Resources
The collections found on this page relate to many aspects of health and have been curated throughout my Master of Health Studies program at Athabasca University. If you have suggestions for additional content or have found a broken link, contact me.
Healthcare in Alberta
The following regulatory documents helped me gain a better understanding of the health system in Alberta. As a side note, health promotion professionals are not regulated by the Health Professions Act. Instead, I look to my employer, Alberta Health Services, for guidance on professional conduct.
Legislation that covers the national medicare program
Document that explains the Canada Health Act in plain English
Alberta ministry that sets policy and direction for healthcare
Legislation to guide self-governing professional colleges in Alberta
Guiding principles for the Alberta health care system
Alberta regulations that cover public health concerns
Provincial organization that delivers health services to Albertans
My Professional Collections
I have strong interests in the fields of health promotion, leadership, maternal and newborn care, and health equity. If you share these interests, consider viewing my professional collections.
View my collection of thought-provoking articles on Pocket
Send me an email if you would like to join my MHST601 working group to share literature sources
Digital Curation Tools
This is a collection of some of my favourite tools for data curation. If you are searching for data curation tools, I suggest you start by reviewing these.
Curate, annotate, and easily reference resources for academic writing
Collect content while browsing the internet. Accessible across all platforms.
Browse content and create boards on many topics for reference and sharing
Read, annotate, highlight, and curate online resources
Interprofessional Collaboration
Modern healthcare reform includes the practice of healthcare professionals working in interprofessional collaborative (IPC) teams. The following resources are useful if you want to learn more about how to work effectively and efficiently in IPC teams.
IPC guiding document for Alberta Health Services
A framework and work plan on collaborative practice and education by Alberta Health
A description of six competency domains for IPC education and practice in Canada
An overview of IPC and action items for health care professionals presented by the World Health Organization
Health Promotion Tools
This collection of tools is for health promotion professionals or individuals interested in health promotion.
Read more about the profession of health promotion on my site
Albertans can access population health data for their own communities using this tool
Collection of tools on a variety of health promotion topics from Government of Canada
Health indicator data stratified by social determinants of health, published by the Government of Canada
List of health promoter competencies, created by Health Promotion Canada
Toolkit for HP professionals to support the use of HP competencies
What is Health?
Explore this collection of videos, articles, and other resources to get you thinking about the various ways that we can define health in the twenty-first century.
My comparison of the classic WHO definition of health with the 2014 Meikirch Model of Health
This Ted Talk by Joseph Ravenell will have you thinking creatively about how we deliver healthcare
AHS asked kids what health means to them. This light-hearted video presents their answers
Health Canada offers their definition of health
A great visual from First Nations Health Authority in BC to explain the First Nations perspective on health.
Determinants of Health
What makes a person healthy? Explore this collection of resources to gain a better understanding of the determinants of health from a Canadian perspective.
My summary of the determinants of health from a Canadian perspective
The National Collaborating Center for Determinants of Health provides knowledge and resources on the social determinants of health
Explanation of the social determinants of health from Health Canada
Curated list of resources related to the built environment and health equity
Information database on health status and determinants of health from Alberta Health
Alberta resource that explains the determinants of health in detail
Video that illustrates the idea of upstream thinking, a way to figure out underlying cause
Multilevel Models of Health
These resources have been curated to help individuals gain an understanding of multilevel models of health, also known as ecological or socioecological models.
Video tutorial from John Hopkins School of Public Health; provides introduction to ecological model
A listing of population health models from the University of Ottawa
Integrated model of population health and health promotion from Public Health Agency of Canada
Framework based on a socioeconomic model of mental health from PHAC
2018 lecture from lead author of the Framework for Positive Mental Health
Strategy document to inform framework development from NCCHHP
Detailed analysis of 7 frameworks conducted by Canadian Council on Social Determinants of Health
Mental Wellness in Pregnancy
These resources explore both mental wellness in pregnancy and a multilevel approach to understanding the risks and protective factors related to mental health in pregnancy (and across the life course).
My look at mental wellness in pregnancy using the Framework for Positive Mental Health
Mental health promotion video I produced for clients of our community prenatal programs
Infographic from PHAC explaining myths and facts of measuring positive mental health
Collection of academic literature on postpartum depression from AHS Knowledge Resource Services
Information and tools for pregnant people living with anxiety
Online health education for parents in Alberta, produced by AHS
Data from the 2018 Maternal Health Survey, conducted by Statistics Canada
Chronic Disease Prevention & Management in Alberta
These resources have been curated to help individuals gain an understanding of chronic disease prevention and management in Alberta. You will also find resources that discuss recognizing mental health disorders as chronic disease.
My post that explains Alberta's stance on mental illness as chronic disease
Website of the Interdisciplinary Chronic Disease Collaboration in Calgary, Alberta
Website of the Alberta Policy Coalition for Chronic Disease Prevention
AHS Chronic Disease Prevention Team
AHS Vision for Chronic Condition and Disease Prevention and Management
Canadian Chronic Disease Indicators tool from Stats Canada
Position paper discussing ways to improve collaboration between primary care and mental health
Video of Dr. Richard Lewanczuk discussing the use of a chronic disease model to discuss addiction
Best practice guidelines for managing mental health disorders in pregnancy from Perinatal Services BC
Marginalized Populations & Pregnancy in Canada
Explore how the social determinants of health influence pregnancy and birth outcomes in populations that face significant health inequities. Also discover educational materials for indigenous families and newcomer families.
My post that examines the disparity in infant mortality rates in Alberta
Opinion piece that suggests the use of the term 'marginalized' to describe populations experiencing health inequities
Infographic on inequalities in infant mortality in Canada, produced by Public Health Agency of Canada
HealthCareCAN report that provides direction to healthcare leaders to close the health gap
Collection of Indigenous peoples learning modules from AHS
Collection of indigenous prenatal health resources from Best Start
Video from Evidence Based Birth that discusses health inequities
Evaluation of the CPNP as it relates to pregnant women facing conditions of risk
Strategies for Canadian service providers that work with newcomer families
Healthy pregnancy resource for newcomers to Canada
Maternity Care in Canada - History & Current Context
Explore these resources to get an understanding of the evolution of maternity care in Canada, including current maternity care trends across the country.
A great overview of the history and current status of maternity care in Canada, produced by the Vanier Institute
Health outcomes for mothers and infants in Canada (2005-2015 data)
Canadian survey of women's experiences and perception of pregnancy, birth, and parenting
2014 cost comparison of various maternity care providers in Alberta, produced by ASAC
Review of 3 organizational models of midwifery care in Canada
Statistics on midwife-led birth across Canada, provided by CAM
The Future of Maternity Care
This collection of resources includes reports, research, and opinions on maternity care transformation in Canada and across the globe.
My post that explains why I believe birth in the future will look more like birth in the past
Describes the history of modernization of maternity care, the resultant change in health outcomes, and suggestions to improve birth outcomes
A toolkit to foster interprofessional collaboration in maternity care, produced by Shared Care BC
Position statement of the Canadian Association of Midwives, updated in 2019
New, evidence-based national guidelines for maternity care in Canada from PHAC
A model of interprofessional collaboration (IPC) with clients as active members of the IPC team
App that allows prenatal clients in Alberta to have an active role in mental health care