MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions

New research from Unity Health Toronto examined changes in mobility during COVID-19 lockdowns in Ontario and found that mobility decreased the most in wealthier neighbourhoods with fewer essential workers. Read more: https://lnkd.in/g-B3Dki6   The research is part of a MSc thesis project led by Siyi Wang (Dalla Lana School of Public Health), who is now a Junior Data Scientist at Unity Health Toronto and MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions. She was mentored by Physician Scientist and Associate Professor Dr. Sharmistha Mishra, and Prof. Rafal Kustra, at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. The project was supported by NSERC, including CANMOD (an Emerging Infectious Disease Modeling Network funded by NSERC).   The research combined cellphone mobility data with neighbourhood-level measures of household income and proportion of essential workers. The team quantified changes in mobility in response to two restriction policies across five regions in Ontario, Canada in early and late 2020. The team examined whether reductions in mobility varied by neighbourhood-level socioeconomic measures.   The researchers found that the reductions in mobility were much smaller during the second restriction policy in late 2020, suggesting that the effect of restrictions on mobility changes may saturate over subsequent restrictions. Decreases in mobility in response to restrictions were more pronounced in wealthier neighbourhoods with fewer essential workers.   The study highlights the need for additional approaches to reduce health inequities at the intersections of income and occupation when addressing large epidemics, the research team concludes.   “By definition, essential workers could not ‘shelter in place’ during restrictions. In epidemics, it is never enough to look just at the overall impact of strategies or policies. Quantifying what worked and for whom they worked (and ideally why they worked or did not work) can help improve public health measures so that policies and strategies meaningfully reduce health inequities during an epidemic,” said Mishra.     Read the study: https://lnkd.in/g-B3Dki6 MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto

Our latest paper published yesterday in Annals of Family Medicine highlights the importance of continuity in primary care care--not necessarily continuity with the same clinician but a clinician who has access to your records and works with the clinician you normally see. In our study, we compared downstream health care use for those who had an after-hours visit with either i) a family physician working in the same group as their usual family physician vs. ii) a family physician at a walk-in clinic. We found those that saw a family physician from within their group were 10% LESS LIKELY to visit an emergency department in the 7 days after the initial visit compared to patients who saw a walk-in clinic physician. When our paper was published, I was working at the after-hours clinic for our Family Health Team at St. Michael's Hospital which cares for~50,000 patients. I saw many patients of my colleagues. In all cases, I had access to their chart and was able to message their usual physician/NP so they knew about the visit and could follow-up as needed. In some cases, I went ahead and ordered tests that I know my colleagues will follow-up on. To me, this kind of after-hours care is optimal. We take turn caring for each others patients so the burden of work isn't too high. And even though we don't have a relationship with the patient, we are part of the same team and have access to the same records and the same philosophy of care. Our latest paper further quantifies the benefits suggesting this type of after-hours care is more efficient and less costly to the system than the stand-alone walk-in clinic. This terrific paper was led by Lauren Lapointe-Shaw and Christine Salahub together with a great team including Noah Ivers Aisha Lofters Laura Desveaux, PhD CPCC Sacha Bhatia. cc MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions Unity Health Toronto University of Toronto, Department of Family and Community Medicine The full paper is available at https://lnkd.in/gWYRZnXW If you're interested, you can read more about our system of after-hours care at St. Mike's at https://lnkd.in/g7tK4BW9

More than 150 million people worldwide are experiencing homelessness right now. On National Housing Day, we’re proud to spotlight Citi Foundation, one of our powerful partners in St. Michael’s efforts to tackle the homelessness crisis with real-world, evidence-based solutions. “As the Canadian beneficiary of Citi Foundation’s 2024 Global Innovation Challenge, we’ll be able to create even more pathways towards better health and stable housing for people experiencing homelessness,” says Dr. Stephen Hwang, Director of St. Michael’s MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions. “Partnerships like these can save lives.” According to Citi Canada CEO, John Hastings, “This latest investment by the Citi Foundation in a Canadian organization reflects Citi’s commitment to Canada as part of our global network and highlights the pioneering work of St. Michael’s.” Thank you, Citi Foundation. Your $500,000 (USD) commitment will help St. Michael's Hospital disrupt the cycle of homelessness here—and across Canada. #InnovationChallenge #Homelessness #NationalHousingDay Unity Health Toronto

