June 28, 2013
My Health My Community launch
Globe and Mail (photo #14)
VCH launched a campaign to invite the public to help build healthier communities through an online survey.
Measles alert
Bowen Island Undercurrent
There have been three cases of measles on the North Shore, including Bowen Island. With quotes from Dr. Réka Gustafson, VCH’s medical director of communicable disease control.
Shoppers in Bellingham may have been exposed to measles: health officials
Vancouver Sun
Metro Vancouver consumers who shopped south of the border last weekend at Costco in Bellingham or at Bellis Fair may have been exposed to measles.
Hospitals moving to high-tech ways to ensure employees keep their hands clean
Vancouver Sun
Hospitals in the U.S. are turning to technology to ensure staff keep their hands clean.
BC government bodies spent $18.8 million on carbon offsets in 2012
The Tyee
In 2012, the British Columbia government took $5.7 million from health authorities. With mention of VCH spending $1.1 million in carbon offsets.
Thanks for the good death, LGH
North Shore News – Letter
A reader is thankful to Lions Gate Hospital for the care her dying friend received on the palliative care ward.
June 27, 2013
My Health My Community online health survey
Global BC (video)
VCH has launched a new online health survey. Interview with Dr. Jat Sandhu, regional director for Public Health Surveillance at VCH.
West Vancouver to consider rotating weekend road closures for safer longboarding
Vancouver Sun (also appeared in The Province)
On Wednesday night, West Vancouver’s mayor told a public town hall meeting that staff will study ways to improve safety for longboarders, including potentially closing various streets for the sport on rotating weekends. In attendance were Dr. Sam Gutman, an ER physician at Lions Gate Hospital, and Dr. Brian O’Connor, the North Shore’s medical health officer.
Meet Barbara Grantham
Vancouver Sun
An interview with the new CEO of the VGH and UBC Hospital Foundation.
Hospital foundation raising money for new orthopedic equipment
North Shore Outlook
More than 15,000 patients come to Lions Gate Hospital (LGH) with orthopedic-related injuries each year. With quotes from Dr. Alan Baggoo, head of LGH’s department of orthopedic surgery.
Countries eye B.C. harm reduction drug plan
Global BC (also appeared on CTV News)
Delegates from Colombia and Brazil hope to replicate Vancouver’s innovative approach to harm reduction around illegal drug use even as the Canadian government aims to impose stricter rules for opening supervised injection sites. With mention of VCH’s Insite facility.
June 26, 2013
Some ER wait times available online
CKNW
VCH has posted its ER wait times online. With a quote from David Ostrow, CEO of VCH.
Mental health cuts
CKNW Morning News (In Audio Vault at 7 am, click on time bar and drag to 19:05)
The Mood Disorders Association of BC is facing cuts from VCH, which will create more work for health care.
Fees to fund health care raise fairness issue
Vancouver Sun – Letters
In regards to an article written by the Health Minister, a reader says the government should be doing a background review for subsidized care recipients. In regards to the same article, MLA Vicki Huntington says she is skeptical of the maintenance needs that the wheelchair fee was created for.
Safe injection site draws interest from foreign health experts
Globe and Mail
A group of South American health professionals is looking to follow Vancouver’s lead in reducing harm when it comes to injection-drug use.
Report criticized federal drug-control policies
CMAJ website
A report using data from three studies involving a total of 3,800 people who used illicit drugs in Vancouver says municipally managed drug–control measures are working and federal drug–control policies opposing them are deeply flawed.
The failure of Canadian drug policy
Coast Reporter — Opinion
Coastal medical health officer Dr. Paul Martiquet says drug prohibition not only doesn’t work, it wastes valuable public resources that could be better spent on actually helping people.
Health survey has interesting results
CKNW
A survey of North Shore parents found the top three concerns they have about their children are academic performance; their youngsters having too much screen time and quality of education. With a quote from Brian O’Connor, VCH’s North Shore Medical Health Officer.
Crack use in Vancouver has declined since free crackpipe distribution began
Metro News
A 15-year study has shown that crack use in Greater Vancouver has declined since health authorities began distributing free crackpipes and mouthpieces to drug users. With quotes from Dr. Thomas Kerr, co-author of the report and a doctor at St. Paul’s Hospital. With mention of VCH distributing safe crack pipes to users.
How hospital workers solve patient-safety problems on their own
Globe and Mail
Frontline workers are coming up with innovative solutions to provide better safety for patients, including hand hygiene initiatives.
