🏥💔 Your Health, Their Politics: The Real Cost
Good morning, Other Siders!
Happy Frosty February! ❄️ While we’re all thawing out from the polar vortex, let’s warm up with some piping-hot healthcare updates. Shoutout to our new subscribers—you’ve joined just in time for the most chaotic week in Canadian healthcare (Alberta’s playing musical chairs with their health board… again). This edition’s packed with fresh drama and a U.S. health nominee with… questionable backup singers.
P.S. If your org needs a digital health strategy glow-up, our consulting squad’s got your back—proven to turn chaos into impact.
In today’s edition, we’re serving up:
👩⚕️ Training Shift for More Family Docs?
🎖️ Veterans’ Pain Relief at Invictus 2025
🔄 Alberta Health Board Shake-Up… Again
🏳️🌈 U.S. Erases Gender Health Info?
Dive in and enjoy the ride. 🚀
News that Impacts You!
👩⚕️ Training Shift for More Family Docs?
With 6.5 million Canadians lacking a family doctor, three new medical schools—Simon Fraser University, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), and the University of Prince Edward Island—are flipping the script on training. These programs emphasize team-based care, integrating pharmacists, nurses, and social workers to tackle complex cases like mental health or housing insecurity. TMU’s six-month "co-op for doctors" placements aim to immerse students in real-world primary care, while SFU focuses on reducing ER visits through proactive community care. Dr. David Price, SFU’s dean, notes that today’s patients often juggle multiple chronic conditions, requiring longer visits than the old 10-minute model. The goal? Train docs who thrive in collaborative settings—because solo burnout isn’t helping anyone
Would you trust a healthcare team over a lone wolf?
🎖️ Veterans’ Pain Relief at Invictus 2025
The Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence (CPCoE) is hitting the ground running at the Invictus Games, armed with Bayshore HealthCare’s funding. Their activation booth will offer veterans wearable pain trackers and live recordings of The Most Painful Podcast, featuring athletes who’ve swapped opioids for yoga and neurostimulation tech. Did you know female veterans are twice as likely to suffer chronic pain than civilians? CPCoE’s research aims to close this gap by blending tech and community support. Imagine a vet using VR therapy to manage phantom limb pain mid-competition—now that’s resilience
Ever tried non-traditional pain relief?
🔄 Alberta Health Board Shake-Up… Again
Premier Danielle Smith’s government dissolved Alberta Health Services’ board (again), handing control to deputy minister Andre Tremblay. Critics like former AHS exec Braden Manns call this “political meddling,” arguing the real issue is frontline staff shortages, not bureaucracy. AHS, now split into four agencies, still manages 106 hospitals—but ER wait times remain sky-high. Tremblay, a career bureaucrat with no health admin experience, now juggles three roles: AHS CEO, Health Ministry deputy, and hospital overseer. Meanwhile, ER nurses are clocking 16-hour shifts. Priorities, anyone?
Would you trust a deputy minister to run your hospital?
💭Let us know what you think in the comment section.
Evolving Global Health
🏳️🌈 U.S. Erases Gender Health Info?
While the U.S. rolls back gender-affirming resources, Canada’s Movember grants include support for LGBTQIA+ prostate cancer patients, who often lack tailored care. The Walnut Foundation’s project in Toronto and Montreal uses culturally sensitive materials to engage Black LGBTQIA+ communities. Health equity isn’t just a buzzword—it’s lifesaving. Imagine a trans man denied screenings because clinics don’t recognize his needs. Canada’s strides highlight why inclusive info matters
Should politics dictate health info?
📈What’s Trending🔥
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