Be Aware Health Care | January 30th, 2024

Have Back Pain? Maybe Read This:

Chronic back pain, affecting millions globally, poses diagnostic challenges due to its multifaceted nature. While physical trauma can be a known cause, many cases lack clear issues in medical imaging, leading to the term "non-specific low back pain." The holistic "biopsychosocial model" is vital for treatment, incorporating education, rehabilitation, and sometimes spinal manipulation (WHO 2023 Guidelines). Medication use, particularly anti-inflammatories, requires caution. Some recover over time, but early diagnosis and treatment can reduce persistent pain. Personal empowerment and exploring alternative approaches are encouraged, emphasizing patience and persistence in finding effective solutions for this widespread health concern.

1. Physiotherapy: Work with physiotherapists to rehabilitate and retrain muscles, promoting proper movement.

2. Exercise Programs: Engage in tailored exercise regimens designed to strengthen core muscles and improve flexibility.

3. Pain Reprocessing Therapy: Explore psychological techniques to reshape thinking patterns around pain, reducing fear and promoting a positive mindset.

4. Medication (with Caution): While anti-inflammatories like naproxen might offer temporary relief, be cautious about long-term use due to potential side effects.

5. Holistic Approaches: Adopt a holistic "biopsychosocial model" that considers biological, psychological, and social factors for comprehensive care.

6. Early Diagnosis and Treatment: Address back pain early to increase the likelihood of preventing it from becoming persistent.

7. Alternative Practitioners: Explore alternative therapies such as acupuncture, massage, or alternative medicine with the guidance of healthcare providers.

8. Lifestyle Changes: Assess lifestyle factors like smoking, diet, and sleep habits that may contribute to back pain, and make necessary adjustments.

9. Patience and Persistence: Understand that finding effective solutions may take time, requiring patience and persistence in trying different approaches.

In this week’s email:

Ontario

1. Two-Tiered Healthcare = Two-Tiered Pricing?

2. Ontario Achieves Milestone: 58 Approved Health Teams

3. Doctor Shortage Forces Removal of 10,000 Patients

4. Record Levels of Invasive Group A Strep Infections

5. Action Steps After Hospital Cyber Attack and Stolen Patient Data

Canada 🇨🇦

1. Survey Results: Canadians Skeptical About Health Care Improvement

2. Canada Allocates $17.1 Million to Address Dementia

Ontario News

Two-Tiered Healthcare = Two-Tiered Pricing?

Documents obtained through a freedom of information request reveal that Ontario's government is providing noticeably higher funding rates to the privately-owned Don Mills Surgical Unit Ltd. for certain OHIP-covered surgeries compared to public hospitals performing the same procedures. This revelation raises concerns about the government's plans to expand surgeries performed outside hospitals, particularly in potentially lucrative areas like hip and knee replacements. Critics argue that this approach might redirect resources from public hospitals to private clinics without effectively reducing wait times. The rates paid to Don Mills Surgical Unit for surgeries such as cataract operations and knee arthroscopy are reported to be significantly higher than what hospitals receive for identical procedures. Critics are calling for a standardized rate-setting approach for both public hospitals and private clinics offering similar clinical services.

Ontario Achieves Milestone: 58 Approved Health Teams

The Ontario government, in collaboration with Ontario Health, has approved the West Parry Sound Ontario Health Team, reaching a milestone of 58 such teams across the province. This marks comprehensive provincial coverage, ensuring coordinated and accessible healthcare. Ontario Health Teams facilitate smooth transitions between providers with shared records and care plans. Beginning April 2024, the government is investing $130.5 million, providing each team with $2.25 million over three years. These teams integrate diverse healthcare providers, offering coordinated care and increased patient choice. Examples include community wellness services, neighborhood care teams, virtual care for post-surgery recovery, and integrated patient care models.

Doctor Shortage Forces Removal of 10,000 Patients

The Group Health Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, designed to provide primary and specialty care, is dropping 10,000 patients from its roster due to a severe doctor shortage. This decision, prompted by the impending departure of more doctors, either due to retirement or leaving the community, is anticipated to have a significant impact on the local community. The loss of primary care to such an extent underscores broader challenges, including difficulties in recruiting younger physicians and addressing administrative burdens that contribute to burnout. This situation is not unique to Sault Ste. Marie but reflects a national trend where medical students are opting against office-based family medicine as a career choice. The city council is set to discuss potential solutions, including expanding recruitment efforts to include other primary care providers like nurse practitioners. The issue highlights the need for expert input to address concerns and find viable remedies for the ongoing healthcare challenges.

