MDmama

12/14/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CATetN866/?mibextid=wwXIfr

11/29/2025

A few of my favorite things🎄for surviving virus season as a busy working parent (a post for adults!)

How an ER Doctor/Mom Survives a Viral Illness Like most humans with bills, children, and responsibilities that do not respect my mucus production, I cannot simply spend the day(s) in bed when I get a cold or flu. So when the viral goblins strike, I rely on these adult-oriented remedies to get me thr...

10/19/2025

Why opening more Urgent Care Centres doesn’t fix ER wait time👇

They sound like a smart solution to divert “non-emergency” visits—but the evidence and experience say otherwise.

🚪Capacity & staffing are limited.
Most UCCs don’t have the tools, other specialists, or staff to handle complex cases—and they’re not open 24/7.
If not positioned properly, they can even pull staff away from emergency departments, worsening shortages.

🏥 They don’t fix the REAL problem: hospital flow.
Crowding happens when admitted patients can’t leave the ED because hospital beds are full.
When our beds are full, we have nowhere to see new patients—and that’s when wait times spiral.

⚙️ Crowding is a system issue.
Too few staffed beds.
Too few nurses & specialists.
Delays in imaging & labs.
Lack of home & long-term care.
UCCs don’t fix these bottlenecks—and may even strain the workforce further.

Emergency teams can handle busy.
It’s crowding that kills.
Fix patient flow.
Staff hospitals properly.
Support care across the system.
Not more doors—better pathways.

Read more: https://caep.ca/empower-2/

08/17/2025

It’s been a minute since I’ve had the chance to make a new blog post. Enjoy!

As a parent, seeing a high number on the thermometer can be scary. You may wonder: Will a high fever harm my child? Are they at risk for a seizure? Do they need antibiotics? How high is too high??Turns out, the number is... well... just a number.And the height of a fever doesn’t reliably tell us h...

08/05/2025

I could not be more excited to announce that I have found the most talented local illustrator to bring Samantha’s Secret Superpower to life! 🎉Kristian Cox is a talented artist and a local dad in North Vancouver. Like me, he has a day job and is looking for a creative outlet.

Sign up here for more book launch updates: mdmama.ca/childrens-books

07/08/2025

I see Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) several times a month as an ER doctor in heavy cannabis users both young and old. It is a miserable condition, prevented and cured by reducing or stopping cannabis use.

05/28/2025

VCH Public Health has seen a rise in whooping cough (pertussis) cases in Pemberton. This infection can be very serious for certain populations—especially for babies under 1 year and pregnant persons in their third trimester.

Thankfully there is a pertussis vaccine that can prevent infection and severe disease in infants.

Pemberton area residents and visitors, especially families with young children, are asked to be aware of symptoms of pertussis, and seek testing and treatment as needed.

Watch for symptoms like severe coughing fits.

Free vaccines are now available for:

✅Kids who are behind on their shots or have not started their immunizations
✅Pregnant people (ideally 27–32 weeks)
✅Parents/household contacts of babies under 1 years old
✅Adults unsure of their vaccine history

Protect yourself and your community.
For more information visit: https://www.vch.ca/en/news/pertussis-cases-increasing-pemberton-area

05/23/2025

Itchy kids? Read on to find out what you should (and should not!) give them.

Diphenhydramine (trade name Benadryl) is an older, first generation antihistamine which has significant and common side effects including sedation, cognitive impairment, poor sleep quality, dry mouth, dizziness, and low blood pressure. Even at appropriate doses, diphenhydramine can cause a paradoxic...

04/18/2025

It’s picnic season!! Brush up on your allergy & anaphylaxis IQ!

Symptoms of an allergic reaction can range from mild (isolated hives, irritated skin, etc.) to life-threatening anaphylaxis. Q: What is anaphylaxis? A: Think A,B,C. If your child has Airway compromise (lip/tongue/throat swelling), Breathing difficulties, or Circulation collapse (low blood pressure o...

03/18/2025

Button batteries can cause serious injury if swallowed or ingested. Do you know what to do if this happens to your child?

◾ Call 9-1-1 or the BC Drug and Poison Info Centre, or go to the nearest emergency department
◾ On the way to emergency or waiting for help to arrive, use honey to reduce the risk of injury if the child is over 1-year-old
◾ DO NOT cause the child to throw up
◾ DO NOT let the child eat or drink