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This report provides a summary of the IHE Biosimilars Forum engagement exercise that took place on October 6, 2016 in Edmonton. The intent of the forum was to inform Alberta biosimilar reimbursement policy by sharing international experiences in this area, and the perspectives of key stakeholders.

The Institute of Health Economics (IHE), in partnership with the Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (CPFF), held a forum on April 25th, 2016 in Toronto, Ontario, entitled Optimizing access to care for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: A multi-stakeholder national forum, to discuss the need for patient-led policy recommendations and a patient charter for idiopathic…

This white paper follows on from the 2016 IHE report, Economic surveillance for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Alberta. It provides a summary of main gaps in COPD care across Canada and, in the context of a broad economic framework, it surveys important examples of programs and policies designed to address these gaps.

“The Canadian Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Patient Charter is a way to call upon policymakers, health care providers and private payers to recognize IPF as a rare, rapidly lethal, chronic disease and to join in the campaign for greater awareness of this illness. The ultimate goal is to improve the overall quality and standards of care and ensure equal access to a continuum…

This report provides the results of an economic surveillance analysis on the components of the Alberta healthcare system that are devoted to COPD prevention and treatment. It focuses on epidemiology (prevalence and incidence), service use, and cost indicators, and identifies gaps in the system that presumably add to the overall economic burden of COPD. PDF of the above image:  IHE…

The purpose of this workshop was to examine COPD management in Canada through presentation of analyses and examples of system supports to action best practices to a select group of clinical leaders and relevant public sector decision makers. The group deliberated, and key themes and policy recommendations from discusssion were captured to form the basis of the final COPD Policy…

PDF of a PowerPoint presentation by Dr. Irvin Mayers, Professor, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Alberta; Chair of the COPD Policy Framework Study Expert Advisory Committee. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Care Canada Policy Workshop

PDF of a PowerPoint presentation by Dr. Arianna Waye, Health Economist, Institute of Health Economics. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Care Canada Policy Workshop

PDF of a PowerPoint presentation by Mr. Michael G. Stewart, Director, Clinical Support Branch, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Care Canada Policy Workshop

PDF of a PowerPoint presentation by Dr. Michael Stickland, Associate Professor, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Alberta; Heart & Stroke Foundation New Investigator. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Care Canada Policy Workshop

PDF of a PowerPoint presentation by Dr. Simon Lessard, Quebec Lung Association Board & Scientific Committee Member, Community Pharmacist. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Care Canada Policy Workshop

PDF of a PowerPoint presentation by Dr. Cathy Clelland, Head of Department of Family Practice, Royal Columbian Hospital; Consultant, General Practitioners Services Committee, British Columbia. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Care Canada Policy Workshop

PDF of a PowerPoint presentation by Mr. Stephen Samis, Vice President, Programs, Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement; and Dr. Graeme Rocker, Professor of Medicine, Dalhousie University; Faculty, Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Care Canada Policy Workshop

  Objective: To increase the use of evidence-informed approaches to diagnosis, investigation, and treatment of headache for patients in primary care. Note: This is an Alberta Ambassador Guideline Adaptation Program related publication.

This White Paper discusses the concept of developing a comprehensive rheumatoid arthritis registry in Alberta, and the important health, social, and economic gains such a resource would generate for Alberta.

  BACKGROUND & AIMS: Infliximab is effective for induction and maintenance of response in patients with moderate to moderately severe ulcerative colitis. Previous cost analyses of infliximab treatment for ulcerative colitis used models of colectomy vs infliximab and response rates derived from early clinical trials. In real life, therapeutic options are more complex; patients…

  OBJECTIVE: To provide Canadian estimates of health care utilization costs associated withrheumatoid arthritis (RA)-related and non-RA-related care within 4 treatment strategies and in different physical functioning categories.

  OBJECTIVE: Sustained remission in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) results in healthcare utilizationcost savings. We evaluated the variation in estimates of savings when different definitions ofremission [2011 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism Boolean Definition, Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) ≤ 3.3, Clinical Disease Activity Index…

  Objectives: To conduct a systematic review of the effectiveness of KT interventions for chronic noncancer pain management.

