Family Medicine

How a family physician can help patients with chronic pain: a guide to navigating patient internet resources in BC

2 websites have changed my practice: PainBC.ca provides options beyond medications & piPain.com People in Pain Network hosts a self-management awareness program.

Posted in Family Medicine, Featured | Tagged chronic pain | 4 Responses

Acute limping in children

By Dr. Ran Goldman on

Acute limping is a very common chief complaint among children visiting a clinic. When children with a limp present to you, always consider the possibility of septic arthritis. How can one differentiate between transient synovitis and septic arthritis?

Posted in Family Medicine, Pediatrics | Tagged arthritis, limping, Transient Synovitis | 20 Responses

This app changed my practice: My Fitness Pal

By Dr. Marisa Collins on

Achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight is an important objective for patients and physicians alike. Just in time for New Year’s resolutions, here’s an app to recommend to your patients and, perhaps, to make use of yourself.

Posted in Family Medicine, Technology | Tagged Android, apps, BlackBerry app, iOS, Windows app | 11 Responses

Direct-to-Consumer genetic testing: What it means for the general practitioner

By Dr. William T. Gibson on

From a medical perspective, I advise people who are thinking about DTC genetic testing to think of it like the over-the-counter (OTC) medical tests available in many pharmacies.

Posted in Family Medicine | Tagged DNA sequencing, genetic, genetics, “DTC” Genetic Testing | 13 Responses

Undergoing the College’s practice review assessment

By Dr. Dan Ezekiel on

I underwent the assessment in the spring of 2011 and, like most practices, I discovered that there were some things I was doing well and some other things that could do with some improvement.

Posted in Family Medicine | Tagged CPSBC, MPAC, practice review | 14 Responses

May I add an HIV test to your bloodwork today?

By Dr. Marisa Collins on

Routine HIV testing for all adults is now recommended by Vancouver Coastal Health, Providence Health and the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS.

Posted in Family Medicine | Tagged blood work, HIV | 15 Responses

Active video games and child’s physical activity

By Dr. Ran Goldman on

With advances in computer based gaming, safety concerns and sedentary life style of today’s families, children have been significantly less active.

Posted in Family Medicine, Pediatrics | Tagged Activity, children, overweight | 12 Responses

Diabetes and exercise

By Dr. Andrew Farquhar on

I direct more effort to encouraging physical activity as a critical tool in the management of T2D. I emphasize a healthy diet but stress that weight loss is not the primary goal, exercise is.

Posted in Diabetes, Family Medicine | Tagged Diabetes, exercise, “FITT” concept | 16 Responses

Screening for depression in pregnancy using the Edinburgh Depression Scale

By Dr. Karen Buhler on

The EDS is a highly sensitive screening tool administered in less than 10 minutes and can be distributed before the encounter.

Posted in Family Medicine | Tagged depression, Maternity, Pregnancy | 10 Responses

Apps, websites and guidelines for osteoporosis management in primary care in 2012

By Dr. Daniel Ngui on

Given our aging population, more and more family physicians are being asked for advice about diagnosis and treatment on osteoporosis.

Posted in Family Medicine, Technology | Tagged apps, GPAC, iOS, Osteoporosis, Windows app | 7 Responses

Advance care plan (ACP) for patients with multiple co-morbidities

By Dr. Catherine Clelland on

The GP Services Committee developed the Complex Care Planning fee (14033) to encourage Family Physicians to spend time with patients with multiple co-morbidities and develop a plan for their management.

Posted in Family Medicine | Tagged billing, Complex Care Planning fee, GPSC, Palliative care | 13 Responses

Something as basic as wax cleaning!

By Dr. Michael Clifford Fabian on

Cerumen build-up is a common problem for patients and doctors alike. According to McCarter et al cerumen impaction is present in approximately 10 percent of children, 5 percent of normal healthy adults and up to 57 percent of older patients in nursing homes.

Posted in Family Medicine, Otorhinolaryngology or ENT (ear, nose and throat) | Tagged cerumen, ear, wax buil-up | 26 Responses

Vapor rub for treatment of nocturnal cough and cold symptoms in children

By Dr. Paul Thiessen on

Upper respiratory infections are the most common illnesses seen in childhood, and the symptoms are often disruptive for both the child and the whole family.

Posted in Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Respirology | Tagged cold, cough, Upper respiratory infections, Vapor rub | 17 Responses

Non-suicidal self-injury: reducing future risk

By Dr. Shirley Sze on

I now recognize the inherent high risk of successful suicide (10%) in this population and the need to address non-suicidal self injury with the seriousness that it deserves.

Posted in Family Medicine, Psychiatry | Tagged Borderline Personality Disorders, Non-Suicidal Self Injury | 13 Responses

The most important question never asked about sleep

By Dr. Judy Allen on

Prior to working at a Sleep Clinic had failed to ask the most important question when assessing insomnia concerns in patients with or without a primary psychiatric disorder. Before resorting to sedative hypnotic, antidepressant and/or antipsychotic polypharmacy…

Posted in Family Medicine, Psychiatry | Tagged insomnia, sleep efficiency | 17 Responses

It’s just a runny nose!

By Dr. George Luciuk on

Nasal woes can cause lots of complications. Most of them start insidiously but can progress steadily. Awareness by the family physician of what “can happen” is very important.

Posted in Allergy/ Immunology, Family Medicine | Tagged allergic rhinitis, mucosal swelling, nasal congestion, septal deviation | 17 Responses

Spreading pain with neuropathic features may be induced by opioid medications

By Dr. Launette Rieb on

It is worth considering OIPS in the differential diagnosis when pain appears to be spreading, especially when features of allodynia and hyperalgesia are present.

Posted in Addiction Medicine, Family Medicine | Tagged allodynia, hyperalgesia, methadone, Opioid Induced Pain Sensitivity (OIPS), pain | 16 Responses