Did you know that four million people in Canada struggle to afford healthy foods – such as fresh fruits and vegetables – or that kids who participate in #EvenTheOdds-funded APPLE Schools programs are 35% more active and 40% less likely to be obese? These are just some of the topics that were addressed this week at a special “Even the Odds Lunch & Learn session” hosted by Staples to bring awareness to our partnership with MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions on our Even the Odds initiative. We were proud to welcome MAP researchers Dr. Nav Persaud and Dr. Katerina Maximova to share their work on preventing chronic health inequities. Dr. Persaud, recently named chair of a federal expert committee on National Pharmacare, leads an innovative healthy food prescription program in Ontario, serving 400 low-income diabetes patients. Dr. Maximova oversees the Even the Odds implementation of APPLE Schools in Alberta and Ontario, recognized in 2020, 2023 and 2024 as one of the world’s top 100 innovative education projects by HundrED, improving health education through evidence-based initiatives. At Staples, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to thrive. Together with MAP, we’re raising awareness of inequity and helping build vibrant, healthy communities across Canada through innovative, research-driven programming funded by #EventheOdds. Learn more at www.staples.ca/eventheodds.

At Staples, we believe it is our responsibility to do our part to ensure the communities we live and work in are healthy and thriving. To help contribute to this goal, our annual #EventheOdds “Gift of Giving” campaign in partnership with MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions is officially back.   Interested in getting involved? Here’s how!   Now through Sunday, Dec. 15, every Staples store across Canada is selling exclusive “Inspiration Kits” for $7.98. Head to your local store today to make an impact with a gift that gives back! The Even the Odds inspiration kits are a perfect gift for teachers, kids, and anyone in your life who could use a bit of “inspiration,” and are a great way to give the gift of giving this season!      Also, on Tuesday, Dec. 3 (International Giving Tuesday), stores and online platforms will accept donations of $2, $5, and $10.   One hundred percent of all proceeds raised through Inspiration Kit sales and Giving Tuesday donations go to Even the Odds and support MAP programs and research that directly impact communities across the country.      To make a donation to Even the Odds today, visit: staples.ca/EventheOdds, and to learn more about how Staples is your holiday destination for the latest tech, engaging gifts for kids, meaningful personalized gifts, and unique offerings for teachers and corporate gifting, read our holiday press release: https://lnkd.in/gtZR5kzg

Yesterday, the federal government appointed MAP scientist Dr. Nav Persaud as the Chair of the new Committee of Experts to make recommendations on National Pharmacare. The group of experts will recommend options on how to operate and finance a national, universal, single-payer pharmacare program in Canada. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gca_rSaS Unity Health Toronto

At Staples, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to thrive. Through #EventheOdds and our partnership with MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, we’re working to raise awareness of inequity and help build vibrant, healthy communities across Canada. Yesterday, we were proud to host Our Healthbox lead and MAP researcher, Dr. Sean B. Rourke, for a special Lunch and Learn session. He gave an update on his Healthbox ‘smart’ vending machines in the Maritimes – interactive dispensing machines that provide free health supplies in areas that need them, including free HIV self-tests. The Our Healthbox initiative is an example of the research-based and innovative programming Staples Canada funds through #EventheOdds and the impact our partnership with MAP has across the country. To learn more about our Even the Odds partnership with MAP, visit www.staples.ca/eventheodds

Congratulations to MAP scientist Dr. Mikaela D. Gabriel who has been awarded a Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Women’s & Two-Spirit Mental Health & Homelessness! “This Canada Research Chair means a lot to me both professionally and personally,” shared Dr. Gabriel. “Mental health and housing are so intertwined, and it is really important for them to be understood and addressed together.” Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eNBN6Xic Unity Health Toronto St. Michael's Hospital

Congratulations to MAP director and scientist Dr. Stephen Hwang, who has been awarded a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Homelessness, Housing, & Health! “Being awarded a Canada Research Chair is a wonderful acknowledgement of the work my team and I are doing on homelessness and health,” Dr. Hwang shared. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/er2Pg_g8 Unity Health Toronto St. Michael's Hospital

Centre on Drug Policy Evaluation new report outlines the impacts of supervised consumption services in Ontario. As a direct response to the provincial governments proposed legislation that would result in the forced closure of 10 sites. This report highlights the public health and safety impacts for our communities. Please take a minute to read and share. MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions Unity Health Toronto https://lnkd.in/gasbvyQJ