  Rationale, Aims, and Objectives: The Alberta Ambassador Program (AAP) adapted seven clinical practice guidelines on low back pain (LBP) into a single guideline spanning the continuum of care from prevention and diagnosis through to treatment. The Ambassador adaptation process was evaluated to 1 Identify the major challenges encountered and successful strategies utilized;…

  PURPOSE: This longitudinal study assessed the changes in drug use patterns and health-related quality of life (HRQL) among HIV-positive drug users in the first methadonemaintenance treatment (MMT) cohort in Vietnam.

Alberta STE Report written under contract with the Alberta Health Technologies Decision Process (AHTDP). This report summarizes available key information on the use of bariatric treatments for adult obesity in Alberta and North America (mainly Canada). This analysis was intended to describe the profile of adult obesity (definition, progression, epidemiology, and population dynamics…

  Rationale, Aims, and Objectives: A collaborative, multidisciplinary guideline adaptation process was developed to construct a single overarching, evidence-based clinical practice guideline (CPG) for all primary care practitioners responsible for the management of low back pain (LBP) to curb the use of ineffective treatments and improve patient outcomes. Note: This is an…

  Alberta STE Report written under contract with the Alberta Health Technologies Decision Process (AHTDP). Fecal transplantation for the treatment of Clostridium difficile-associated disease or ulcerative colitis examines the clinical research evidence on the safety and effects of fecal transplantation in the treatment of patients with Clostridium difficile-associated disease…

  Objective: To ascertain knowledge gaps in the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic low back pain (LBP) in the primary care setting to prepare a scoping survey for identifying knowledge gaps in LBP management among Alberta's primary care practitioners, and to identify potential barriers to implementing a multidisciplinary LBP guideline. Note: This is an Alberta Ambassador…

This background document outlines the methods used to develop the Alberta Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for the Evidence-Informed Primary Care Management of Low Back Pain, which was produced as part of the second phase of the Alberta Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Ambassador Program. Link to Alberta Ambassador Guideline Adaptation Program

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…

A successful screening program for cystic fibrosis (CF) refers to the ability of the program to appropriately identify and refer for care those with CF, while meeting the needs of those who do not have CF, particularly those infants identified by the screening program as carriers (individuals unaffected by CF but have a mutation in one of their CFTR genes). Some measures of success…

Institute of Health Economics Working Paper WP 06-01. The purpose of this report is to examine the economic issues associated with LGB. The following analyses were conducted: a systematic review of the economic literature on obesity-related interventions, with special attention to the differences between gastric bypass and gastric banding; an estimate of the Alberta population…

Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Report #37. The aim of this paper is to present the current evidence on the efficacy/effectiveness, safety, and efficiency of gastric electrical stimulation (EnterraTM Therapy System) used for the treatment of patients with severe gastroparesis (GP). Information Specialist: Liz Dennett NOTE: In 2006 the Alberta Heritage…

Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) Information Paper #26. The aim of this study was to determine whether laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is a safe and effective procedure compared with open and/or laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) and laparoscopic vertical banded gastroplasty (LVBG), especially in the longer term (> or = five…

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 Report #35. The objective of this report is to assess the efficacy and safety of using trigger point injection (TPI) to treat patients with chronic non-malignant musculoskeletal pain, based on a systematic review of the current published evidence, and to determine the current state of the procedure, the feasibility of…

Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Report #30. Using the 1996 National Population Health survey data, this report provides an estimate of the prevalence of chronic pain (CP) among Albertans. It was estimated that 11.2% of Albertans suffer some level of CP and about 2.3% suffer from severe CP. As the proportion of individuals suffering from CP increases…

Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Report #29. The aim of this report was to present and critically appraise the published evidence on the prevalence of chronic non-malignant pain in the general population and the primary care setting. A secondary objective was to summarize all the available information in the primary studies about characteristics of pain…

Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Report #22. This review was requested to determine whether conductive education as a learning approach or therapeutic intervention is safe and efficacious for children with disabilities such as cerebral palsy that impact neuromotor functioning. The review also addresses the profile of the child who would benefit from…

Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Report #2. This paper is intended as a short overview of the effectiveness and status of a neurosurgical procedure, posteroventral pallidotomy (PVP), which is used in the treatment of some people with Parkinson's Disease. NOTE: In 2006 the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research HTA unit moved to IHE. Documents…