Patients wait for care; quality is often uneven. Can we do better?In this episode, Dr. David Gratzer speaks with Dr. David Goldbloom, Senior Medical Advisor at CAMH and a professor at the University of Toronto. Dr. Goldbloom (a returning guest) has just written We Can Do Better: Urgent Innovations to Improve Mental Health Access and Care. They speak about the book – and Dr. Goldbloom’s optimism.Dr. Goldbloom discusses real-world examples of innovation: a publicly-funded psychotherapy program in the UK that treats 600,000 people a year; a Nova Scotia program that helps families of children with ADHD and has inspired similar work in Vietnam and Finland; and a major Canadian study that has changed the way we think about homelessness. We also discuss the implications for policy makers – and for clinicians. And, yes, we do talk about The Simpsons.With Dr. Goldbloom’s book We Can Do Better: Urgent Innovations to Improve Mental Health Access and Care as the basis of the conversation we learn:Clients, families, and physicians alike all agree that the current system in Canada just isn’t good enough.Programs exist in places such as the UK and Australia that are already doing things better.Canada has created its own internationally successful programs but has had difficulties expanding across our own country.Traditionally the number of years it takes for clinical and innovation to be translated into clinical practice has been exceedingly slow.The pandemic has sparked rapid change they hope will continue. Follow us on Twitter

Quick Takes: A podcast by physicians, for physicians

What all physicians need to know about innovations in mental health care

Sometimes it’s the simple things that make the biggest impact on patient care.In episode 14 of Quick Takes Dr. Gratzer talks to two leading experts on transgender care, Dr. Alex Abramovich and Dr. June Lam to get their input on how to foster a respectful and supportive care setting.The conversation flows between research studies and in-person care and provides an excellent overview of the trans experience in mental health care.You’ll hear about:how hormone replacement therapy may interact with psychotropic medicationsthe importance of using the right language when addressing and working with your trans patientsthe high rates of depression, homelessness and suicidality that studies have foundand tips for working with your trans patients to help lower those statistical rates.Follow us on Twitter

What all physicians need to know about transgender-inclusive care

As Ramadan begins, what should you know as you care for your patients with mental health problems?In episode 13 of Quick Takes  Dr. Gratzer hosts Drs. Juveria Zaheer and Zainab Furqan in an insightful conversation on impact of Ramadan on our patients’ care.Drawing on their clinical experience and the literature, Drs. Zaheer and Furqan provide insights and suggestions for treating Muslim patients. What mental disorders may be particularly affected by Ramadan? How should medication regiments change in light of fasting? How might you start a discussion with one of your patients? With over 1.7 billion Muslims in the world – and about 80% of North American Muslims actively fasting – they discuss the conversations that you may have with your patients; their comments are enlivened with patient stories. And, yes, they share a few warm, personal memories.During this insightful conversation the guest physicians discuss the following:The surprising lack of resources they found when researching this topic for their Lancet paperHow to foster culturally safe care by acknowledging Ramadan and opening up the conversation with your patients whose treatment may be impacted by timing or foodSome possible talking points to go over with your patients who want to fully participate in this celebration: “Do you generally fast? Were you planning to fast this year? What does fasting mean for you?” and “I know Ramadan is coming up. What are your thoughts on the medications you're taking?”The obvious mental health and addiction issues impacted by fasting and changing sleep cycles as well as some you may not initially consider.Follow us on Twitter

What all physicians need to know about Ramadan and its clinical implications

“Racism exists and it exists in the lives of our patients.” – Dr. Amy GajariaIn episode 12 of Quick Takes Dr. Gratzer hosts Drs. Amy Gajaria and Saadia Sediqzadah in a compelling conversation on the importance of addressing race and racism in mental health care.In this, our longest episode of Quick Takes to date (30 minutes), the conversation covers some necessary, some easy, and some possibly difficult things clinicians should consider as they factor race into patient care.Understand that race is important to your patients, make it important to you as well.Recognize that there is a need to formalize diversity in mentorship and in leadership.Learn from our history to understand the hesitancy that black, indigenous and other people of colour have towards the medical system.Practice talking about race outside the clinical setting but don’t judge yourself – you won’t be perfect.Follow us on Twitter

