many emerging drugs, medical devices, and procedures coming to market, how can health professionals, administrators, and patients identify the ones that could truly have a significant impact in Canada? That’s where the Canadian Network for Environmental Scanning in Health (CNESH) comes in. For the second consecutive year CNESH, along with a panel of clinical experts, have been working to identify which new and emerging health technologies hold the greatest promise to improve both the lives of patients and the delivery of health care. The 2015 Top 10 New and Emerging Health Technology Watch List includes five emerging drugs and five innovative medical devices. “Every day we read sensational stories about the promise of new health technologies and wonder if they will really make a difference to
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Narrative Matters: On Our Reading List
Editor’s Note: “Narrative Matters: On Our Reading List” is a monthly roundup where we share some of the most compelling health care narratives driving the news and conversation in recent weeks. The One In 40,000 Parents think their children are one in a million, but Liz Savage knows what it means to have your child be the statistical anomaly. One in 40,000 measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)-vaccinated patients will be affected with immune thrombocytopenia purpura. Her son, whom she refers to as “Oscar” in her story for Slate, “My Son, the Statistic,” was hospitalized with low platelet counts, as his body adversely reacted to the immunization. Oscar recovered, and despite the stress of the ordeal, Savage says she’d still vaccinate him again. “I had to weigh my
Health Affairs Web First: Are Marketplace Enrollees Sicker Than Those With Employer-Sponsored Insurance?
To date little is known about the health status of the 7.3 million Americans who signed up for health insurance through either federal- or state-run exchanges created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). One effective way to gain information is to examine their use of prescription drugs. A new study, being released by Health Affairs as a Web First, compared prescription data from January to September of 2014 of more than one million Marketplace enrollees. The study reviewed the characteristics and medication use of early enrollees (October 1, 2013 through February 28, 2014) and those enrolling later (between March 1 and May 31, 2014), and compared those findings with a sample of some one million Americans enrolled in employer-sponsored health coverage. There were three key findings, which have implications for understanding the
5 Inexpensive Ways to Keep the Kids Entertained This Summer
It doesn’t take long for the excitement of summer vacation to give way to boredom. Soon enough, your kids will be sitting around the house, playing video games and complaining that there is nothing to do. When boredom strikes, it’s time to rely on your creativity and find inexpensive ways to entertain your family. These […] The post 5 Inexpensive Ways to Keep the Kids Entertained This Summer appeared first on .
Health Affairs Event: The Medi-Cal Waiver: Perspectives On Promoting Health System Improvement In California
California’s five-year federal waiver to help revamp the state’s $95 billion Medi-Cal program is set to expire on October 31, 2015. While crucial changes have been made to the program in terms of flexibility and accountability, and coverage has been vastly expanded, much work remains to be done before Medi-Cal can be considered truly transformed. With support from Blue Shield of California Foundation and California HealthCare Foundation, the editors of Health Affairs invite you to join us for an important briefing on Thursday, June 11, in Sacramento. At this event, “The Medi-Cal Waiver: Perspectives on Promoting Health System Improvement in California,” experts will discuss how waivers are being used to promote system improvement, delve into California’s experiences with and lessons from
: Providing methods to help children with chronic pain
For many of us, describing physical pain can be as simple as saying “ouch” when we stub our toe. But as a clinician, what happens when your client can’t clearly communicate how much pain they are in? This situation is common for many clinicians at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital who often meet children who have difficulty communicating the kinds of physical pain they feel due to a disability or medical condition. Children with cerebral palsy (CP) experience multiple sites and sources of ongoing pain due to changes in the body as a result of CP. In many cases, acute and procedural pain is recognizable to a clinician or parent, whereas chronic pain is more likely to be missed. In fact, a Holland Bloorview study showed that 25
How to Prepare Your Child for the Pediatrician
A trip to the doctor can be traumatic for young children. Adults often forget just how frightening sitting in a medical office can be, and parents may not realize the stress their children go through. It’s important for parents to prepare their children before each trip to the pediatrician. Whether the visit is to treat […] The post How to Prepare Your Child for the Pediatrician appeared first on .
Why Playing Hide-and-Seek is Good for Your Child
Children love to play hide-and-seek from their earliest days, but it’s not just a silly game. Playing peekaboo with your baby leads to searching for hidden objects and, ultimately, to the excitement of playing hide-and-seek, of being hunter or hunted without the risk of getting hurt. Whether it’s peekaboo, hide-and-seek, or hunt-the-thimble, what are the […] The post Why Playing Hide-and-Seek is Good for Your Child appeared first on .
How Paid Family Leave Would Have Made Life Easier For One Family
In this year’s State of the Union address, President Obama brought some much-needed attention to the topic of family leave. In the months since, he and some of his allies in Congress have been championing the “Healthy Families Act,” which establishes guidelines providing that all employees receive up to seven days of paid leave. This paid time away can fall under the category of “sick leave,” but the leave could alternatively be spent caring for a chronically ill loved one. In 2006-2007, I had the privilege of following the health care story of Thor Lem and his family. I was in the midst of producing my documentary film “American Heart,” which looks at health care through the eyes of three refugees living in the
Hospital News salutes Nursing Hero Nominee Carol Aird
Carol Aird. Carol Aird RN – Peterborough Regional Health Centre Carol graduated from the McMaster School of Nursing in 1977. Her first job was outpost nursing, providing primary healthcare to isolated communities in northern Manitoba and the Northwest Territories. In 1980, she returned to Ontario and worked as a Staff Nurse with the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) in Toronto. Carol became a Public Health Nurse with the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge (HKPR) District Health Unit in 1983. From 1985 to1989 she was a Nursing Supervisor with the HKPR Health Unit and then with the Lindsay VON. These early experiences provided Carol with the opportunity to become an advocate for the health and wellness of women and their children. Carol believed that with information and support, women could make the best
How to Make Your Home Comfortable for Your Kids After a Divorce
Just because you’re divorced doesn’t mean your children can’t be part of two independent, happy homes. Creating your new home as a bachelor or bachelorette is different than making a home for your children. Although your interior design needs to reflect your lifestyle, it should also be a comfortable place for your kids so they […] The post How to Make Your Home Comfortable for Your Kids After a Divorce appeared first on .