There has been a lot of recent buzz and media attention around some proposed tax changes from the Canadian government. We’ve noticed that there is a lot of misconception and confusion regarding some of these changes, so we hope to provide some clarity into some of the issues as they affect small business and in particular, incorporated physicians. For the purposes of this article, the CanadiEM Editorial team has joined forces with Mrs. …
Shared decision making
Resource utilization in medicine is becoming an increasingly critical issue (as also noted by the number of discussions we’ve had on it here at CanadiEM), and this acknowledgement is important. However, once we’ve accepted the harms (to the patient and system) with excessive over-utilization, we can begin to look at ways to address and optimize physician behaviour. There are many ways to approach the subject, and one that is often cited is Shared Decision Making …
Want to be a (simulation) Olympian?
A five year-old boy is brought into your resuscitation bay by EMS after falling out of a motor-boat in the frigid waters of the St Lawrence river. CPR was started at the scene and when he arrives he has regained a pulse but is hypotensive with a decreased level of consciousness. Your heart races as you assemble your team and divide up responsibilities – “we need an airway assessment, vascular access, get him …
A Medical Student’s Perspective on CBME
As programs across the country transition to a form of competency-based medical education (CBME) we will be hosting a series of posts from the many people this transition will affect. Our first perspective is that of a medical student faced with a CBME filled future! Verdah Bismah is a medical student at Queen’s University, which is transitioning all of it’s postgraduate programs to CBME in 2017. If you are a medical student please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. If you are an educator we want to hear from you too!
Resource utilization: why do we overdo it?
There is a plethora of evidence that suggests, as physicians we over-diagnose, over-treat and over-investigate illness, often with little benefit to patients. The idea of rationale resource utilization is beginning to gain momentum, with campaigns such as Choosing Wisely, advocating for physicians to use the best evidence available in their practice. In order to appreciate inappropriate resource utilization, physicians first need to be aware of why they’re over-investigating and any inherent biases they may have, …
Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) in the ED: Implications for EM Practice
After an excellent introduction to Medical Assistance in Dying, and its potential impact upon the Healthcare System, Dr. Francis Bakewell takes a further look at potential implications and ramifications within the Emergency Department (ED). Last week, after much review and attempts at amendment by the Senate, the federal government’s legislation on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) received royal assent and became law. Bill C14 allows for aid in dying, either through prescription of lethal …