The outcome of IHE initiatives is providing better information for developing health policy and best medical practices. IHE disseminates information in many ways. In addition to publications in peer-reviewed journals, IHE produces books and a variety of reports synthesizing information in a particular field.
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| Melanie McPhail, Christopher McCabe, Dean Regier, Tania Bubela
Regulatory and reimbursement decisions for drugs and vaccines are increasingly based on limited safety and efficacy evidence. In this environment, life-cycle approaches to evaluation are needed. A life-cycle approach grants market approval and/or positive reimbursement decisions based on an undertaking to conduct post-market clinical trials that address evidentiary uncertainties,…
| Erin Kirwin, Jeff Round, Ken Bond, Christopher McCabe
This paper presents a Life-Cycle Health Technology Assessment (HTA) framework designed to address three challenges faced by standard HTA: uncertainty, evolving evidence and health system sustainability. The LC-HTA framework is built around on-market evidence generation and risk-based pricing strategies. Where…
| Dat Tran, Ilke Akpinar, Irvin Mayers, Tatiana Makhinova, Philip Jacobs
The objective of this study, published in the International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, was to describe the trends in pharmacologic treatment for patients newly diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Alberta, Canada.
This study, published in PharmacoEconomics – Open, reports exploratory analysis of the provincial and nationwide costs of industry-sponsored drug clinical trials (CTs) in Canada. The costs of industry-sponsored drug CTs completed in 2016 were Can$2.1 billion. In addition to the creation of knowledge, these trials play an important role in alleviating the healthcare cost burden…
| Timothy Caulfield, Alessandro R Marcon, Blake Murdoch, Jasmine Brown, Sarah Tinker Perrault, Jonathan Jarry, Jeremy Snyder, Samantha J Anthony, Stephanie Brooks, Zubin Master, Christen Rachul, Ubaka Ogbogu, Joshua Greenberg, Amy Zarzeczny, Robyn Hyde-Lay
Abstract: Numerous social, economic and academic pressures can have a negative impact on representations of biomedical research. We review several of the forces playing an increasingly pernicious role in how health and science information is interpreted, shared and used, drawing discussions towards the role of narrative. In turn, we explore how aspects of narrative are used in…
| Paula Corabian, Bing Guo, Carmen Moga, Ann Scott
This article retrospectively examines the evolution of rapid assessments (RAs) produced by the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Program at the Institute of Health Economics over its 25-year relationship with a single requester, the Alberta Health Ministry (AHM).
| Paula Corabian, Bing Guo, Carmen Moga, Ann Scott
The Health Technology Assessment Program at the Institute of Health Economics has conducted rapid assessments (RAs) since 1993. This information paper draws on this experience and describes the evolution of RA process and products over a 25-year relationship with a single requester to quantify the effects of this partnership on the RAs produced. The aim is to contribute to emergent…
Ce rapport fournit un résumé d’un atelier de sprint sur la conception de données probantes du monde réel (DPMR) qui a eu lieu le 21 octobre 2018 à Toronto, en Ontario. L’atelier a été conçu et offert dans le cadre d’un partenariat entre l’Agence canadienne des médicaments et des technologies…
This report provides a summary of a real-world evidence (RWE) design sprint workshop that took place on October 21, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario. The workshop was developed and delivered as a joint partnership between the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH); Canadian Association for Population Therapeutics (CAPT), Health Canada, and the Institute of Health…
This environmental scan describes existing initiatives that aim to accelerate the diagnostic phase of cancer care in Alberta, Canada, and internationally. Specifically, it describes their development and implementation, structure and functioning, intended outcomes and effectiveness, costs and cost savings, and enablers and barriers.
