SNURSE L

The Alaska Native Sisterhood honored Ethel Aanwoogeex’ Lund as a champion of Indigenous health care during a memorial service in Juneau on Friday. Lund died earlier this month at the age of 91.

Lund grew up in Wrangell, the daughter of a Lingít from a prominent family and a Swedish fisherman.

In 1975, she used her influence as an ANS officer to help found the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium, which became one of the largest managed health care organizations. by natives of the country.

“She had a big heart for everyone,” said Marcelo Quinto, who first met Lund at a joint Alaska Native Sisterhood and Brotherhood convention.

“She was a smart girl. And she was determined for sure,” Quinto said. “She was probably one of the nicest people I’ve ever met in my life. She was just a real lady.

Quinto is 81 and recently served with Lund on the board of the Healing Hand Foundation. He says they often shared stories of difficulties getting medical care when they were growing up.

Quinto believes the death of Lund’s mother from tuberculosis fueled his passion for health care.

In an interview two years ago with Sage Smiley on KSTK Radio, Lund opened up about her own battle with tuberculosis while in nursing school in Portland.

“Nowadays it’s enough to take pills once a week,” she said. “I had to stay in hospital for a year and a half in bed. It really made me angry.

Tuberculosis ended his schooling and other dreams. She told Smiley about a boyfriend she had but could only see from her hospital window. It wasn’t long before the boyfriend fell in love and married someone else.

Lund eventually recovered, became a medical transcriptionist, married, and had three children.

In his later years, one of his passions was to integrate traditional and modern medicine. His grandfather took him to the forest to teach him the healing power of plants.

“The Devil’s Club,” she said, “is a magic plant for our people.”

Lund spent his final years at the Sitka Pioneer Home and spoke of his hopes that a new generation of Alaska Native health professionals would incorporate traditional healing into their work.

In 2020, she was named Grand President Emeritus of the Alaska Native Sisterhood. She has also served on the Sealaska Board of Directors and served as Executive Vice President of the Tlingit and Haida Tribes of Alaska.

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You may soon be able to taste some lab-grown meat. The FDA has lab-approved meat for human consumption for the first time.

Today in health care, we’re looking at a new bipartisan bill that two senators hope to pass before the end of the year that could significantly reduce monthly prescription drug costs for Medicare Part D enrollees. .

Welcome to night health care, where we follow the latest developments in policies and news concerning your health. For The Hill, we are Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi. Did someone forward this newsletter to you?

Bill would reduce Rx costs for some seniors

Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) on Wednesday introduced a bill that would allow those enrolled in the All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) program to choose their plan of drug coverage under Medicare Part D and save more on monthly drug costs.

PACE is a Medicare/Medicaid program that provides medical and social services through a team of medical professionals that enrollees have regular access to, with the goal of avoiding placement in a nursing home.

The problem to solve: Individuals enrolled in PACE must currently obtain their Medicare Part D covered drugs through the program. Joining another Medicare drug plan means opting out of PACE benefits.

• Carper and Cassidy’s bill, the PACE Part D Choice Act, would allow PACE recipients to enroll in standalone drug plans not operated by the program. It would also make beneficiaries eligible for drug plans subject to the $2,000 annual cap that was instituted by the Cut Inflation Act earlier this year.
• “PACE participants in Delaware and across the country face rising prescription drug costs every time they need a refill for their life-saving medications. It makes no sense that these older Americans can’t choose which Medicare Part D plan is best for them financially,” Carper said in a statement.

The legislation, if passed, would require PACE to inform beneficiaries of their options for prescription drug plans outside of the program and help facilitate enrollment.

Under the current rules, PACE recipients have an average monthly premium of $1,015.03, according to lawmakers. The senators estimated that their bill would save PACE participants an average of $972.03 per month on prescription drugs, which would translate to an average monthly payment of $43.

Learn more here.

Coalition calls for increased CDC oversight

The Health Innovation Alliance on Tuesday called on congressional leaders to pass legislation that would increase the accountability of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other public health agencies.

“Not only has the CDC received significant additional funding for the COVID-19 response, but the agency has failed to update and modernize its response plans and systems as required by Congress in 2006, and again twice since,” the band executive said. Director Joel White wrote in a letter to key legislators.

White urged Congress to “ensure that the CDC does not use the additional funding to duplicate successful work already underway in the private sector” and to prevent the agency from demanding “unnecessary reports” from the agencies. national and local health.

