All articles

Erica Tsang MD, Margot Kuo MPH, Ashraf Amlani MPH, Dr. Caroline Ferris MD CCFP FCFP, Dr. Jane Buxton MBBS MHSc
Dec 14, 2016

BC Take Home Naloxone Program – updated article

Opioid overdose is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and constitutes a serious public health issue. Throughout British Columbia (BC), the landscape of opioid overdose has evolved, first with oxycodone and more recently, illicit fentanyl. read more...

Dr. Ric Arseneau
Nov 30, 2016

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome upgraded to disease

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) – also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease (SEID) – is a common clinical condition. Yet, it is under- recognized and diagnosed. An estimated 84–91% of patients with the condition remain undiagnosed. read more...

Dr. Heather Leitch
Nov 08, 2016

Two causes of anemia

The MDS Clear Path algorithm is an internet-based interactive tool that was developed to support health care providers in the workup, diagnosis and management of MDS. The Clear Path was developed by a group of 60 Canadian hematologists with an interest in MDS. read more...

Dr. Paul Mullins
Oct 26, 2016

Prednisolone or pentoxifylline for alcoholic hepatitis

Alcoholic hepatitis (AH), perhaps more accurately described as alcohol-related cholestatic liver failure, is a clinical syndrome with high mortality. In severe AH at 28 days: 30-40%. STOPAH is a UK multi-centre, double-blind, randomized trial in severe AH to assess the effect of Prednisolone and/or Pentoxifylline on mortality at 28 days, and mortality or liver transplantation at 90 days and at one year. read more...

Dr. Joseph Lam
Oct 25, 2016

Pyogenic granulomas

Pyogenic granulomas or lobular capillary hemangiomas are common acquired vascular tumors accounting for 0.5% of all skin nodules in children. Although they are benign vascular proliferations, treatment is often sought because of recurrent episodes of bleeding due to a propensity to superficial ulceration and bleeding. read more...

Dr. Karen Buhler
Oct 12, 2016

But I don’t do maternity care… (yes you do!)

In BC women are receiving maternity care from fewer providers. To assist practitioners Perinatal Services BC created the Primary Maternity Pathway and the Vancouver Division of Family Practice in 2014 developed a 2-page Early Prenatal Care Summary Checklist for Primary Care. read more...

Dr. Alisa Lipson
Sep 28, 2016

Diagnosing processing disorders

As a general pediatrician, I see many children whose behaviour and/or development is not emerging as expected. A diagnosis such as autism or learning disability may be the obvious explanation; but frequently it is not so straightforward. Parents come armed with questions about ‘processing disorders’ and and they expect their MD to be knowledgeable. read more...

Julianne Yeager
Sep 14, 2016

Best practice: a tip from an employment lawyer

If you employ people, you should have professionally drafted and implemented employment contracts. The time and cost of having contracts drafted and implemented are minor, in comparison to the time and cost of dealing with a wrongfully dismissed employee and their lawyer. read more...

Dr. Shelina Babul and Hadley Pearce
Aug 24, 2016

Gaps in recognizing, treating and managing concussions

Concussions are the most common form of brain injury in British Columbia, yet they are often under reported due to lack of awareness and education among the general public. The Concussion Awareness Training Tool (CATT) is a free online resource dedicated to providing resources and training to help increase the recognition, treatment and management of concussions. read more...

Dr. Jan Hajek
Aug 03, 2016

Recommending a plant-based diet

For diabetes in particular, observational studies suggest that persons who follow a plant-based diet have a lower risk for diabetes, and an RCT demonstrated reductions in HbA1c in patients with diabetes randomized to a vegan diet compared to the standard American Diabetes Association diet. read more...

Dr. Roberto Leon
Jul 12, 2016

Part 2: Minimizing the pain of the IUD insertion: all effort required

Up until recently, pain management with IUDs (intrauterine devices) insertion was not commonly performed, as most users were multiparous women and the insertion was reasonably straightforward. However, because the IUDs provide unsurpassed protection against a pregnancy along with many other advantages, its acceptance is dramatically increasing, especially in nulliparous women and adolescents. read more...

Drs. Christopher Cheung and Kenneth Gin
Jun 22, 2016

Comparing intensive versus standard blood-pressure control: The SPRINT Trial

Hypertension affects over 1 in 5 Canadians and is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular disease, including coronary artery disease and heart failure. Uncontrolled hypertension is a risk factor for stroke (both ischemic and hemorrhagic), retinopathy, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and peripheral vascular disease. Epidemiologic studies show that the risk of cardiovascular disease increases above a blood pressure of 115/75 mmHg. read more...