I still remember when medical records were kept on paper. My uncle, a general practitioner, used small 3×5 cards to track patient information. Today, information technology has completely transformed healthcare…

As a retired family physician and member of our community, I have witnessed firsthand the difficulties many face in accessing consistent and reliable healthcare. These challenges are not unique to our region, but are prevalent across Canada. Provider shortages, long wait times, and limited access…

As we journey through life, maintaining good health becomes increasingly challenging, especially as we reach our middle years. In this eighth installment of the ‘Empowering the Citizen Patient’ series, Dr. Mindy Smith uses the examples of hypertension and diabetes to explore how understanding your health conditions can empower you to take control …

Accidents and injuries are an inevitable part of life, often occurring when we least expect them. Whether it’s a slip of a knife in the kitchen, a fall from a bicycle, or a bee sting, being prepared to manage such incidents and knowing when to seek professional help are crucial…

For many of us, staying healthy, especially as we age, is a top priority. One of the most effective ways to maintain health is through what practitioners call ‘preventive care’, including screening tests that can identify health problems before you have symptoms…

On magazine racks, podcasts, instagram, Facebook and even on the nightly news, everywhere we look, someone is telling us how to stay healthy and live longer and better lives. The reality is that staying healthy is easier for the young, but harder to achieve as we get older. Yet, when we look at all the information, there are three pieces of advice that ring true. The best way to stay healthy is to …

Mental health is a hot topic these days — from television, radio, to social media and kitchen table conversations. This surge in awareness is partly due to the opioid epidemic, the many crises our world faces, and of course, the COVID-19 pandemic. Mental health encompasses our emotions, feelings of connection to others, past trauma, our thoughts about ourselves and our ability to manage life’s ups and downs…

When you have an appointment with your family practitioner, it’s natural to have concerns and questions. An effective approach that many of my patients have found useful is to bring a maximum of one to three topics for discussion in order of priority. They create a clear, legible list with questions to ask in order to avoid forgetting important points. Bringing a piece of paper or a notebook for note-taking is also a good idea. Additionally…

At some point in our lives, we all take on the role of being a caregiver – whether it’s for a child, a partner with a temporary illness, a friend with cancer, or for an aging parent. Statistics Canada reports that, in 2022, 52% of women and 42% of men provided some form of care such as meal preparation, personal care, or helping with medical treatments for children and/or care-dependent adults. Caring for someone we love is a profound way to connect…

Managing medications can be a daunting task, especially when caring for loved ones. In this “Empoweringthe Citizen Patient” article, Dr. Mindy Smith shares valuable tips for medication management that she uses herself today, and recommended to her patients before retiring from practice.

Access to health care is difficult for some and confusing for others; many people don’t have ongoing access to a family doctor or nurse practitioner (referred to as “Attachment”).  Health care leaders – those people  entrusted with overseeing and improving health care – are working hard to find solutions so that high-quality culturally safe health care is available for all. This article describes the current health care system in the Kootenay Boundary (KB)  and provides a number of resources to help you better navigate the system.