This study originated from discussions on how to translate research findings into conclusions regarding safety and effectiveness in systematic reviews responding to requests from a provincial mechanism for introducing and diffusing publicly funded healthcare technologies. Its objective is to identify prominent and reliable evidence grading systems used in health technology assessment…
| Charles Yan, Yufei Zheng, Michael D. Hill, Balraj Mann, Thomas Jeerakathil, Noreen Kamal, Shy Amlani, Anderson Chuck
Abstract: We present a conceptual approach to determine the optimal solution to delivering a health technology, consistent with the objective of maximizing patient outcomes subject to resources available to a publicly funded health system. The article addresses two key policy questions: 1) adding system values through appropriate planning of health services delivery and 2) considering…
This brief outlines some perspectives from the Institute of Health Economics (IHE) based on what we have heard from government, public agencies, and industry, and seeks to summarize the key areas where further clarification and deliberation could be helpful.
As the Federal Government contemplates introducing an element of value-based pricing to the pharmaceutical industry regulatory framework, this report provides an overview of key theoretical and empirical material, to support informed engagement by all stakeholders in this important debate.
| Dat Tran, Ilke Akpinar, Richard Fedorak, Egon Jonsson, John Mackey, Lawrence Richer, Philip Jacobs
Purpose: In pharmaceutical clinical trials, industrial sponsors pay for study drugs and related healthcare services. We conducted a study to determine industry’s economic contribution of these trials to the Alberta healthcare system. Authors and Affiliations: Dat T. Tran1,2; Ilke Akpinar2 ; Richard N. Fedorak3 ; Egon Jonsson2 ; John R. Mackey4 ; Lawrence Richer5 ; Philip…
This paper reviews implementation of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) and its financial implications. Literature on clinical outcomes and financial implications were reviewed. Reports from many different surgery types shows that implementation of ERAS reduces complications and shortens hospital stay. These improvements have major impacts on reducing the cost of care even…
This report provides a summary of the IHE Biosimilars Forum engagement exercise that took place on April 23, 2017 in Ottawa, Ontario. The intent of the forum was to identify: options to categorize and consider biosimilars; a process to engage stakeholders to identify place in therapy and further evidence development that may be required; and an approach to knowledge exchange that…
This report provides a summary of recently published information (January 2015 to present) regarding the glucose monitoring technologies that are commercially available in North America, as well as those that are emerging within the next five years (up to 2021).
PDF of a PowerPoint presentation by Mr. Murray Aitken, Senior VP and Executive Director, IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics.
6 Oct 2016 – IHE Biosimilars Forum
| Anderson Chuck, Thanh Nguyen, James Wesenberg, Rhada Chari, Robert Wilson, Selikke Janes-Kelley
Objectives: In 2006, the Alberta Ministry of Health issued a policy to implement fetal fibronectin (fFN) testing as a publicly funded service for pregnant women. The goals were to reduce maternity health care utilization and unnecessary treatment, which would result in cost-savings for the health system by more accurately diagnosing false preterm labour. We conducted a post-policy…
This guide has been developed by the information specialists at the Institute of Health Economics in Edmonton Alberta and is intended to facilitate searching for health technology assessments (HTAs) or systematic reviews by providing the list of current and reliable internet-based resources that we regularly use in our work. We have tried as much as possible to match this guide…
| Angus Thompson, Maria Ospina, Liz Dennett, Arianna Waye, Philip Jacobs
Presenteeism, reduced productivity while working, has come into consideration as a major occupational health problem in many countries with serious consequences for both organizations and employees. Increasing evidence shows that presenteeism represents a significant source of productivity losses that can cost organizations much more than does absenteeism, and it can lead to an…
| Bing Guo, Carmen Moga, Christa Harstall, Don Schopflocher
Objective: Because of a lack of a control group, a case-series study is considered one of the weaker study designs from which to obtain evidence on treatment effectiveness. Under certain circumstances, however, this is the only available evidence to inform health-care decisions. This study's intent was to develop and validate a quality appraisal checklist specifically for…
Written under contract with the Alberta Health Technologies Decision Process (AHTDP). This report provides an assessment of how the adoption of fFN testing in Alberta impacted the clinical management of preterm labour and healty system resources. This was also an opportunity to retroactively use the Post Policy Implementation Framework to evaluate a specific policy developed within…
| Julie Polisena, John Lavis, Don Juzwishin, Pam McLean-Veysey, Ian Graham, Christa Harstall, Janet Martin
A perceived gap exists in how well Canadian health technology assessment (HTA) producers are supporting the use of their HTAs by decision-makers. The authors propose that the newly released HTA Database Canadian search interface incorporate structured decision-relevant summaries of HTAs that would be developed by participating Canadian HTA organizations. The registry would…
| Ann Scott, Dion Pasichnyk, Christa Harstall, Dagmara Chojecki
This Information Paper is an inventory and broad summary of factors affecting the adoption and diffusion of health technologies and of available models, strategies, tools, and processes for optimizing health technology diffusion.
