It’s a worldwide debate with no clear scientific proof – does the radio frequency radiation given off by mobile phones increase a user’s risk of developing brain cancer?
Health Canada recently issued a slight amendment to advice regarding the use of mobile phones. In May, in the wake of a World...
More and more companies have jumped on the digital bandwagon, doing away with paper billings and notifications; why should doctors be any different? The 2010 National Physician Survey shows that more and more physicians report that they’re using electronic medical records (EMR), as opposed to paper charts...
Anyone who has ever fractured a bone knows that the requisite 6 weeks with a cast can seem like forever. Countdown to the removal of the cast starts immediately; unfortunately, when that glorious day dawns you’re left with weak, jelly-like muscles surrounding the break. Turns out – after the cast comes...
The trucking industry is well aware of sleep apnea and its dangerous consequences – it turns out, they’re definitely on to something! Recent Canadian studies have found that more than a quarter of adults in Canada have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Untreated or undertreated sleep apnea can cause...
Most will agree that quitting smoking is a good thing for everyone. Smokers have an increased risk of developing numerous health conditions as compared to non-smokers. Non-smokers enjoy better health than smokers and consume fewer healthcare resources.
With this information in mind, the B.C. government has...
As mobile phones, T.Vs and computers get more compact, so too does medical technology. A new technology has emerged to provide onsite testing for serious viruses like HIV. Known as a “lab on a chip”, the mChip is the size of a credit card and can analyze a drop of blood obtained by pricking the finger of...
Although it would be nice to think that all doctors are first concerned with helping others, and secondly with making money; a recent story out of Ontario suggests that this isn’t always the case.
An Ontario parent took their child to a walk-in clinic after learning that the next appointment with the...
Turns out, you’re far more likely to die as a result of visiting a hospital than flying in an airplane! The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised a red flag by releasing this information, and appointing a “patient safety” czar to help raise awareness about hospital safety.
Infection, and medical...
It’s difficult to believe that a doctor might prescribe cigarettes to a patient, but it could actually happen if proposed anti-smoking legislation comes into effect in Iceland. The proposed legislation would mean cigarettes would eventually be available only in pharmacies, and would be sold exclusively to...
The BC and Ontario governments have zeroed in on prices for cataract surgery and are seeking fee reductions in these two provinces. Advances in technology have led to faster, more efficient cataract surgery; the problem is, fees have not been adjusted to match the quicker procedures.
A decade ago, BC...
