Author profile
Harvey Thommasen, MD, MSc, FCFP
I am a rural physician who works in Masset, on the Queen Charlotte Islands in a primary care facility. For the most part, I really like my job. The worst part is the on-call, mostly because the problem of finding beds... Read More
Background Health care providers should strive to understand the physical, emotional, and social impacts of having chronic disease. Theoretically, such patient-centred knowledge can be incorporated into chronic... Read More
Background According to a report issued by Health Canada in 2002, 4.8% of Canadians, 20 years of age and older, had type 2 diabetes mellitus in 1998–1999.[1] In British Columbia, the prevalence rate is... Read More
The life of full-service physicians working in British Columbia’s northern and rural communities is a challenging one. They work long hours, often diagnosing patients without the help of modern technology and managing... Read More
Background A common theme emerging from the many discussions, commissions, and inquiries about Canada’s health care system is that “better management is required, not more money.” Health care planners and decision-... Read More
Background Diabetes mellitus is an important cause of death, illness, and disability across Canada. It affects approximately 5% of adults, which means more than 1 million Canadians.[1,2] Having diabetes... Read More
An estimated 2285 people live in the Bella Coola Valley, a remote coastal community in British Columbia. Approximately 46% of these are of aboriginal descent,[1-3] compared with an estimated provincial aboriginal... Read More
In Canada, patient access to hospital and medical services is considered a fundamental human right. In theory, the poorest Canadians should experience the same level of care as the wealthiest. From an access to health... Read More
Introduction Bella Coola is a rural, remote community located in northwestern British Columbia. The closest referral hospital, in Williams Lake, is more than 450 km by road; the closest tertiary-care centre is in... Read More
Introduction The retention of primary care physicians in rural areas of Canada remains one of the most persistent problems confronting Canadian health care.[1-3] British Columbia is no exception, with many rural... Read More