| Maria Ospina, Liz Dennett, Arianna Waye, Philip Jacobs, Angus Thompson
Objectives: To assess and compare the measurement properties (ie, validity, reliability, responsiveness) and the quality of the evidence of presenteeism instruments.
OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to explore the degree to which databases otherthan MEDLINE contribute studies relevant for inclusion in rapid health technology assessments (HTA).
This report has been produced in response to a request from Alberta Health (AH). The objective was to perform a review of practices of engaging committees composed of lay people or members of the general public at international, national, provincial, and regional levels. The review attempts to address the following questions: What scientific evidence is available about committees…
| Lianne Barnieh, Braden Manns, Anthony Harris, Marja Blom, Cam Donaldson, Scott Klarenbach, Don Husereau, Diane Lorenzetti, Fiona Clement
BACKGROUND: The use of a restrictive formulary, with placement determined through a drug-reimbursement decision-making process, is one approach to managing drug expenditures.
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…
| Thanh Nguyen, Anderson Chuck, Arto Ohinmaa, Philip Jacobs
Objectives: To estimate the monetary benefits of ramipril and its distribution over time among four beneficiaries in Canada: the drug developing manufacturer, generic manufacturers, the healthcare sector and employment sectors.
This report is an analysis of the theoretical basis for value-based pricing, relevant international developments, and areas for improvement within Canada’s current patented drug pricing system. This report intends to inform future policy research, advice, and Canadian drug policy discussions regarding the feasibility and implementation of value-based pricing approaches.
| Ian Colman, Yasmin Garad, Yiye Zeng, Kiyuri Naicker, Murray Weeks, Scott Patten, Peter Jones, Angus Thompson, T. Cameron Wild
Purpose: Studies suggest that childhood trauma is linked to both depression and heavy drinking in adulthood, and may create a lifelong vulnerability to stress. Few studies have explored the effects of stress sensitization on the development of depression or heavy drinking among those who have experienced traumatic childhood events. This study aimed to determine the effect…
This project is concerned with describing a comprehensive set of HTA products, not the methods used to produce them. The report describes various products produced by HTA agencies and provides a summary of the basic elements of these products, but an in-depth analysis of, or comparison between, the various products in terms of their methodology is beyond its scope. Information…
| Thanh Nguyen, Anderson Chuck, Arto Ohinmaa, Philip Jacobs
Background: The benefits of pharmaceutical innovations are widely diffused; they accrue to the healthcare providers, patients, employers, and manufacturers. We estimate the societal monetary benefits of simvastatin in Canada and its distribution among different beneficiaries overtime.
| Paula Corabian, Dagmara Chojecki, Christa Harstall
This exploratory report provides a summary of some of the published information on the current status of research in and potential future sphere of activity of nanomedicine (Part I) and an inventory of resources on nanotechnology and nanomedicine (Part II). Over the next 5 to 10 years it is expected that the overall impact of nanomedicine will be multifaceted, with significant…
| Carmen Moga, Bing Guo, Don Schopflocher, Christa Harstall
This Methodology Paper summarizes the process, a modified Delphi approach, used to develop a specific checklist for the quality appraisal of case series studies. This work was supplemented with a review of other published checklists and an initial pilot test of the newly developed quality appraisal checklist. Researchers at the Institute of Health Economics with researchers from…
| Anne-Marie Boström, Susan E Slaughter, Dagmara Chojecki, Carole Estabrooks
OBJECTIVES: The recent emphasis on knowledge translation (KT) in health care is based on the premise that quality of care improves when research findings are translated into practice. This study aimed to identify the extent, nature, and settings of KT research pertaining to the care of older adults.