“Instead, the CDC should focus on taking concrete steps to ensure that data flows both to the agency but also to providers, frontline health workers and public health entities that need it for treatment and response,” White added.

• The CDC has come under scrutiny amid the COVID-19 pandemic, receiving criticism for slow responses and unclear guidance, among other missteps.
• Following an extensive internal review, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said earlier this year that the agency needed to speed up its response time, simplify its communication with the public and adopt other changes to ensure that it fulfills its mission.

Learn more here.

FDA WARNS AGAINST TOY-LIKE PRODUCTS TARGETING CHILDREN

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday warned several e-cigarette makers to stop selling vapes and other products that look like toys and appeal to children.

The FDA told the five companies – Wizman Limited, Shenzhen Fumot Technology, Shenzhen Quawins Technology, Ruthless Vapor and Moti Global – to stop selling e-cigarettes designed to look like glow sticks, Nintendo Game Boys and walkie-talkies, or imitate foods such as popsicles.

“The designs of these products are an utterly blatant attempt to target children,” Brian King, director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, said in a statement. “It’s hard to suggest that adults using e-cigarettes for the purpose of quitting smoking need a cartoon character on the front of the product to do so successfully.”

But what kind of impact FDA warning letters have on compliance is unclear.

Wizman had previously received a warning letter in 2020 regarding his product which imitated the Nintendo Game Boy – one of the same products Wizman had been reprimanded for in Wednesday’s letter.

Learn more here.

1B AT RISK OF HEARING LOSS DUE TO DEVICES AND LOUD PLACES: STUDY

According to a new study published in the journal BMJ Public Health, Compiled with results from over 30 different studies, up to 1.35 billion adolescents and young adults worldwide are potentially at risk of hearing loss due to exposure to headphones, earphones and places loud music venues such as clubs or concerts.

All studies were published between 2000 and 2021 and included people aged 12 to 34.

The findings indicate “an urgent need to prioritize policies focused on safe listening,” the authors wrote, noting that recreational noise exposure is a modifiable risk factor for hearing loss.

The results also come a month after the United States authorized the sale of hearing aids over the counter at retailers like Walgreens, Walmart and CVS.

Acceptable volumes for personal listening devices are around 80 decibels (dB) for adults and 75 dB for children. However, some users may choose to listen to content as loud as 105 dB. Meanwhile, average sound levels in entertainment venues range from 104 to 112 dB, according to the researchers.

Learn more here.

American transgender people face an ‘epidemic of violence’

At least 32 transgender and gender non-conforming people have been killed since the start of the year, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) reported on Wednesday, bringing to more than 300 the number of violent deaths recorded by the group during the last decade.

At least 302 transgender people have been killed in the United States since 2013, when the FBI began reporting hate crimes motivated by anti-transgender bias, the HRC said Wednesday. in an annual report.

• More than 85% of the victims tracked by the group over the past decade were people of color, of which about 69% were black and
  15 percent who were Latino. More than three-quarters, or 77%, were under 35 years old.
• At least two-thirds of violent deaths of transgender people recorded since 2013 involved a firearm, according to the HRC report. Gun Control Group Everytown for Gun Safety recently found that 73% of transgender homicides since 2017 involved a firearm.

Wednesday’s report also comes at the end of a year in which state lawmakers have introduced at least 145 bills aimed at restricting the rights of transgender youth. At least 17 have become law in 13 states, according to the HRC.

The release of Wednesday’s HRC report coincides with Transgender Awareness Week, observed annually from November 13 and leading up to Transgender Remembrance Day on November 20, which commemorates victims of deadly violence.

Learn more here.

WHAT WE READ

• Amid Adderall shortages, people with ADHD face withdrawal and despair (New York Times)
• Pediatricians are asking for more federal help to fight the surge of RSV (Call)
• Covid deaths and hospitalizations are falling in the United States (BNC News)

STATE BY STATE

• South Dakota embraced Medicaid expansion. And after? (PBS NewsTime)
• Struggle for health care minimum wage results in split decision in Southern California (California Healthline)
• The Abortion Election: Democrats bet on abortion politics to win the midterm elections. It worked. (The times of the ceiling)

THE OP-ED HILL

An Unexpected Midterm Winner: Public Health

That’s all for today, thanks for reading. Discover The Hill’s Healthcare page for the latest news and coverage. Until tomorrow.

The 53rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Dinner will be held Saturday at the Cotillion Banquets in Palatine.

This year’s event will focus on “Heeding Dr. King’s Call for Equity in Health Care”.

