Health Care

Café Scientifique, A Free Community Event

"Café Scientifique" are events known for their informal and friendly atmosphere. Café Scientifique aims to demystify scientific research for the general public and empower non-scientists to more comfortably and accurately assess science. (Source: Wikipedia)

 Bedside to Bench:  Health Research with Real-Time Benefits       

On June 25, 2018, Dr. Arlene MacDougall moderated a panel of three researchers from London’s Lawson Health Research Institute (the research institute of London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Health Care London) who gave presentations on their work in slowing the decline of neurodegenerative diseases.  The researchers use their experience with patients to shape research activities, and to directly apply what they discover to improve their patients’ lives.  Café Scientifique provided an opportunity for health practitioners and interested community members to learn about new discoveries and question the researchers.  

Dr. Jennie Wells clinical and research work involves Alzheimer’s Disease and Geriatric Rehabilitation. She focuses on the potential for non-drug interventions, such as diet and exercise, to slow down the progression of dementia.  As well, Dr. Wells is the principal site investigator in a study of drugs used to treat dementia, mild cognitive impairment and subjective cognitive impairment. 

Dr. Elizabeth Finger described her work in delineating the cognitive and neural systems that are affected in patients with frontotemporal dementia, related disorders, and the patients’ at-risk family members. She noted that persons who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis have an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Dr. Mandar Jog fascinated the audience with illustrations of patients with Parkinson’s’ Disease walking on a specialized mat.  Telemetric data collected from the mat was turned into walking stick figures that illustrated the patients’ gait, e.g., speed, length, pauses, and varied weight of steps along the length of the mat.  Tremor disorders affect a significant number of people and these also can be analyzed by telemetric monitoring and treated.   Application of this research has led to effective treatments.  For example, injection of botulinum toxins in the brains of patients with Parkinson’s Disease results in improved gait.

I came away from Café Scientifique with useful knowledge:  Twelve minutes of meditation a day reduces inflammation of the brain in persons at risk of neurodegenerative disease.  Tai Chi, which combines elements of resistance training, aerobic exercise, and meditation has a triple beneficial impact. But most of all, I was awed by the quality of research being done in London’s Lawson Health Research Institute and the passionate dedication of researchers who spend far more than forty hours per week exploring ang applying knowledge that benefits humanity.  I hope that our government and individual donors will continue to support the health research taking place in London. - Sister Patricia McKeon

Discover What Health Care $$$ Are Spent on You?

A recent article by Jonathan Sher in the London Free Press caught my attention. Many of us know that providing health care to Ontarians is a major provincial government expense. We might also be aware that its cost consumes over 40% of Ontario’s provincial program spending dollars. However, few of us have seen our actual OHIP bill.  

Interestingly, the article points out that we can have access to our OHIP tab for up to the last seven years by requesting it by ‘snail mail’ from the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care, Personal Health Information Office. The ministry further assists by providing a downloadable form on its website.

Personally, as the proud recipient of two rather recent fading surgical scars, I decided to inquire about the cost of my knee surgeries. I mailed my completed request to the ministry as indicated on the form. Now I await seeing my health care tab. 

With health care being the Ontario government’s single biggest expense I checked out this interesting table Table 4.1 Per-Capita Provincial Government Health Spending, by Age Group, Ontario in the government's long-term report on the economy under halth care. As Ontarians age, a certainty, the health care spending debate will continue.

Knowing our own health care tab is an excellent and realistic starting point to enter the discussions ahead. It only takes a signed request, an envelope and stamp. Go for it!

Nancy Wales, CSJ