June 25, 2013
Harm reduction more effective than war on drugs, study says
Globe and Mail (Source: CP. Also appeared in the Huffington Post, Global News, The Province, CityNews, CTV News)
A 15-year study of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside says harm reduction has reduced illicit drug use and improved public safety. With quotes from Dr. Thomas Kerr, co-author of the report and a doctor at St. Paul’s Hospital. With mention of VCH’s Insite facility.
Drug harm-reduction strategy cuts number of injection users
Vancouver Sun – Column (Also appeared in the Star Phoenix)
A new report says that Vancouver’s progressive approach to drug addiction over the past 15 years is working.
Brazil and Colombia look to Vancouver for harm reduction drug strategy
Vancouver Sun (Source: CP)
Colombia and Brazil hope to replicate Vancouver’s approach to harm reduction around illegal drug use even as the Canadian government aims to impose stricter rules for opening supervised injection sites. With mention of VCH’s Insite facility.
Injection drug use in Vancouver has been dropping for past 15 years: study
Metro News
Injection drug use has been declining in Greater Vancouver over the past 15 years according to a new study. With quotes from Dr. Thomas Kerr, co-author of the report and a doctor at St. Paul’s Hospital. With mention of VCH’s Insite facility.
UBC gets $35 million donation boost for heart and stroke research
Vancouver Sun
UBC says the money will advance life-saving heart and stroke research and intervention programs already underway at the university.
New study shows federal war on drugs failing in Vancouver
Georgia Straight
A new report on Vancouver’s drug problem highlights the success of harm-reduction strategies and related approaches while suggesting tougher policing has not been effective. With quotes from Dr. Thomas Kerr, co-author of the report and a doctor at St. Paul’s Hospital. With mention of VCH’s Insite facility.
Ottawa throwing roadblocks in way of supervised injection sites: CMA
Canadian Medical Association website|
The Canadian Medical Association isn’t impressed with the federal government tabling legislation that will make it tougher to open supervised drug injection sites in Canada. With mention of VCH’s Insite facility.
Man with mental health issues gets life sentence for stabbing brother’s friend to death
The Province
A man who fatally stabbed an aspiring music producer has been sentenced to life in prison with no parole eligibility for 10 years. Prior to the murder, the man was released from St. Paul’s Hospital where he was being treated for mental illness issues.
Parking boosts hospital budget
Maple Ridge Times
A Maple Ridge resident is starting a group to pressure council to lobby against hospital parking fees. With mention of parking services at VCH and Providence Health.
Doctor needs time for more research on coal shipments
AM 640 (also appeared in CKNW)
VCH’s Chief Medical Health Officer is raising concerns about possible expanded coal shipments in the Fraser River Estuary.
June 24, 2013
Drug harm-reduction strategy cuts number of injection users
Vancouver Sun
A study has found that Vancouver’s progressive harm-reduction strategy is reducing drug use and improving public safety. With mention of the Urban Health Research Initiative led by Dr. Evan Wood and Dr. Thomas Kerr of St. Paul’s Hospital.
St. Paul’s Hospital opens Aboriginal sacred space
CTV News
St. Paul’s Hospital has opened space where Aboriginal patients can hold spiritual ceremonies for traditional healing. With mention of Aboriginal statistics from VCH.
Lake addresses concerns over new wheelchair fee
Vancouver Sun – Letter
In response to an article about an MLA complaining about a new wheelchair fee, Health Minister Terry Lake says the new VCH and Fraser Health fee will benefit seniors in the end.
Seniors’ advocates crying foul
North Shore News – Column
The new fee announced by Fraser Health and VCH for seniors using wheelchairs goes against the goal of making B.C. “the best place on earth for older people.”
Keep out: Vancouver’s goal to ban coal facilities within city limits
Metro News
The city has drafted a bylaw to ban the handling, storage and trans-shipment of coal at marine terminals or berths under the city’s jurisdiction along the Burrard Inlet or the north arm of the Fraser River. With a quote from VCH Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Patricia Daly.
Bennett says core review won’t be done with ‘a big axe’
The Province
Bill Bennett, the cabinet minister responsible for conducting a core review of government services, says he won’t be cutting programs that benefit vulnerable people. With mention of a $25-wheelchair fee being introduced at VCH and Fraser Health.
Victoria orders health authority to roll back wage hikes for managers
Vancouver Sun
The B.C. Health Ministry has ordered the Provincial Health Services Authority to roll back a salary increase given to managers in violation of last year’s government wage freeze.