This report describes a framework for evaluating policies developed within the Alberta Health Technologies Decision Process (AHTDP) to strengthen the link between policy development and evidence. The framework was designed as a foundation upon which to build a more detailed and contextualized evaluative process in consultation with all stakeholders who are likely to be affected…
The IHE has produced a book of the proceedings from the Consensus Development Conference: FASD - Across the Lifespan. Hardcover copies are available for purchase at a unit cost of $25.00 CAD plus $2.50 shipping and handling. Click on the Add to Cart button at the bottom of this page to proceed with your purchase. In followup to the conference, the Institute has produced two…
Reflecting the recent increased public awareness of the topic, this is the first and most comprehensive resource for over a decade on the molecular basis, prevalence, treatment options, socioeconomic impact, and prevention strategies of FASD. Edited by world-renowned experts, this compendium includes the latest research results to provide new insights and realistic estimations…
| Carissa Escober-Doran, Philip Jacobs, Carolyn Dewa
Objective: In Canada charitable or nonprofit organizations provide government-contracted mental health and addictions services, and they augment government funding by raising charitable revenues. This study estimated by source the revenues of nonprofit mental health and addictions organizations in Canada.
Abstract: The article presents information on the Health Technology Assessment. Guidance for health care practices in Sweden were documented when Medical Collegium was established in 1663 to distinguish quackery from medicine and control the poisonous drugs. In early 1980s, Sweden established the Swedish Council on Technology Assessment in Healthcare to assess major diseases…
| Amanda Burls, Lorraine Caron, Ghislaine Cleret de Langavant, Wybo Dondorp, Christa Harstall, Ela Pathak-Sen, Bjørn Hofmann
OBJECTIVES: Values are intrinsic to the use of health technology assessments (HTAs) inhealth policy, but neglecting value assumptions in HTA makes their results appear more robust or normatively neutral than may be the case. Results of a 2003 survey by the International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment (INAHTA) revealed the existence of disparate methods…
Part of the successful Institute of Health Economics (IHE) book series, this handbook and ready reference adopts a unique approach in combining policy recommendations with specific treatment options for Parkinson patients. The first part of the book deals with the clinical medical, social and economical aspects of Parkinson Disease. These ten chapters include the latest diagnosis…
PURPOSE: A study was undertaken to evaluate the utilization rates of routine preoperativeelectrocardiogram (ECG) and chest x-ray (CXR) by sex, age, and most frequent surgery type, and to estimate the total cost of these screening tests.
| Susan E Brien, Diane Lorenzetti, Steven Lewis, James Kennedy, William A Ghali
BACKGROUND: There is an extensive body of literature on health system quality reporting that has yet to be characterized. Scoping is a novel methodology for systematically assessing the breadth of a body of literature in a particular research area. Our objectives were to showcase the scoping review methodology in the review of health system quality reporting, and to reporton…
Rationale, aims and objectives: The Appraisal of Guidelines Research and Evaluation (AGREE) instrument is a generic tool for assessing guideline quality. This feasibility study aimed to reduce the ambiguity and subjectivity associated with AGREE item scoring, and to augment the tool's capacity to differentiate between good- and poor-quality guidelines. Note: This is an Alberta…
The Consensus Statement on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) - Across the Lifespan was produced by a panel of experts led by the Hon. Anne McLellan, former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada. This consensus statement on fetal alcohol spectrum disorder is the product of a unique conference: The IHE Consensus Development Conference on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder - Across the…
Le présent énoncé consensuel a été préparé par un panel indépendant de professionnels de la santé et de représentants du milieu universitaire et du public en se fondant sur: les études publiées pertinentes réunies par le Comité scientifique de la conférence pour l’établissement…
The use of the term “comparative effectiveness” (CE) has attracted considerable attention, particularly in the United States. This booklet examines the concept of CE and its relationship to other assessment frameworks.
