The length of time an average patient stays in hospital is getting shorter, so hospitals are trying to get an early start on preparing for discharge.
Personal Health Navigator
Paul Taylor retired from his role as Sunnybrook’s Patient Navigation Advisor in 2020. From 2013 to 2020, he wrote a regular column in which he provided advice and answered questions from patients and their families. Follow Paul on Twitter @epaultaylor
Is a doctor obligated to do what a patient requests?
My father was diagnosed with stomach cancer, and wants to have surgery to remove the tumour. We want to know if the doctor is obliged to fulfill his...
How do I find a doctor who can treat my addiction to opioid painkillers?
The website opioidrecovery.ca contains valuable information for Canadians living with opioid addictions, including a doctor-locator function.
Do I need to leave my family doctor to look for a new one?
Question: There is an Ontario Government website that helps patients find doctors. Do I have to quit my current doctor’s practice to use the website?
Can a botched biopsy spread cancer?
My son has a spot on his leg and we’re worried it might be skin cancer. His doctor recommended a punch biopsy, but we aren't sure it's the best...
Why does it take so long to get an appointment with my family doctor?
A lot of Canadians have trouble seeing their family doctors in a timely fashion. Here's why.
Why unnecessary medical tests are bad for patients
Question: My family doctor says I don’t need an MRI. Is she just trying to save the health system money?
Can an insurance company learn the results of my HIV-AIDS test?
Question: When I looked it up online, it appears that insurance companies can access the lab records for my HIV-AIDS test. Is this true?
Don’t count on medical marijuana curing prostate cancer
Question: On the Internet, I saw a study the showed marijuana can fight cancer. Could I treat my prostate cancer with pot?
Options limited when second shoulder surgery fails
I have had two rotator cuff shoulder surgeries, both failed. Could i be considered a candidate for one more surgery?