Links & Resources

This section is a collection of resources, articles, and websites that has been curated over time. Check back frequently for new additions.

Professional Resources

Contains links to publications, reports, conference information and other professional resources

Alberta Association of Nurses. Home for all nurses in Alberta, including RNs, RPNS, and LPNs
Looking for information on home care in Alberta? Visit AHS - Home Care
College of Registered Nurses of Alberta is the public body that holds RNs to legislation, guidelines and ethics.
Google Scholar is search engine that allows users to search for academic resources and scholarly literature such as abstracts, full-text articles, theses, books, and more from across many disciplines. It also includes access to case law.
To understand how to evaluate websites and determine what is grey literature visit Concordia University and University of Leeds.
Tips on how to create a professional social media strategy:
- Social Media Strategy Guide
- Social Media Strategy Template

Legislation

As a registered nurse I follow several standards, guidelines and acts. This section summarizes these resources.

Alberta-Legislature-Building-Edmonton-Alberta-Canada-01A.jpg

All health care workers and employers are held to the below legislation:
- FOIP - Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy - guides what information can be shared and how in all public sectors
- Health Information Act - specifically focuses on how health information is collected and protected
- Occupational Health and Safety Act - outlines how employers must protect their employees
- Mental Health Act - This Act provides the process for admission and treatment of an individual as a formal patient and identifies separate criteria and conditions for treatment of persons living in the community.
- Personal Directives Act - The Personal Directives Act sets out the rules governing the appointment of an agent to make personal decisions on an individual’s behalf in case they become unable or unfit to make those kinds of decisions in the future.
- Protection for Persons in Care Act - This Act provides safeguards against abuse for adults receiving services from publicly funded care agencies. The Act creates a duty to report abuse
Funding and Financial legislation include:
- Adult Guardianship and Trusteeship Act - establishes a range of decision-making supports for adults who requires assistance, or who do not have the capacity, to make personal and financial decisions for themselves.
- Seniors Benefit Act - provides monthly income supplement to federal income sources including Old Age Security (OAS) and Guaranteed income supplement (GIS)
- Alberta Aids to Daily Living and Extended Health Benefits Regulation - establishes that the Minister may provide a health aid and extended health benefits to a resident of Alberta in certain circumstances
- Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped General Regulation. - establishes the asset, income, and other eligibility criteria for benefits under the Act and allows for the provision of financial, health and supplemental benefits to adult Albertans who are eligible under the Act
All home care, supportive living and LTC sites follow the below legislation:
- Continuing Care Health Service Standards - sets the minimum requirement that operators in the continuing care system must comply with in the provision of health care.
- Accommodation Standards - provides explanations and rationale on the Supportive Living Accommodation Licensing Act and Regulation, as well as information to assist both supportive living and long-term care operators to comply with provincial accommodation standards.
- Accreditation Guidelines - ensures specific health care areas meet global standards, putting mechanisms in place that lead to safe and effective care.
- Nursing Homes Act - The Act gives the regional health authority the responsibility of contracting with nursing homes. The Act deals with nursing home contracts, nursing home operations, and general matters.
- Continuing Care Act repeals the Nursing Homes Act, Supportive Living Accommodation Licensing Act, Long Term Care Information Act, and Resident and Family Councils Act. The new legislation is on the docket to be approved fall 2022.
- Resident and Family Councils Act - The Act sets who can be a member of a resident and family council, the purposes of a resident and family council, the duties of operators and authorizes certain persons to inspect residential facilities for the purposes of ensuring compliance with the Act.

Universal Health Care

In Canada we benefit from universal health care. This set of resources reviews what is universal health care, how to access it in Canada, and the need to expand the coverage into dental health.

The World Health Organization reviews the need for universal health care and monitors the data in relation to this topic.
The Canadian Government created an advisory council to review the need for and create a plan on how to create a pharmacare plan in Canada. The final document created: A Prescription for Canada: Achieving Pharmacare for All.
To learn how to access the universal health care system in Canada view this page.

Articles

Jackson et al. (2011), clearly links the impact of poor oral health on children's school attendance and performance and recommends the need to include dental health in universal health care coverage.
Sheiham et al. (2015), also links and promotes the need to include dental health as part of universal health care.

What is Health?

There are several definitions of Health from the WHO to the Canadian government. This section reviews not only the definitions but provides resources to start improving your health.

World Health Organization (WHO)

The original definition of health was created in 1987 by the WHO when the Ottawa Health Charter for Health Information was created.
WHO also lists and defines a set of social determinants of health.
The constitution of WHO also outlines what health is and how WHO can promote and improve health world-wide.

Canada

The government of Canada also reviews the social determinants of health and health inequalities.
On the What is Health? page, the government provides a definition and other factors that affect health.

Alberta

The Ministry of Health provides several resources for Albertan's regarding health.

Articles/Resources

Huber et al. (2011), reviews the limitations of the WHO definition of health and how it could be expanded.
Svalastog et al. (2017), discusses how the definition of health needs to be fluid and meet the person where they are at a single point in time.
One of the best examples of Svalastog et al.'s conclusions is Roll with Cole & Charisma. This young couple shares their life of being an inter-able couple.

Determinants of Health

This section outlines the social determinants of health and their impacts on those with chronic diseases.

World Health Organization (WHO)

The social determinants of health clearly show that the lower socioeconomic position a person has, the worse their health is.

Canada

The government of Canada reviews that differences in health can be due to genetics or the lifestyle choices you make.

