Dr. Susan Hollenberg
Apr 15, 2015
Meningococcal Serogroup B Vaccine
In December, 2013, Health Canada approved a 4- component Meningitis type B (4CMenB) vaccine. The vaccine approved in Canada utilizes technology based on ‘outer membrane vesicles. These are unique capsular identifiers that comprise fingerprints for a serogroup B strain. The challenge has been that over 8000 MenB strains exist! read more...
Dr. Deborah Altow
Apr 01, 2015
Why Am I Talking?
Dr. Deborah Altow (biography and disclosures) What I did before Like many teachers, I was seduced by the imperative to make sure my students gained the benefit of my experience, and thus I talked too much. I had always told my students that the two 4-letter words they needed most were KIND and WAIT. One […] read more...
Drs. Kam Shojania and Neda Amiri
Mar 31, 2015
Part 1: Diagnosing Gout in Primary Care Settings: Do we have to tap?
Gout is one of the most common forms of arthritis, affecting 1.4% of the population. Primary care physicians diagnose and manage most patients with gout. While the gold standard for diagnosing gout is visualization of monosodium urate crystals (MSU) in joint fluid under polarization microscopy, this is not always the case. read more...
Dr. Daniel Dodek
Mar 18, 2015
This app changed my practice: Mindshift App
Mental health problems including anxiety, depression and stress make up a large proportion of a typical day in primary care medicine. They also contribute a huge comorbid burden in specialty care. These conditions all require an intense amount of time to help and manage patients. read more...
Dr. Amin Kanani
Mar 02, 2015
Does my patient have a food allergy?
Patients are often referred to determine if they have a food allergy. The prevalence of food allergy in Canada is 6.7%, however more than 20% on the population modifies their diet because of perceived food allergy. Approximately 85% of all food allergies are to peanut, tree nut, cow’s milk, egg, wheat, soy, sesame and seafood. read more...
Dr. Breay Paty
Feb 18, 2015
Incretin Safety: What is the Evidence?
Nausea can be a common side effect of GLP-1 receptor agonist, which can sometimes be dose limiting. However, this usually improves with time. As a new class of agents, evidence for the long-term safety of incretins is still emerging. Most of the safety questions involve cardiovascular (CV) risk, as well as pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. read more...
Dr. Suren Sanmugasunderam
Feb 03, 2015
Age-Related Macular Degeneration: New treatments that changed my practice
There are 2 major forms of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD). The dry form is characterized by drusen, pigmentary mottling and retinal and retinal pigment epithelial atrophy. The wet form is characterized by choroidal neovascular membranes (CNVM). read more...
Dr. Richard Kendall
Jan 20, 2015
Knee arthroscopy for conditions of the degenerative knee
Arthroscopy is often thought of as an effective, low morbidity procedure for the treatment of arthritis, symptomatic meniscus tears, or possible intra-articular loose bodies. The question is however, “Is arthroscopy effective in the treatment of arthritis or degenerative meniscus tears?” read more...
Dr. Alexander Chapman
Jan 06, 2015
Non-suicidal self-injury
Often, self-injury is managed and treated in the context of therapy work with a psychologist or psychiatrist. Family physicians, however, are in an excellent position to be first responders, to offer helpful suggestions, and to help refer the patient to appropriate care. read more...
Dr. Steve Wong
Dec 23, 2014
Letter from the editor
Thanks again to all of our readers, authors, editors and support team. On behalf of all of us at This Changed My Practice, I’d like to wish everyone a safe, happy and healthy holiday season! See you in 2015. read more...
Dr. Greg Rosenfeld
Dec 10, 2014
Fecal biomarkers in the diagnosis and management of inflammatory bowel disease
Fecal Calprotectin is a simple laboratory investigation performed on a first-morning stool sample which is widely available in BC. read more...
Dr. Chris Stewart-Patterson
Nov 25, 2014
Can my patient safely drive on long-term daily opioid medication?
A significant number on patients on daily opioid medications may not be safe to drive a motor vehicle and that particular clinical issue can be problematic to assess within a primary care clinic visit. read more...
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