Background: Significant gaps in the evidence base on costs in rural communities in Canada and elsewhere are reported in the literature, particularly regarding costs to families. However, it remains unclear whether the costs related to all resources used by palliative care patients in rural areas differ to those resources used in urban areas.
Objective: In this study, we estimate the impact of the new PCV13 immunization program on the burden of disease and related healthcare costs in Alberta.
OBJECTIVES: To examine differences in health services utilization (HSU) costs in the first year of life between low birth weight (LBW) and normal birth weight (NBW) infants, identify maternal and child characteristics associated with HSU costs, and estimate annual HSU cost of LBW infants for the province of Alberta, Canada.
Objectives: Economic evaluations, although not formally used in purchasing decisions for medical devices in Canada, are still being conducted and published. The aim of this study was to examine the way that prices have been included in Canadian economic evaluations of medical devices.
Abstract: Alberta's Primary Care Networks (PCNs) bring together family physicians and other health professionals to provide local, comprehensive, and readily accessible primary care services to patients. The Edmonton North PCN, one of the largest in the province, piloted the Resource in Clinic (RIC) Program with objectives to increase efficiencies in the use of physician…
Abstract: The cost of drug development is commonly cited between US$800 and US$1.8 billion. A similar statistic for vaccines is yet to be estimated, and it is unclear whether the cost of vaccines is similar to drug development. Financial and regulatory policy significantly impacts the extent and cost of pharmaceutical development, and as such it is important that…
INTRODUCTION: Varicella vaccine was introduced to the infant immunization schedule in each province or territory between 2000 and 2007 as a result of the Canadian ImmunizationStrategy. The impact of vaccinating children against this disease is potentially far reaching, asimmunization may also benefit those segments of the population not immunized. The objective of this paper…
Objectives: To estimate the break-even effectiveness of the Alberta Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Service Networks in reducing occurrences of secondary disabilities associated with FASD.
Abstract: Medical wait time is a top health policy issue in Canada. Reliable data on the referral wait time from primary to specialty care are limited. Existing data on referral wait times are generally self-reported by specialists. In 2008, the Edmonton North Primary Care Network (PCN) developed a Centralized Referral Program, including a specialist database that contains…