This report presents summary information on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in Alberta, with comparison to the use of these diagnostic imaging technologies in other jurisdictions. The aims of the report are to: illustrate the capacity in Alberta to diagnose and manage health problems with the help of these important technolgies compare the numbers,…
L’honorable Michael Kirby (président de la Commission de la santé mentale du Canada) a présidé un éminent panel de citoyens et d’experts pour formuler des recommandations pratiques sur la façon d’améliorer la prévention, le diagnostic et le traitement des troubles dépressifs chez…
The Consensus Statement on Depression in Adults: How to Improve Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment was produced by a panel of experts led by the Hon. Michael Kirby Chair, Mental Health Commission of Canada. This consensus statement was prepared by an independent panel of health professionals, academics, and public representatives based on: presentations by and questioning of experts…
| David Hailey, Jeremy Grimshaw, Martin Eccles, Craig Mitton, Carol E. Adair, Emily McKenzie, Scott Patten, Brenda Waye-Perry, Leif Rentzhog, Paul Taenzer, Christa Harstall, Saifee Rashiq, Pamela Barton, Don Schopflocher, Lynda Jobin
Effective Dissemination of Findings from Research contains essays resulting from a workshop on effective dissemination of findings from research organized by the Institute of Health Economics. The publication is intended as one of the many available resources on dissemination of research findings for those interested in the subject. Chapter 3 of this report originally appeared…
| Ann Scott, Carmen Moga, Christa Harstall, Jacques Magnan
Abstract: Health technology assessments (HTAs) are an as yet unexploited source of comprehensive, systematically generated information that could be used by research funding agencies to formulate researchable questions that are relevant to decision-makers. We describe a process that was developed for distilling evidence gaps identified in HTAs into researchable questions…
This rapid assessment addressed a request to assess the published research evidence on how the Actim™ Partus test compares to the TliIQ® System in terms of diagnostic accuracy, clinical utility, and costs when added to preterm labour management in symptomatic women with intact membranes.
Risk assessment tools for predicting recidivism of spousal violence. The objective of this report is to assess the research evidence on the inter-rater reliability and predictive validity of various risk assessment instruments in predicting male-to-female spousal violence recidivism and lethality in those males who had contact with the police system. Information Specialist: Liz…
The role of rapid fetal fibronectin assay in the management of spontaneous preterm labour The objective of this report is to evaluate the added value of using fetal fibronectin (Rapid fFN for the TLi™ System, referred to here as the rapid fFN assay) to diagnose spontaneous preterm labour (PTL) in symptomatic women, which is the only fFN detection modality currently available…
| Ann Scott, Carmen Moga, Pamela Barton, Saifee Rashiq, Don Schopflocher, Paul Taenzer, Christa Harstall
Rationale and objective: A research translation strategy for chronic pain was developed that has significant potential to advance the usefulness of systematic reviews (SRs) in clinical practice.
Note: This is an Alberta Ambassador Guideline Adaptation Program related publication.
