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January 4, 2012 - An article in today’s edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) compares readmission rates of 5745 heart attack patients in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and 13 European countries. It concludes that patients in the U.S. are more likely to be readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of discharge than any of the others, specifically 14% of American patients versus 9% of all other patients were readmitted. The second strongest predictor of readmission after an acute heart episode was that the patient was in the United States.

January 2, 2012 - Today we received Health Care in Canada, 2011: A Focus on Seniors and Aging from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). The report considers the health status of Canadians and recognizes the growing need to provide more ongoing support for people with chronic conditions. It declares that 48% of people aged 45-64 and 76% of people over 65 reported at least one chronic condition. “With increasing age the likelihood of having at least one chronic condition also increased” (19).

Access to health care was more closely correlated to the number of chronic conditions that people have than to age. And self-reported poor health status was similarly correlated with the number of chronic conditions. In 2009, 74% of seniors with only one chronic condition reported good self-perceived health, compared with only 27% of those with four or more” (19).

December 22, 2011 - Lauren Vogel, a journalist from CMAJ, called yesterday to ask me about the rules in parts of Canada that allow doctors to insist that a chaperone accompany patients during an examination. She wanted to know if doctors should have that right and what we at the Patients’ Association thought about it. It seemed to me that this was yet another indication that the relationship between patients and doctors has been changing in ways that make it more and more difficult to provide continuity of care.

November 15, 2011 - In 2010, 4.4 million Canadians, or 15 per cent of the population aged 12 and older, reported they did not have a regular medical doctor.

Read Gloria's hunt for primary care.

November 11, 2011 - This article in the Atlantic Monthly describes how acute episodes of chronic conditions are actually averted by CareMore a primary care group focused on caring for seniors in the community. The article describes how congestive heart failure, diabetic amputations and other acute episodes are averted by the group.

November 8, 2011 - The “How To” Health Guide was developed to assist patients, caregivers, friends and families in managing information about the Canadian health care system, which can often be challenging to navigate. It was created by the Health Charities Coalition of Canada (HCCC), who are providing health policy leadership for the health of Canadians.

November 1, 2011 - After decades in which cancer screening was promoted as an unmitigated good, as the best — perhaps only — way for people to protect themselves from the ravages of a frightening disease, a pronounced shift is under way. Studies suggesting that screening tests like mammograms should be used less do not always find receptive audiences.

October 31, 2011-