March 15, 2013
New hospital wing to open next week
Coast Reporter
St. Mary’s Hospital will be opening its new, state of the art medical facility next week. With quotes from Wendy Hansson, chief operating officer at VCH.
Hospital opening a proud moment
Coast Reporter – Editorial
The new St. Mary’s Hospital wing is an achievement that everyone involved should be proud of.
Local philanthropist donates $12 million for mental health treatment centre
Global News
The plans for a new mental health treatment centre are moving forward thanks to a $12-million donation from the Segal family.
Work to start this fall on $82 million mental health centre in Vancouver
Winnipeg Free Press (CP)
Work on an $82-million mental health treatment centre will begin in the fall.
$875,000 in taxpayer funds is only thing flushed down these toilets
The Province
Hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent over the past year on trailers and washrooms for healthcare strikes that never took place.
Electronic records offer hope for better care, pose potential privacy issues
Vancouver Sun
An electronic medical health records system will benefit doctors and patients. With quotes from Anna-Marie D’Angelo, VCH spokesperson and from Dr. Kendall Ho, head of the UBC Faculty of Medicine eHealth Strategy Office.
Bonuses set for rural doctors
Prince George Free Press
The B.C. government and the BCMA are offering a bonus to doctors who relocate to selected rural communities for three years. With mention of funding for general practitioners for Bella Coola and Pemberton.
Can B.C.’s family doctor shortage be solved?
Vancouver Sun
The shortage of family doctors in B.C. has lifted the status of the general practitioner.
Mobile Medical Unit takes on Pemberton’s emergencies
Pique Magazine
While the Pemberton Health Centre undergoes renovations, the Mobile Medical Unit will be available to provide any needed care.
Woman remains in hospital six weeks after West End stabbing attacks
Vancouver Sun
One woman is still in hospital after being stabbed by man who was St. Paul’s Hospital days before the attack.
March 14, 2013
B.C. hospitals on watch for new CRE superbugs
CBC News
Hospitals in B.C. are on alert for a new class of antibiotic-resistant superbugs found in the U.S. With quotes from Dr. Marc Romney, a medical microbiologist at St. Paul’s Hospital.
ER congestion: Since SARS outbreak, ER situation ‘worse’
Kamloops This Week
Since the SARS epidemic 10 years ago, ER waiting times have gotten longer.
It’s time for a saner way of handling the mentally ill than throwing them in jail
Vancouver Sun – Column
A lot of those with legal issues should be under health and social care and not in the court system.
Black boxes in operating rooms: should hospitals copy aviation for safety?
Vancouver Sun
Leaders in health care are considering using devices, similar to black boxes in aircraft, to investigate and prevent medical accidents.
Complaints alarming
The Province – Letter
A reader questions why Whistler is worried about their helipad when ambulance transfer times in most of rural BC are so much longer.
Harm reduction helps
The Province – Letter
A nurse sends a letter defending harm reduction for addicts.
March 13, 2013
Rescue choppers can’t land near hospital
Global BC (video clip)
Single-engine helicopters are unable to land at VCH’s Whistler Health Care Centre. With quotes from Anna Marie D’Angelo, spokesperson for VCH.
What you need to know about mould
Coast Reporter
Dr. Paul Martiquet, a medical health officer for VCH, wrote an article on what you need to know about mould.
Milan and Maureen Ilich set example of giving back to community
Richmond Review – Column
Natalie D. Meixner, president and CEO of Richmond Hospital Foundation, thanks the Milan and Maureen Ilich Foundation for its donations to the hospital. With quotes from Dr. Sharadh Sampath, head of the Department of Surgery at Richmond Hospital.
BAD GOODS: Stores may not be doing all they can to keep expired food off shelves
Capilano Courier
A recent audit has found a high incidence of expired food being sold in grocery stores. With quotes from Dr. Brian O’Connor, North Shore medical health officer with VCH.
Harm reduction just keeps addicts enslaved
The Province – Column
Providing crackpipe kits and safe-injection sites do not help addicts.
Carbon offsets: B.C.’s looniest green scheme yet?
Globe and Mail – Column
Requiring B.C. public institutions to buy carbon offsets is not reducing emissions.
March 12, 2013
ER doctors declare emergency in B.C. hospitals
CBC News
B.C. doctors say that 19 of the busiest emergency rooms have chronic doctor shortages. With quotes from Dr. Alec Ritchie, an emergency physician at Lions Gate Hospital.
Emergency doctors speak out against overcrowding, wait times at B.C. hospitals
Georgia Straight
B.C. doctors are calling for a plan to ensure that there are enough physicians to meet the demand for patients and emergency rooms. With quotes from Dr. Alec Ritchie, an emergency physician at Lions Gate Hospital.
BC emergency physicians declare their own emergency
The Tyee
An article published on the CMAJ website says doctors think it will cost $10 million to solve the overcrowding problem in B.C. emergency departments.
Health care needs work
The Province
A professor at UBC’s School of Nursing sent a letter expressing thanks for an article on referral rules for patients with continuing or chronic conditions.
Singing in tune with good operating room procedure
Vancouver Sun
Two readers sent in letters about surgeons singing in the operating room. One is from a former surgeon who says singing can help the patient relax and another is from a former patient telling his own story of having a “distracted” surgeon.
Why shunning the nurses earns Dix kudos from the union movement
Vancouver Sun – Column
Adrian Dix’s decision not to attend the B.C. Nurses’ Union convention was a wise one.
Pharmacists pitch cure for ailing health care budgets
Vancouver Sun
Pharmacists are proposing a plan that will allow them provide services for minor and some chronic health problems.
March 11, 2013
Heart health – Collaborative rehab program yields positive results
North Shore News
A look at the “transformative” work of the Lions Gate Cardiac Rehab and Cardiometabolic Program. With quotes from Lions Gate Hospital staff.
Battle over coal heats up in Metro Vancouver
Vancouver Observer
The Port of Vancouver is reviewing a plan to allow the Fraser Surrey Docks to construct a coal handling and transfer facility. With mention of a letter from Dr. Patricia Daly, chief medical officer of VCH and Dr. Paul Van Buynder, chief medical officer of Fraser Health.
Farmers’ market coupons can make a difference
Vancouver Sun
The B.C. Association of Farmers’ Market has $1 million worth of coupons to low-income families and seniors across the province. With quotes from Meghan Molnar, a VCH dietitian.