Thursday, March 8, 2012
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Running a Randomized Controlled Trial - Ice is Nice
Well, after a long absence I'm back behind the wheel. I thought that an interesting chronicle would be the story of the early stages of a research study that is about to begin. As I write this I'm waiting to enroll the first patient in a study that will try to answer the question: Does cooling the soft tissue at a fracture site get people out of hospital faster?
The process of designing and funding this research has been long and hard. It's taken me a lot of time and effort to learn the tricks of the trade in clinical research, and I've only scratched the surface: most of the learning ends up being on-the-job training.
So, over the next few months I'll try and post a bit more often on this blog and the Financial Post blog to talk about the early stages of recruitment for the study and to muse on the similarities of research and entrepreneurship.
Glad to be back!
The process of designing and funding this research has been long and hard. It's taken me a lot of time and effort to learn the tricks of the trade in clinical research, and I've only scratched the surface: most of the learning ends up being on-the-job training.
So, over the next few months I'll try and post a bit more often on this blog and the Financial Post blog to talk about the early stages of recruitment for the study and to muse on the similarities of research and entrepreneurship.
Glad to be back!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
More Debate on Obama's Health Care Plan: Canada Dragged into the Fray Yet Again
Here's an opinion piece from the Globe and Mail.
Now I'm proud of our health care system and I'm happy to be working within it. I have said before that I feel free to practice medicine in a way that is in line with my values. I don't feel restricted in any way at this point. Maybe that would be different as an independent doctor (rather than as a surgical trainee), but I doubt it.
One thing that I do want to point out from this article though is the lack of any reference to the Social Determinants of Health. I have talked about them in a previous blog. It's the whole idea that we should be looking upstream for the causes of medical issues rather than devising ways to treat the problems that result.
The article doesn't give Canadian government programs, education and support as a reason for improved life expectancy, child mortality and decreased health care costs. It's not just the medical system doing a great job...it's also the ability of our society to avoid a lot of the problems that come from a lack of programs that knit a safety net for members of society.
I think this may be a way to focus our future efforts too. We, as a society, should take on the challenge of identifying ways to further improve our support systems and see if we can further the inconvenient truth the republicans fear.
Now I'm proud of our health care system and I'm happy to be working within it. I have said before that I feel free to practice medicine in a way that is in line with my values. I don't feel restricted in any way at this point. Maybe that would be different as an independent doctor (rather than as a surgical trainee), but I doubt it.
One thing that I do want to point out from this article though is the lack of any reference to the Social Determinants of Health. I have talked about them in a previous blog. It's the whole idea that we should be looking upstream for the causes of medical issues rather than devising ways to treat the problems that result.
The article doesn't give Canadian government programs, education and support as a reason for improved life expectancy, child mortality and decreased health care costs. It's not just the medical system doing a great job...it's also the ability of our society to avoid a lot of the problems that come from a lack of programs that knit a safety net for members of society.
I think this may be a way to focus our future efforts too. We, as a society, should take on the challenge of identifying ways to further improve our support systems and see if we can further the inconvenient truth the republicans fear.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Health Care Sinking the US - Old News for Employers and Workers
It was about 7 years ago that I first read an article about the advantage Canada enjoyed over the US as a result of our more affordable health care. Sure, workers were paying more in taxes to support our universal health care system, but employers were locating their plants in Canada to reap the rewards...
Now, in a comment in the National Post this fact rings true again. Here's the link. Obama obviously sees this as a major challenge for the United States in his first term. He made it clear in his speech that he wants to see past tort reform to rejuvenate the American Health Care system.
I hope that others see it his way as well and help him to find the answer that will turn this ship around.
Now, in a comment in the National Post this fact rings true again. Here's the link. Obama obviously sees this as a major challenge for the United States in his first term. He made it clear in his speech that he wants to see past tort reform to rejuvenate the American Health Care system.
I hope that others see it his way as well and help him to find the answer that will turn this ship around.
Post-speech Reaction: What I Heard From Obama
If you haven't listened to Obama's Healthcare speech then here's the link to NPR's coverage:
http://tinyurl.com/opvp9t
There were several things that really stuck out for me in Obama's speech as a Canadian in the United States. I'm seeing the way the system here works for the first time, and Obama's message went straight to the heart of several issues I have seen playing out during my time here.
Is there anyone else out there who has some opinions about the speech? Any other Canadians out there living in the US who have a similar perspective on the speech? Listen and give your opinion!
http://tinyurl.com/opvp9t
There were several things that really stuck out for me in Obama's speech as a Canadian in the United States. I'm seeing the way the system here works for the first time, and Obama's message went straight to the heart of several issues I have seen playing out during my time here.
Is there anyone else out there who has some opinions about the speech? Any other Canadians out there living in the US who have a similar perspective on the speech? Listen and give your opinion!
Friday, September 4, 2009
Academic Medicine Article: Dull to Sharp
The current edition of Academic Medicine has an article that I wrote in it. It is an account of what it's like to be at the other end of the knife. If you have access here's the URL and pubmed link:
Academic Medicine Link
Pubmed Link
Hope that those of you who can read it enjoy my account.
Academic Medicine Link
Pubmed Link
Hope that those of you who can read it enjoy my account.
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