Drs. Mel Krajden and Jim Gray
July 28, 2022
Hepatitis C birth cohort testing
WHO observes July 28th as World Hepatitis Day and aims to eliminate Hepatitis B and C by 2030. The Pan-Canadian Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections (STBBI) Framework for Action released in 2018 echoes this goal and calls for 80% of eligible people in Canada to receive hepatitis C treatment by 2030. In order to achieve these goals by 2030, high rates of testing and diagnosis are essential. New HCV therapies are well tolerated, require 8–12 weeks of treatment, are publicly funded in BC, and have cure rates of about 95%. read more...
Arman Abdalkhani, MD FRCSC
July 15, 2022
It’s not the ear — how TMD can confound clinicians
Otolaryngologists receive many referrals for what is classified as Eustachian Tube Dysfunction, aural fullness, and subjective hearing loss. Practitioners frequently encounter ear fullness or subjective hearing loss, in the face of an otherwise normal exam. It may lead practitioners to “read into” their physical exam with abnormal tympanic membrane (TM) findings. read more...
Drs. Val Stoynova and Celia Culley
June 28, 2022
Mitigating the climate impact of asthma therapy
I have changed my practice to optimize patient care and planetary health by considering the climate impact of my prescribing choices while continuing to provide high-quality, evidence-based, lower cost, patient-centred asthma care. read more...
Drs. J Marie Kim and William Connors
June 15, 2022
Prevention of recurrent cellulitis
Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are exceedingly common and account for up to 10% of all hospital admissions in Western countries. The most common SSTIs, cellulitis, refers to diffuse, superficial, spreading skin infections, often with significant inflammation of lymphatic vessels. Cellulitis can frequently recur and studies have shown that up to 29% of admissions with cellulitis were due to repeat episodes. Prophylactic therapies and mitigating of risk factors have been recently shown to reduce recurrence. The focus of this article is the prevention of recurrent, lower-extremity, nonpurulent cellulitis that is not associated with major penetrating trauma, preceding leg ulceration, or surgery. read more...
Drs. Angela Hu, Jon Chan, and Neda Amiri
May 24, 2022
Inflammatory back pain: distinguishing it from common mechanical back pain
Low back pain is a common complaint encountered in the general practitioner’s office. In fact, about two-thirds of adults suffer from low back pain at some point in their life, and it is second to only upper respiratory problems as a reason for visits to a physician. Axial spondyloarthritis is an autoimmune disease that results in inflammation in the spine. A number of therapies exist for this condition and early therapy may prevent progressive spinal fusion. Given the sheer prevalence of low back pain, identifying patients with axial spondyloarthritis can be challenging. read more...
Dr. Katarina Wind
May 3, 2022
Why I no longer prescribe weight loss, calculate BMI, or use the term “obesity”
Medical school taught me that “obesity” is a cause of morbidity and mortality, and that weight loss is its cure. I recorded patients’ BMIs and counselled them on weight-loss strategies, believing that I was helping them. read more...
Dr. Michael Diamant
April 19, 2022
Identifying Advanced Heart Failure in your patient
The prevalence of ambulatory patients with advanced or end-stage heart failure (HF) is increasing over time, and now comprises as much as 14% of all patients with HF. Patients may be eligible for advanced therapies, including durable mechanical circulatory support (MCS) and heart transplantation, that can change their trajectory and markedly improve long-term survival. read more...
Shari Hurst
April 6, 2022
Practice tips for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF): supporting patients with medications and self-monitoring
There are a few tips and tricks to improve medication tolerance and adherence, and improve quality of life for patients with HF-rEF. Multiple studies have shown that a focus on patient education and empowerment along with clinical follow-up for HFrEF medical treatment improves survival, reduces hospitalizations, and improves quality of life. read more...
Drs. Tracy Monk, Nick Graham, Karin Kausky, Michele Thomasse, and Ryan Gallagher
March 22, 2022
Practice tip (for BC practitioners) utilizing PathwaysBC beyond specialist lookups — finding patient handouts, requisitions, point-of-care tools
We all used PathwaysBC.ca to help us find specialists for our patients, to look up wait times and what information to include in a referral, but we learned that Pathways could help streamline our clinical work in so many more ways. read more...
Drs. Shirley Jiang and Hin Hin Ko
March 9, 2022
Use of non-invasive tests for liver fibrosis
While liver biopsy is crucial in determining the stage of liver fibrosis in chronic liver disease, it is not the most accessible or appropriate test in most general practice settings. Non-invasive tests (NITs) for liver fibrosis, on the other hand, are more widely available and applicable to different liver conditions. NITs can be a useful tool in general practice to stratify high-risk patients who may require further investigations and referral to specialist care. read more...
Drs. Alejandro Dau, Agnes Lee, and Tony Wan
February 22, 2022
Pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis in hospitalized patients with COVID-19
COVID-19 is associated with an increased risk of venous, arterial, and microvascular thrombosis. Early reports documented high rates of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, with pooled incidences of 20-30%, despite standard-dose thromboprophylaxis. Multiple randomized control trials (RCTs) have sought to determine the safety and efficacy of therapeutic anticoagulation in both critically ill and non-critically ill hospitalized patients with COVID-19. read more...
Brendan McNeely and Dr. Amanda Hu
February 9, 2022
Tokes in the throat: cannabis smoking-related harm in otolaryngology
Recent evidence has emerged that shows cannabis smoking is related to significant patient morbidity. Namely, cannabis smoke exposure increased the risk of oropharyngeal cancer in a dose-dependent manner. Cannabis use may also be associated with hearing loss, vestibular dysfunction, tinnitus, and sinusitis. read more...