| Anderson Chuck, Philip Jacobs, Thanh Nguyen, Arto Ohinmaa, Janice Varney
Evaluation of enzyme immunoassay and immunoblot testing for the diagnosis of syphilis in Alberta. A new protocol for testing and diagnosing syphilis has been proposed in Alberta. The protocol proposes replacing rapid plasma reagin (RPR) with enzyme immunoassay (EIA) as the standard initial test and replacing Treponema pallidum (T. pallidum) particle agglutination assay (TPPA) and…
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Initiative #24. Health technology assessments (HTAs) routinely identify questions or research ‘gaps’ that are not adequately addressed by the primary research. The unique situation of having an HTA unit housed within a provincial research funding organization provided an ideal setting for linking research…
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Initiative #20. Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is the systematic evaluation of properties, effects and/or other impacts of health care technology. Its primary purpose is to provide objective information to support health care decisions and policy making at the local, regional, national and international levels. NOTE:…
| Saifee Rashiq, Pamela Barton, Christa Harstall, Don Schopflocher, Paul Taenzer
Background: The purpose of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is to make the best possible summary of the evidence regarding specific health interventions in order to influence health care and policy decisions. The need for decision makers to find relevant HTA data when it is needed is a barrier to its usefulness. These barriers are highest in rural areas and amongst isolated…
| Margaret Wanke, Don Juzwishin, Richard Thornley, Liza Chan
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Initiative #16. The objectives of this review were: To propose a generic evaluation framework for HTA agencies to strengthen their evaluation capacity. To conduct a review of HTA agencies to understand what aspects of HTA agencies have been evaluated, approaches/methods used, outcomes of hte evaluations and to understand…
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Initiative #21. Much of the activity and purpose of HTA is related to interaction with organizations and individuals with interests in the technologies that are being considered. The focus is often stakeholders with major financial or operational responsbilities for health technologies, including government authorities,…
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Initiative #18. This paper has two specific objectives: to describe some of the challenges of using research evidence to inform healthcare policy making; and to provide policy makers and researchers with a framework or tool that would identify and facilitate the use of research evidence and other information in healthcare…
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) Information Paper #24. The objective of this paper is to present the current evidence on the efficacy/effectiveness and safety of celeoxib (Celebrex®) for the treatment of pain in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Information Specialist: Seana Collins NOTE: In 2006 the Alberta Heritage Foundation…
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Initiative #19. The intent is to develop an overview as a guide to HTA managers; this paper should be regarded as a vehicle for further discussion on these issues. NOTE: In 2006 the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research HTA unit moved to IHE. Documents produced in and prior to 2006 have different formats; the…
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) Information Paper #23. The activities of the HTA Unit in 2002–2003, as reflected in various types of reports it had produced and related dissemination activities, were reviewed in a paper published in 2004. The paper provided an overview of the effectiveness of the Unit as an aid to its future management, drawing on…
| Robert Lee, Karie-Lynn Kelly, Chris Newcomb, David Cooke, Edidiong Ekaette, Peter Craighead, Peter Dunscombe
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Initiative #15. This paper summarizes the first steps in a research program designed to inform technology assessment and decision-making associated with radiotherapy (treatment of cancer with ionizing radiation) at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre (TBCC) in Calgary, Alberta. NOTE: In 2006 the Alberta Heritage Foundation for…
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Initiative #13. Appraising the quality of evidence is an important, yet difficult task, complicated by the consideration of disparate evidence. Quality checklists for assessing RCTs abound, yet it is acknowledged that even within this single study the reliability, validity, feasibility and utility of the various tools…
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Report #25. This report is a systematic review of the literature on the use of computerized electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation for detecting heart conditions as a part of routine medical examinations in healthy adults. The aim of this report is to inform practitioners and other interested parties on the available…
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Report #16. This report has been prepared in view of the continuing interest in positron emission tomography and other functional diagnostic imaging (FDI) methods within the Alberta health care system. It also continues the work at the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research in developing approaches to assessment…
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Report #16. This is the second volume of an assessment of functional diagnostic imaging methods in imaging of the myocardium. Volume 1 included an overview of the assessment findings and provided comments on the place of the FDI techniques in this application. In this volume, further details are given of the assessment…
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Report #12. This report has been prepared following a request from the provincial Clinical Practice Guidelines Program for information on the accuracy of diagnostic tests for the detection of bacterial vaginosis (BV), vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and trichomoniasis in females of reproductive age. The intention of this…
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Report #11. This report has been prepared in view of the increasing interest in ultrasound technology for diagnosis of osteoporosis. Until recently, quantitative ultrasound (QUS) was mainly being used in research settings. This procedure is still not covered by provincial fee schedules. The recent FDA pre-marketing approvals…
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Report #10. This report has been prepared as part of a project to assess the role of high cost functional diagnostic imaging (FDI) and related methods in routine health care. In the present paper, the potential application of four FDI methods to the management of epilepsy is considered. The assessment considered the current…