What all physicians need to know about race and racism in mental health care

Which apps should you recommend to your patients?On this episode of Quick Takes Dr. Gratzer sits down with returning guest and digital psychiatry expert, Dr. John Torous of Harvard University.They discuss the use of mobile apps to aid in diagnosis and treatment as well as issues around digital privacy, the potential of chatbots, and how AI may change the field. But at the heart of this episode, they try to determine just what makes a good app. What do physicians need to know before using an app in their clinical work?During Drs. Gratzer and Torous’ conversation we learn more about:  what makes a good app and how mobile apps can be integrated into mental health treatment how apps may pose a risk to data privacy and securitythe potential of chatbots and AIand the challenges of sustaining patient engagement with apps.  To hear more of what Dr. Torous has to say on the topic of digital mental health, listen to Quick Takes episode 3 What all physicians need to know about digital psychiatry.Follow us on Twitter

What all physicians need to know about mental health apps

“If you have a room of one hundred people, one hundred people in that room have been affected by suicide.”So notes Dr. Juveria Zaheer, CAMH psychiatrist and clinician scientist with the Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, and Dr. David Gratzer’s guest on this episode of Quick Takes.In this 10th episode of Quick Takes, Dr. Gratzer and Dr. Zaheer discuss the weighty topic of suicide. Often a difficult topic for health care providers to deal with, they keep it accessible by focusing on practical issues such as how to approach risk assessment and dealing with a suicidal patient..What you will learn:there’s a complicated relationship between COVID-19 and suicidewhat Dr. Zaheer’s research on suicide has uncoveredwhat some of the warning signs for suicide areways to co-create a safety plan with your patient.The podcast ends with an important reminder that the more we talk about suicide, the more we can all help prevent it. Follow us on Twitter

What all physicians need to know about suicide prevention

“We’re having a digital moment in medicine and behavioural health like one we have never seen.”So notes Dr. Jay Shore, chair of the American Psychiatric Association's Telepsychiatry Committee, and Dr. David Gratzer’s guest on this episode of Quick Takes.In this episode Dr. Gratzer and Dr. Shore discuss the rise of virtual care during this pandemic and how our current experiences could impact the entire healthcare system. They cover the challenges (Zoom fatigue) and opportunities (hybrid care solutions) COVID-19 has brought about. And Dr. Shore leaves the listeners with some excellent tips for providers new to virtual health as well as some guidelines on patient-physician interaction that should benefit all listeners.What you will learn:what the challenges are in virtual carewhat opportunities this period of rapid virtualization has brought abouthow our healthcare system may evolve as a result of all the digital work being done currentlyuseful tips for new virtual care providers and some guidelines on patient-physician interaction.Follow us on Twitter

What all physicians need to know about the rapid virtualization of mental health care – and the post-pandemic future

The world of mental health care delivery is being reshaped. In this episode of Quick Takes, Dr. David Gratzer sits down with the associate chief in the General Adult Psychiatry and Health Systems division at CAMH, Dr. Allison Crawford. Dr. Crawford is an expert on telemental health and in a time when working at home and social distancing are the norm, the need to learn about alternative health care delivery methods is on the rise. Listen to this episode to learn the basics on telemental/virtual mental health and receive some excellent advice on how best to approach starting out in virtual mental health care. What you will learn: What telemental health looks like currently and what it is evolving intobeyond the name change to virtual mental healthhow much easier it is to do with our current technology.How patients are responding to itit goes beyond convenience for somethey actually rate the quality of virtual care higher than providers.Some very useful tips for how best to approach starting out in virtual mental health and what you should be aware ofrelationships are still incredibly important – and that can’t be replaced by machines.How the evolution of technology may impact the use and growth of virtual mental health. Follow us on Twitter