Alberta

Alberta Health Services has created province-wide social determinants of health and health equity approach.

Articles

Imran et al. (2022), reviews how a social determinants of health screening tool, involving the interdisciplinary team, and strengthen post-hospital support reduces readmission rates.
McPeake et al. (2022), compares chronic disease and social determinants of health between the US, UK & Australia. Job loss, lower income, and social isolation are the largest factors impacting the health outcomes of clients with chronic diseases.

Chronic Disease Supports

This section provides general resources/articles on chronic disease supports.

In 2009, Delon & MacKinnon summarized the learnings from Alberta’s integrated approach to chronic disease management. Several projects were created and implemented based on the expanded chronic care model. From these projects, there was a 17% increase in diabetes with A1c control, 19% decrease in COPD hospitalizations, and a 34% decrease in emergency department visits.
Alberta Health Services offers several programs to educate patients, the public, and staff on chronic disease management. One of the programs offered is Better Choices, Better Health which I have personally taken and been trained as an educator. Having these free programs available for the public is a key management strategy.
The Alberta Policy Coalition for Chronic Disease Prevention was created in 2009 and its goal is to “coordinate efforts, generate evidence, and advocate for policy change to reduce chronic disease.” Currently, this group is working on a chronic disease prevention survey to understand the general public and policy influencers' views and beliefs on policy topics related to chronic diseases.

Social Epidemiology

Social epidemiology is a complex topic. These resources provide several frameworks on how to apply social epidemiology. Diabetes resources are then used to expand on and provide an example of how to apply the frameworks to a person with chronic disease

Frameworks

Drozdzak (2015) created a conceptual framework that starts showing the complex variables that affect each individual.
Peterson et al. (2021) condenses the above information and focuses on health and education outcomes.
Public Health Scotland (2021) highlights the causes of health inequalities in a way that the public can easily understand and identify with. This information is used to drive public policy and change in Scotland.
Lim et al. (2020) found that there is a higher diabetes risk for unstably-housed clients.
Poux (2017) provides a quick review of the socio-ecological model.

Diabetes Articles

Bowman et al. (2012), research shows that having a framework for policymakers dramatically improves the quality of public policy relating to health and wellness.
Brown et al. (2018), reviews how the social determinants of health affects Canadians with diabetes.
Diabetes Canada provides resources, education, and support for families, clients and professionals that have or support those with diabetes.
Ejlskov et al. (2019), discusses how early-life position effects lifestyle development related to chronic disease.
Gary-Webb et al. (2013), highlight how individual and inter-personal factors greatly influence the health of those with diabetes.
MyHealth.Alberta.ca is an excellent resource on all types of health concerns, including diabetes.
Alberta’s Strategic Approach to Wellness sets forth a vision, guiding principles and an approach that will guide future actions to ensure that all Albertans have the same opportunity to experience good health.
Alberta’s Social Policy Framework describes the future direction of social policy in Alberta.
Hills-Briggs et al. (2022), reviews how social determinants of health for diabetes needs to extend beyond health care facilities to improve population health.
Lawrence et al. (2018), reviews how the level of school support for children with type 1 diabetes greatly affects their health and school attendance.
The Public Health Agency of Canada & Pan-Canadian Public Health Network summarizes the main concerns and inequalities of diabetes in Canada.
Walls et al. (2022), reviews how the strengths of American Indian culture, families and communities help overcome type 2 diabetes.
Watson et al. (2021) summarizes the Think Diabetes in the Workplace study.

Indigenous Health

The Indigenous people are one of the most vulnerable groups in Canada. The resources in this section provide further insight to this population.

On this public webpage, Alberta Health Services provides information, services, and resources in one stop
McLane et al. (2021), demonstrated how First Nations people make up 4% of the population and 9.4% of emergency room visits, also double the provincial average for leaving without completing treatment. First Nation women visit the emergency department 54.2% more than non-First Nations women.
The Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RhPAP) was created in 1991 by the Government of Alberta to create a resource and collaborative partner for rural communities to achieve greater access to health care. Under Indigenous Health, RhPAP has several resources and provides a unique perspective on rural Indigenous health.

The Future of Health Care in Canada

This section reviews suggestions for the future of health care in Canada. It then focuses on the specific example of a new trend in health care - Down Syndrome and Alzheimer's.

Simpson (2010) discusses the taboo topic of what needs to happen to keep funding the Canadian Health Care system. The more money that is funneled into health care the less for our other publicly funded programs. Simpson, reviews six possibilities to maintain or increase the funding required to support our health care system long term.
Zawati & Lang (2019) discusses how health professionals must play an active role in how new health care apps and other tech are created and implemented. This has become an increasingly important topic since COVID-19.
Speer (2018) provides an overview of the origins and the evolution of Canada’s federal government role in health care over the last 100 years. Speer also puts forward several recommendations on how the federal government can optimize their role for the future.

Down Syndrome and Alzheimer's

Those living with Down Syndrome are living longer than ever before and with that comes new health care challenges. The largest risk for this population is Alzheimer's.

The Alzheimer Society of Canada reviews they symptoms and warning signs of Alzheimer's in individuals with Down syndrome.
The Down Syndrome Resource Foundation provides families and caregivers with basic information on Alzheimer risk for individuals with Down syndrome.
Cavalcanti & de Paula Faria (2022) review the best pharmacological approaches to treating dementia in individuals with Down syndrome.