☕ Shots Fired, Shots Missed
Your Weekly Dose of Health Insights – Because Your Health Isn’t Just a Headline
Good morning, Other Siders!
Hey Other Siders!
Before we dive into this week’s healthcare insights, we must pause to acknowledge the profound tragedy that unfolded in our own backyard.
Over the weekend, during Vancouver’s Lapu Lapu Day festival—a vibrant celebration of Filipino heritage—a devastating act shattered our community. A driver intentionally plowed into the crowd, killing 11 people, including a young girl and her parents, and injuring over 30 others.
Our hearts are heavy with grief. We stand in solidarity with the victims, their families, and the entire Filipino community during this unimaginably difficult time. As we reflect on this loss, let us also recognize the resilience and unity that define our city.
In this spirit, we continue our mission to bring you actionable healthcare insights. This week, we explore Canada’s healthcare election developments, spotlight telehealth innovations, and delve into a compelling case study on high-value care. Plus, based on your feedback, we’re revamping the newsletter this summer with more free tools, real-life examples, and case studies to empower your practice.
As always, we're here to support you in driving meaningful change. If you're navigating complex challenges—be it digital health strategy, operational transformation, or team leadership—know that we’re committed to delivering sustainable impact.
Stay strong, stay connected.
In today’s edition, we’re serving up:
Measles Outbreak Hits Record
ER Crisis in the North
Mental Health Goes Virtual
Cholera Deaths Surge Globally
Case Study: Transforming Primary Care Through Team-Based Redesign
Dive in and enjoy the ride. 🚀
News that Impacts You!
Measles Outbreak Hits Record 🚨
Ontario’s measles cases just hit 1,018-yes, 1,018-with unvaccinated kids bearing the brunt. Alberta’s not far behind at 129 cases. Fun fact: Measles is so contagious, you could catch it from a doorknob sneezed on in 1987. Real-life impact? Meet 14-year-old Aisha in Toronto, who missed her grad trip after catching it at a concert.
Should schools mandate vaccines, or is that a my body, my choice hill to die on?
ER Crisis in the North 🚑
Yellowknife’s Stanton Hospital ER is hanging by a thread, with 50% of shifts unfilled this summer. Dr. Courtney Howard warns: “Close this ER, and the whole Northern system collapses.” Imagine driving 12 hours for a broken arm-that’s the reality for Nunavut locals.
Would you take a locum job in the Arctic for double pay?
Mental Health Goes Virtual 💻
Homewood Health + Cleveland Clinic Canada launched a workplace mental health platform. Think therapy chatbots and 24/7 crisis Zoom rooms. Real-life win: A Calgary oil worker reduced panic attacks using their AI-guided breathing exercises.
Would you trust a bot with your burnout?
Cholera Deaths Surge Globally 💧
1,514 dead in Q1 2025, with Kenya and Namibia newly infected. Blame climate chaos + vaccine shortages. Real-life tragedy: A mom in Lagos lost two kids to contaminated well water.
Should pharma giants donate patents for outbreaks?
💭Let us know what you think in the comment section.
🕵️♀️Case in Point
Transforming Primary Care Through Team-Based Redesign
Background & Problem: Running a primary care clinic today is harder than ever. Doctors are juggling chronic disease management, urgent concerns, preventive care, care coordination, and quality reporting—all while trying to avoid burnout. One study found that a family doctor would need over 26 hours a day to do everything expected of them for their patient panel. Sound familiar?
That’s exactly what Allegheny Health Network (AHN), a large US health system, was facing. They knew the traditional one-doctor-one-assistant model wasn’t cutting it anymore. So, they decided to reimagine how primary care could work by bringing in a team-based model.
The Solution: Starting in 2021, AHN launched a network-wide transformation. They worked with 10–12 clinics at a time every 6–9 months and introduced a structured 3-step approach:
The Outcome: This approach wasn’t just nice in theory—it delivered real results:
How We Can Help: The same problems exist here—burnout, overbooked doctors, and underpaid preventive care. AHN’s journey shows that real transformation is possible, but it takes more than just hiring staff. You need:
Clear team roles
Updated workflows
Support from leadership
Sustainable payment models
You don’t need to do this alone. At The Other Side of Care, we help clinics like yours plan and implement team-based care models that actually work. Whether it's assessing staffing gaps, redesigning workflows, or supporting funding applications—we're your strategic partner in transformation.
Thinking of redesigning your clinic for team-based care?
Let’s talk. We’ll help you make it practical, affordable, and impactful.
📈What’s Trending🔥
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Second Opinions, Please! 🗣
Your turn to weigh in! We love hearing your real-life stories, ideas, and even rants about our healthcare system. Which news hit home for you this week? Got a burning question or an “other side” perspective we missed? Spill the beans – just hit reply to share your thoughts. The Other Side team reads every response (with our morning coffee in hand), and your feedback might just spark the next big idea to improve Canadian care. After all, conversation is the first step to transformation. So, what’s your take? 🙂