Through Ontario’s Wait Time Strategy, the government has sought to implement new initiatives to improve the Emergency Room processes and create a system of accountability via transparent reporting of wait times for Hospitals across the province. Emergency Room length of stay Reporting the time patients spend in the ER is part of Ontario’s commitment to […]

Cardiovascular disease or heart disease is the number one killer in Canada. It is also the most costly disease in Canada, putting the greatest burden on our national health care system. A number of factors, individually or in combination, can lead to heart disease: • Smoking • Diets rich in saturated fat • Physical inactivity […]

We’re now into the best time of year to enjoy the great outdoors here in Ontario, whether that means cottaging, camping, canoe tripping or just going for a nice walk in the woods. But while you’re enjoying those best parts of summer, it’s very important to bear in mind the potential risks of Lyme disease […]

What are the symptoms of Lyme disease? Symptoms of Lyme disease can be different from person to person. You may not have any symptoms at all, while others may suffer severe symptoms. Symptoms of Lyme disease can include any of the following: • skin rash • headache • fever or chills • fatigue (tiredness) • […]

You can remove a tick that has latched onto you. The tick will embed its mouthparts into your skin. If you are not comfortable with removing a tick, visit your health care provider as soon as possible. Otherwise, follow these steps to remove a tick: 1. Using clean tweezers, carefully grasp the tick as close […]

An in-depth female nutrition guide has been released for the first time in Canada. The 65-page document — titled the Canadian Consensus on Female Nutrition: Adolescence, Reproduction, Menopause and Beyond — includes 40 recommendations which took dozens of dietitians, researchers and experts in woman’s health four years to compile. The hope is that health-care professionals […]

Experts unveil new sleep guidelines for children ‘Most parents don’t really know how much sleep children should be getting’ The American Academy of Sleep Medicine, with the help of a panel of experts, has released its first ever official recommendations for how much shut-eye children need. UBC sleep specialist and nursing professor Wendy Hall, the […]

Who’s at risk of developing skin cancer? Everyone under the sun! Sink cancer is the most common type of cancer in Canada – and whether your skin is fair, medium or dark, you are at risk. UV rays from the sun or tanning equipment can damage anyone’s skin over time, but skin cancer can be […]

1 Don’t do imaging for lower-back pain unless red flags are present. Red flags include, but are not limited to, severe or progressive neurological deficits or when serious underlying conditions such as osteomyelitis are suspected. Imaging of the lower spine before six weeks does not improve outcomes. 2 Don’t use antibiotics for upper respiratory infections […]

A “handy” way to stay healthy Help your children maintain proper hygiene to stay healthy and prevent unnecessary illness by getting them into the habit of washing their hands frequently and properly. When should kids (and grownups) wash their hands? • When they are visibly dirty • Before preparing and immediately after handling food • […]