What all physicians need to know about telemental health

With one year of legalized cannabis (and this podcast) under our belts, it’s time to look at the impact that cannabis (and now legal edibles) has had – and how to talk to your patients about their use.In this episode of Quick Takes, Dr. David Gratzer sits down with Dr. Leslie Buckley, the Chief of the Addictions Division at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, to discuss the evidence for using cannabis to treat psychiatric disorders (spoiler alert: not much) and how to incorporate motivational interviewing techniques into practice – even in short interviews. We also talk about the problem with edibles and the advantages of CBD over THC.In this episode, the conversation focused on:How cannabis use has changed with legalization one year on – and where things might go now that edibles are legal.What the evidence is for using cannabis in treatment (not much).Some real-world examples – and excellent techniques – to try when using motivational interviewing with your cannabis patients.The main interview rounds out with talk about the difference between THC and CDB use.In this episodes’ bonus content, Double Take, Drs. Gratzer and Buckley enjoy the opportunity to engage in some role-play as they run through a scenario in which Dr. Gratzer plays a young adult who is using cannabis to relieve his anxiety. Listen as Dr. Buckley demonstrates some MI techniques while she interviews him. Episode #7 Double Take

What all physicians need to know about cannabis use and how to talk to our patients about it

Motivational interviewing for anxiety-related cannabis use (a role-play)In this episode’s Double Take, Drs. Gratzer and Buckley enjoy the opportunity to engage in some role-play as they run through a scenario in which Dr. Gratzer plays a young adult who is using cannabis to relieve his anxiety. Listen as Dr. Buckley demonstrates some MI techniques while she interviews him.

7- Double Take: Motivational interviewing for anxiety-related cannabis use (A role-play)

“I’m not sure we’re there yet, in psychiatry, in having that kind of useful information to make it really ‘just-for-me’ learning. I think ‘just-in-time’ is here, but ‘just-for-me’ I don’t think has arrived yet.”In a lively conversation with Dr. Gratzer, Dr. Ivan Silver, former CAMH VP Education, shares his thoughts on how medical education has been reshaped by technology.In this discussion, Dr. Silver:introduces some of us to the term “heutagogy” (the study of self-determined learning) and how technology can aid us in with our learning goals;looks back at the rise of video-based lectures;recounts the emergence (and decline) of MOOCs;details the progression of his paper-based library of evidence-based practice to a digital version he can easily share with students;and he brings up an interesting perspective on the impact of technology on the future of the earth (conference attendance really affects one’s carbon footprint!)

6-Double Take with Ivan Silver

AI. Apps. Simulation.In this episode of Quick Takes, Dr. David Gratzer sits down with Drs. Ivan Silver, Peter Selby, Sanjeev Sockalingam, and David Goldbloom. This esteemed group of influential educators discuss how technology has changed medical education, and some of the potential and pitfalls of future changes.In this episode the following was discussed:How technology in the classroom began as video-based lectures and the limits of this teaching model.How existing online learning allows for more flexibility and accessibility.The future (and present) of learning through VR and simulation-based teaching.The dangers technology poses to privacy.And how to integrate technology into the medical education curriculum – without it replacing training in other necessary skills.Out of respect to what each of these educators had to say, we will be releasing their full interviews in four separate Double Take episodes. You’ll hear their responses to how technology functions in medical education (past, present and future) in our main Quick Takes episode, but their individual episodes offer far more substance. We highly recommend you listen to them all!Double Take with Dr. Ivan SilverDouble Take with Dr. Peter SelbyDouble Take with Dr. Sanjeev SockalingamDouble Take with Dr. David Goldbloom

What all physicians need to know about technology and education

Every year physicians and residents encounter a growing number of patients — and a shrinking amount of time to keep up-to-date on new practices or legislation surrounding the field of mental health and addiction. Now, with the help of Dr. David Gratzer, Continuing Professional and Practice Development Site Coordinator at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, you can receive your clinical education on-the-go as he and his guests take these current policies and practices and summarize them for you. As an educator, Dr. David Gratzer has been recognized by students and peers alike for his ability to take complex topics and present them in a concise and interesting way. He’s been doing this with a variety of articles related to psychiatry since 2012 in his popular blog, Readings of the Week. Now, in this new show, Dr. Gratzer brings his analytical skills on-air and, with the help of other experts, presents them in short, easily digestible, podcasts. Give him just a few minutes of your time for each episode and come away with strategies and insight on how each topic could affect your practice — and your patients.

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Quick Takes: A podcast by physicians, for physicians

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