At a 1966 meeting in Chicago, King addressed the health care inequalities experienced by black people. Those disparities persist in communities of color today and have been accentuated by the COVID-19 pandemic, said Chris Mier, president of MLK Dinner.

“The huge disparity in experience in providing medical services, whether through public or private healthcare providers, is considerable,” Mier said. “Continued exposure to trauma is truly creating an urgent national mental health crisis (in) communities of color.”

Guest speakers include Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, based in Washington, DC, who will deliver the keynote address, and Timothy Killeen, president of the University of Illinois system.

Organizers will honor Harper College President Avis Proctor and Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck, Executive Director of the Cook County Department of Public Health, for their role in promoting equity in health care during the pandemic.

Many local hospitals rely heavily on graduates of the Palatine College nursing program to fill positions, Mier said.

And during the pandemic, Hasbrouck advised Fortune 500 companies on virus mitigation and safe reopening strategies. He previously served as executive director of the National Association of County and City Health Officials, which represents 3,000 local health departments.

The MLK Dinner is hosted by the Illinois Commission on Diversity and Human Relations. About 700 people are expected.

Election firsts

A large number of candidates from minority communities were elected to positions across the state on November 8. And there were many firsts among them.

State Rep. Delia Ramirez became the first Latina in Illinois’ congressional delegation, after winning the 3rd congressional district seat; State Representative-elect Hone Huynh became the first Vietnamese American member of the Illinois General Assembly; and elected state representative Abdelnasser Rashid is the first Palestinian American to be elected to the state legislature, representing the 21st House District.

Also, Nabeela Syed, 23, from the Palatine, became the first Native American woman and one of the first Muslims, along with Rashid, to be elected to the General Assembly. Syed will represent the 51st State House District.

Esiah Campos of Round Lake Beach became the first Latino and youngest member of the Lake County Board. He will represent District 16, which focuses on Round Lake’s four communities that are heavily Hispanic in west-central Lake County.

Muslim success stories

The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago celebrates 30 years of serving the region’s more than 400,000 Muslims at its annual gala, scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday, in the Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency O’Hare, 9300 Bryn Mawr , Rosemont.

During the event, the organizers will present the Muslim Achiever Award to four community leaders for their contributions in various fields. The winners are:

• Dr. Sameer Vohra, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. Vohra is a general pediatrician and an interdisciplinary leader in state and national health policy formulation. He now focuses his efforts on improving health outcomes in central and southern Illinois.

• Naheed Qureshi, formerly of Libertyville, Policy Partnerships Manager for Instacart and member of President Joe Biden’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. She was co-founder and then deputy director of Muslim Advocates, a national civil rights organization.

• Rashad Hussain, Goodwill Ambassador for the Office of International Religious Freedom. Hussain leads efforts to monitor religious freedom abuses, persecution, and discrimination around the world. He was appointed by former President Barack Obama to serve as Special Envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Special Envoy for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications, and Deputy Associate Counsel for the White House.

• Fatima Abueid, founder of Chicago-based Sanad Community Services & Sanad Food Pantry, will receive the Dr. Bambade Shakoor-Abdullah Award for Civic Engagement. She was honored in 2021 as Chicago Woman of the Year for Human Services for helping communities on the southwest side of the city.

The council is made up of more than 60 member organizations, including mosques, Islamic schools and community groups. For more information, visit ciogc.org.

LGBTQ Advisory Council

Last week, Aurora City Council named the first members of the city’s new Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Advisory Council.

“It’s been a long journey that we’ve all been on, but we’re here and we’re going to do a great job with this,” said 21-year-old Adam Pauley, the youngest board member.

Members appointed to the nine-member advisory board include Zachary Bishop, Brittney Borowicz-Keller, Sean Li, Briana Moss, Ivan Quinones, Paulene Spika, Michael Vargas and Frederick Yanos. He will advise the city regarding the needs of Aurora’s LGBTQ community, as well as:

• Organize, support or promote events recognizing June as Pride Month.

• Encourage education, advocacy and community engagement of LGBTQ youth.

• Help promote greater cross-cultural awareness and understanding of the LGBTQ community.

• Recommend actions to improve the overall quality of life of the LGBTQ community.

• Coordinate and participate in educational programs for the LGBTQ community.

The council will be managed by the Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs, which leads the city’s equity and inclusion initiatives.

