Preventing Child Sexual Abuse

Reading time: 6 minutes A new program in Toronto offers an avenue in preventing child sexual abuse by aiming efforts at would-be offenders before they cross the line.

Button Battery Ingestion

Reading time: 5 minutes Battery ingestion can become a life-threatening event if not identified and removed expeditiously. Close follow-up is also required to assess the degree of ongoing injury.

Vaccine Hesitancy

Reading time: 6 minutes Physicians remain the most trusted source of vaccine information. So, they have a unique role in helping their patients get vaccinated, says Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health.

A “Guideline of Guidelines”

Reading time: 5 minutes CAMH led an initiative that synthesized key recommendations for treating and managing Opioid Use Disorder from existing standards, guidelines, expert opinions and best practices across Canada.

Responding to Risks Posed by Illegal Street Supply

Reading time: 3 minutes New guidance is available for physicians working with a population who have higher levels of tolerance to opioids, which could help patients better manage their withdrawal, prevent cravings and reduce the risk of overdose.

ER Toolkit for Initiating Buprenorphine

Reading time: 3 minutes A group of addiction medicine experts developed a toolkit to support emergency medicine physicians in initiating buprenorphine to high-risk patients, increasing their chances of continuing treatment after discharge.

Minimizing Misdiagnoses

Reading time: 4 minutes Arriving at the correct diagnosis while contending with numerous complicating factors can be challenging. But maintaining situational awareness is critical, a CMPA educational session was told.

COVID-19 Exemption Requests

Reading time: 2 minutes Patients may ask you to write notes or complete forms exempting them from wearing a mask, returning to work in-person or getting vaccinated. We provide some advice on how to handle these requests.

Post-Pandemic Care

Reading time: 6 minutes What should post-pandemic health care look like? More virtual care and greater equity were some of the hopes shared by health-care experts at the Choosing Wisely National meeting.

A Pandemic Silver Lining

Reading time: 3 minutes If the pandemic has a silver lining, it’s the opportunity it presents to get rid of low value care, an audience at the Choosing Wisely National Meeting heard.

Pandemic-induced Mental Health Distress

Reading time: 5 minutes Given the upheaval the pandemic caused in the lives of so many, even patients with no history of serious episodes of mental distress could be experiencing them now. 

Death after Discharge

Reading time: 5 minutes Following the death of a woman following discharge, a Committee of the Chief Coroner’s Office is recommending new protocols for emergency departments.