Record Levels of Invasive Group A Strep Infections

Public health units in northwestern Ontario are closely monitoring the surge in bacterial infections, particularly invasive Group A strep, reaching record levels across the province. Several northern Ontario health units report some of the highest rates of confirmed cases, attributed to elevated risk factors such as chronic illness, wounds, diabetes, substance misuse, and injection drug use. While severe cases of Group A strep infections are typically associated with entry into the bloodstream or joint fluid, the current spike is causing heightened concern. The Thunder Bay District Health Unit (TBDHU) and Temiskaming Health Unit report the highest rates in Ontario, raising awareness across the country. Ontario witnessed over 4,600 confirmed cases in 2023, marking a 40% increase from the previous high in 2019. Northwestern Ontario health units are urging vigilance, emphasizing the importance of immunizations, including influenza, COVID-19, and pneumococcal vaccines, to reduce the risk of bacterial infections amid the rising threat.

Action Steps After Hospital Cyber Attack and Stolen Patient Data

Bluewater Health, severely affected in a cyberattack on five Southwestern Ontario hospitals last fall, is set to upgrade its outdated patient records system. The Sarnia-based hospital, the only one with stolen electronic medical records, announced the selection of Oracle Cerner, a leading U.S.-based health records vendor, for its new system. The cyberattack disrupted Bluewater's health-information system (Meditech), causing delays and cancellations in patient care, notably diagnostic tests. Patient care across the affected hospitals is nearly back to normal, but Bluewater lags behind in resolving its backlog. The Oracle Cerner system is expected to be operational by the end of the year. The attack highlighted vulnerabilities in health IT systems and underscored the importance of modernization and robust cybersecurity measures in the healthcare sector. The incident has prompted calls for enhanced controls to prevent future cyberattacks, emphasizing the need for health organizations to invest in advanced IT systems.

Canada As a Whole 🇨🇦

Survey Results: Canadians Skeptical About Health Care Improvement

A recent survey by Leger indicates that a majority of Canadians (70%) are concerned about the quality of medical care, with only 17% believing that the state of health care will improve in the next two years. The survey, conducted almost a year after the federal government pledged a $196-billion health accord to address healthcare challenges, highlights widespread apprehension about the ability to access quality medical care. While some provinces, including Alberta, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and the Northwest Territories, have signed individual deals to enhance federal health funding, public skepticism persists. Respondents from Atlantic Canada and Quebec expressed higher concerns about accessing care, with 87% and 66% worrying, respectively. The survey also identified perceptions of long waits, stress, and system failure as common associations with Canada's healthcare systems. Concerns about the shortage of healthcare workers were linked to poor working conditions, long hours, health funding cuts, and retirements during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Canada Allocates $17.1 Million to Address Dementia

The Canadian government, under the leadership of the Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health, has announced a significant investment of $17.1 million through the Public Health Agency of Canada's Dementia Strategic Fund and Dementia Community Investment. This funding aims to raise awareness about dementia, promote healthy behaviors that reduce the risk of dementia, enhance access to high-quality dementia guidance, and improve online dementia information resources at the provincial and territorial levels. The Dementia Strategic Fund, receiving $9.6 million, will support 23 projects across the country, focusing on dementia risk awareness, stigma reduction, dementia-inclusive communities, and improved guidance for prevention, person-centered care, and Indigenous populations. Simultaneously, the Dementia Community Investment, with $7.5 million in funding, will launch nine projects dedicated to improving health behaviors associated with risk and protective factors to prevent or delay the onset and progression of dementia. This initiative aligns with Canada's national dementia strategy, titled "A Dementia Strategy for Canada: Together We Aspire."

Read Full Articles Here:

1. Have Back Pain? Maybe Read This: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/whitecoat/get-control-of-chronic-back-pain-with-a-full-spectrum-of-therapy-options-experts-say-1.7094501

2. Two-Tiered Healthcare = Two-Tiered Pricing? https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-doug-ford-private-clinic-surgeries-fees-hospitals-1.7026926

3. Ontario Achieves Milestone: 58 Approved Health Teams https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1004116/ontario-health-teams-now-providing-care-in-every-corner-of-the-province

4. Doctor Shortage Forces Removal of 10,000 Patients https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/doctor-shortage-sault-family-physicians-1.7096429

5. Record Levels of Invasive Group A Strep Infections https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/northern-ontario-strep-ay-1.7094428

6. Action Steps After Hospital Cyber Attack and Stolen Patient Data https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-cyberattack-ontario-hospitals-bluewater-health/

7. Survey Results: Canadians Skeptical About Health Care Improvement https://globalnews.ca/news/10246816/health-care-canada-leger-poll/

8. Canada Allocates $17.1 Million to Address Dementia https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/news/2024/01/government-of-canada-invests-in-projects-to-reduce-risks-of-dementia-and-to-support-people-living-with-dementia-and-caregivers.html