Corporate gala

The Arab-American Business & Professional Association of Illinois will host its annual gala Friday at the Esplanade Lakes by Doubletree, 3500 Lacey Road in Downers Grove.

The reception will begin at 6:00 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:00 p.m. It will feature some of the country’s top Arab-American civic, business and entertainment leaders.

Special guests include ABC 7 Chicago anchor Diane Pathieu, a Syrian-Lebanese American; Palestinian American comedian Amer Zahr; Palestinian American mixed martial artist Belal “Remember the Name” Muhammad, who competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight division; Khalil Ismail, owner of Al Bawadi Grill; Talat Othman, chairman of Grove Financial Inc. and founding chairman of the ABPA; and ABPA President Rush Darwish.

The gala will benefit the association’s new Economic Development Center. The association will launch the center and a Community Retail Association in January to benefit the local community and minority-owned businesses. The association will also launch a new Middle East and North Africa-owned business registration website, weMENAbiz.comin the new year.

• Share stories, news and happenings from the Suburban Mosaic at mkrishnamurthy@dailyherald.com.

In the space of 10 days in 2008, Nick Poch went from a patrol in Iraq to a full day of nursing classes at the University of Iowa.

It was a transition, to say the least.

“We did our homecoming ceremony on Saturday, and the following Monday I was in class for eight hours learning pharmacology and pathophysiology,” Poch explains.

Poch has deployed three times with the Army National Guard – twice to lead a platoon tasked with disposing of roadside bombs in Iraq and once to conduct security checks in Afghanistan. He graduated from MSN between deployments and started with UI Health Care in 2011 as a nurse.

Poch was with his younger brother, Joe, during his first deployment to Iraq in 2005. Serving in separate platoons, they conducted route clearance from inside an armored vehicle known as the “Buffalo”.

Nick Poch, DNP, RN, MBA, VA-BC, is currently the Acting Director of Centralized Functions and Acting Deputy Director of Quality in the Department of Nursing. Joe Poch, PA-C, joined the UI Organ Transplant Center in 2012 as a medical assistant and is still active at the rank of major in the Iowa National Guard.

Having both worked at UI Health Care for over 10 years now, the brothers continue to draw on their experiences in the military to better serve the teams they work with, patients and families.

Along the way, they carry a unique perspective.

“After our deployments, the people on the other side, they just listened to us,” says Nick Poch. “Now it’s our turn to listen to people as they go through trauma and their worst days.”

Deactivation of bombs in Iraq

Risk and fear were part of the job as Nick Poch climbed into “the Buffalo” and set off for another night of roadside bombings in western Iraq.

In these road-clearing operations, Poch would lead about 30 troops spread over at least five vehicles. His primary role was to instruct the platoon, including the soldier controlling their vehicle’s robotic arm used to disconnect the wires leading to the improvised explosive device.

“I was really scared every day for my life,” Poch says. “I was scared. With some of the named operations, I was even more nervous because we were going towards a specific action.

The Poch brothers, who grew up in Riverside, disabled hundreds of bombs on separate teams during their time in Iraq. Both feel lucky that the explosions they suffered – either triggered by approaching insurgents or exploding during an attempt to incapacitate them – did not cause them injuries more serious than concussions.

The brothers are two of more than 100 veterans currently employed by UI Health Care.

“We had some hard knocks and we tempted fate,” says Joe Poch. “It really puts everything into perspective.”

The Poch brothers on their first tour of Iraq.

Trust and communication are the keys to success

Whether it’s a combat mission or bedside patient care, trust is critical to team success, the brothers say.

“I have to trust that I can rely on my teammates, not just to do their job, but to be connected and aligned with me,” Nick Poch says. “I can’t do my job without you, and vice versa. This element of trust is at the heart of your operation.

Nick Poch says he’s seen many examples over the years of how investing time and energy in your teammates can build trust. This often results in stronger relationships and safer environments. Those daily interactions with teammates that help build trust are under everyone’s control, he says.

Effective communication is another key to success in both the military and health care, the brothers say. Soldiers receive training on a concept called “BLUF,” which stands for Bottom Line Up Front. In other words, share the most important information first and avoid including unnecessary context.

The Poch brothers say this type of clear and effective communication is essential during critical situations in both areas. In some cases, lives can be in danger if there is miscommunication.

“What should we do and how should we achieve it? said Joe Poch. “We don’t need to water it down. How can we better serve the patient? »

Learn to stay calm under pressure

The Poch brothers knew adversity would strike during their deployments. They have been trained to do their job to the best of their abilities, whatever the situation.

