Posted on March 16, 2021 by Katie Bryski and Waldo Beauséjour

Nearly one year after the COVID-19 pandemic began, it is apparent that its effects have been disproportionately felt by Black and racialized Canadians. Research shows that Black people are more likely to contract COVID-19 than white people and are dying at higher rates from the virus. This high COVID-19 mortality rate in Black communities is mostly associated with prior poor health conditions resulting from diabetes, hypertension, cancer and heart disease. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, Black Canadians report worse health outcomes in general compared to white Canadians.

Posted on March 11, 2021 by  Shelagh Maloney

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As we acknowledge the one-year anniversary of the declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic, many of us will reflect on how this virus, that didn’t even exist eighteen months ago, has irrevocably changed our world. It’s astounding to think that every single person on this planet has been impacted by COVID-19.

Posted on January 26, 2021 by  Fraser Ratchford

Staying home and wearing masks is protecting our physical health — but it’s important to look after our mental health as well.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, there is growing concern about Canadians’ mental health. According to a recent Infoway study, 21 per cent of Canadians reported a “fair” or “poor” mental health status in 2020, up from 17 per cent in 2019. Their use of digital mental health tools is increasing, too. In 2020, 16 per cent of Canadians stated that they’ve used an e-mental health service in the past, up from 12 per cent in 2019.

Posted on December 22, 2020 by Dr. Rashaad Bhyat

The zeitgeist of 2020 has already been well documented by many wise individuals. But suffice it to say, this has been a year like no other in recent memory, and one that has left an indelible mark on the health care landscape.

Posted on December 16, 2020 by Jamie Bruce

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed Canadians’ daily lives. Whether they’re staying masked or staying home, Canadians are making choices to protect their health and the health of their communities.

Posted on November 24, 2020 by Kelly Kuru and Kelly Davison

The 2020 agreement between SNOMED International and the International Council of Nurses (ICN) is an opportunity to highlight the clinical work of nursing. The ICN is a federation of more than 130 national nurses’ associations worldwide. Under the agreement, the International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP) will be incorporated into SNOMED CT, the world’s most comprehensive clinical terminology with more than 350,000 active concepts, and SNOMED International will manage, produce and release the ICNP on behalf of ICN, which will maintain governance and ownership of the ICNP content.

Posted on September 22, 2020 by Waldo Beauséjour

Nurses comprise the largest proportion of Canada’s health care providers. The most recent data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI)’s Nursing in Canada, 2019 survey reveals that the regulated nursing workforce grew by 1.9 per cent from 2018: faster than the general Canadian population growth. This increase is welcome news, since nurses play a prominent role in patient care. A larger nursing workforce will support better access to health care for Canadians, especially during this unprecedented health crisis.

Posted on September 15, 2020 by Joel Francis

If there is a universal truth about health care, it’s this: there are a lot of forms. However, not all of them are created equal. Often, the data captured is static — it can’t be independently shared or queried.

Posted on September 8, 2020 by Myriam Brel

A new school year can be exciting — and stressful. Academic anxieties, bullying, romances and peer pressure add up to considerable weight on young shoulders. Heading back to the classroom during a pandemic only heightens that stress, for kids and parents alike.

Posted on August 18, 2020 by Nancy Gupta

Growing up is hard to do, especially online. Adolescence has always brought challenges, but the COVID-19 pandemic has added substantial stress to the lives of youth and young adults across Canada. Physical distancing, uncertainty around schooling and employment and concerns around the virus itself have contributed to rising mental health concerns among young Canadians.

Posted on August 10, 2020 by Katie Bryski and Dana Riley

A virus may not discriminate on its own, but systemic inequities mean that COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted racialized groups. Data from the United States and the United Kingdom show higher rates of negative health outcomes and deaths related to COVID-19 among Black populations, due in part to the compounding effects of anti-Black racism and its subsequent impact on the social determinants of health.

Posted on July 27 by Dr. Rashaad Bhyat

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve been struck by the rapidity of events. This has been a fast-moving virus, but the response to it has been just as swift. In digital health, strong collaboration and leadership have helped to accomplish the policy work of years in just a few weeks.

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Bobby Gheorghiu, Waldo Beauséjour and Nicole Simms

What happens when a pandemic meets a heat wave? It’s a question that many jurisdictions are asking themselves this summer, weighing the need for emergency cooling centres against the continued need for physical distancing. This intersection between COVID-19 and climate change shows in microcosm the interconnections between health systems and natural systems.

Posted on July 8, 2020 by Nancy Gupta and Sukirtha Tharmalingam

When disease is suspected, how long does it take a patient to go from biopsy to diagnosis and treatment plan? It depends where you live. Across Canada, it can take anywhere from days, weeks, or months.

Posted on June 30, 2020 by Katie Bryski and Ellie Yu

It’s a brave new world in health care. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Canadians have turned increasingly to virtual care. According to Infoway’s ongoing tracking survey, virtual visits accounted for almost half of health care visits in May 2020. But what does this shift to virtual care mean for patients and how patients engage with the health care system?

Posted on June 16, 2020 by Nancy Gupta and Simon Hagens

How are you holding up? No, really, how are you feeling? Specifically, in terms of your mental health?

Posted on June 8, 2020 by Katie Bryski

It’s unsettling, going unseen. Several years ago, I sat in an exam room with Kleenex scrunched in my fist. The clinician had just suggested a common procedure — except it wouldn’t be routine for me. Quite the opposite. As she did her best to offer assurance, I felt the realization slowly build. You don’t understand why I’m upset.

Posted on May 19, 2020 by Katie Bryski

It’s been nine weeks since I came home and stayed home. In that time, we’ve seen extraordinary growth of virtual care across Canada. As our health system faces unprecedented challenges, virtual care has proven to be an invaluable tool.

Posted on May 4, 2020 by Katie Bryski and Dr. Rashaad Bhyat

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, virtual care is filling a larger role in health care. Telephones, video chats and secure messaging allow clinics to keep their digital doors open while ensuring that clinicians and patients stay safe and maintain physical distancing. In our last blog post, we discussed some of the factors behind Canada’s rapid adoption of virtual care. In this follow-up, let’s dive a little deeper and see how a virtual care appointment might unfold.