They both had to learn how to best adapt to changing circumstances.

Prior to each route clearing mission, Nick Poch would review intelligence, draw up an operation plan and prepare his platoon. But once inside the “Ox”, he received new information via his helmet, including on possible threats in the region.

There are similarities to healthcare, the brothers say, such as when test results change the course of a patient’s treatment or if a patient goes into cardiac arrest. Training is key in these times, understanding not just your role, but the roles of your teammates.

“You deal with stressful situations,” says Joe Poch. “Ultimately, you’re trained to keep a cool head, assess the situation, and determine the best course of action, whether it’s for your patient, your team, or the unit.”

🚫 It shouldn’t be necessary to say it, but don’t lick the toads, especially poisonous ones. The National Park Service asks everyone “please refrain from licking” anything they encounter in national parks.

In health news, the federal government will soon stop paying for COVID-19 tests, treatments and vaccines, and it will likely come as a shock to people who don’t realize this is happening.

Welcome to night health care, where we follow the latest developments in policies and news concerning your health. For The Hill, we are Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi. Did someone forward this newsletter to you?

Why you may soon have to pay for this COVID test

The federal government is set to stop paying for COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatments in the coming months, shifting the costs from taxpayers to individual patients.

Experts say most Americans are unaware this will happen and will be in for a major case of sticker shock. They warn that without additional protections and funding, the transition to commercialized preventive treatments and services will lead to barriers to health.

• Instead of free access to tests and treatments like Paxlovid, insurance companies and manufacturers will set the price.
• The days of free and easily accessible COVID-19 testing will also come to an end. Private insurance may no longer cover over-the-counter tests, and patients may first need a prescription for a PCR test.

Vaccines will still be free for those with private insurance, although the cost is likely reflected in premiums. Even with insurance, patients will likely see costs if they go to an out-of-network provider.

But the biggest impact will be on uninsured or underinsured Americans, many of whom have jobs that put them at greater risk of exposure to COVID-19.

Reflection of a larger system: “The way it works in the United States [right now] is actually more similar to how a lot of healthcare works in other countries as well,” said Cynthia Cox, insurance expert and vice president of the Kaiser Family Foundation.

“But when the public health emergency ends, it will start to look like health care in the United States, which is that it’s complicated and it costs a lot of money.”

Learn more here.

Rise in RSV hits children’s hospitals across US

Children’s hospitals across the country are dealing with an increase in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases, stressing health services and millions of parents with sick children.

RSV is a common and usually mild illness, but millions of children are at risk later in life due to the coronavirus pandemic. Babies locked up during the pandemic did not catch RSV, and now children born just before or during the pandemic are catching it en masse.

What suppliers see:

• “We see older patients who are admitted with RSV because they simply haven’t seen it before. And your first illness is usually the worst and results in more people being hospitalized,” said Jason Newland, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Washington University in St. Louis.
• “Cases continue to rise and we haven’t seen a spike yet,” said Caroline Njau, senior vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer at Children’s Minnesota. “And RSV itself accounts for about two-thirds of the respiratory viral illnesses we see.”

Systemic issues: Healthcare providers who spoke with The Hill agreed that this recent RSV surge has highlighted issues within the US pediatric healthcare system, old and new.

Newland said there are concerns that children’s hospitals are understaffed, which could lead to a situation where some services like non-emergency surgeries are delayed, as happened during the most challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Another problem providers cite is the lack of capacity in children’s hospitals. Stephen Dolter, division chief of pediatric hospital medicine at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center of Nebraska, said his main concern during this virus surge was running out of space.
• “We will do everything we can to get them into the hospital, whether that means turning the hospital playrooms into treatment rooms or turning our emergency department into an inpatient unit,” Dolter said.

Learn more here.

PFIZER: THE NEW BOOSTER PROTECTS BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL FOR SENIORS

The companies said the data showed that clinical trial participants over the age of 55 who received the bivalent booster targeting omicron BA.4/BA.5 had antibody levels nearly four times higher than those who received received the original reminder.

The results are based on blood samples taken from adults one month after receiving single doses of the updated booster or the first version of the vaccine.

Rollback: The firing was authorized without human data.

The number of study participants was small. Only 36 people received the new booster and 40 received the old one.

Federal health officials are banking on the updated vaccine as a crucial part of the administration’s COVID-19 response. As the weather turns cold, officials are trying to convince people to get the updated vaccine to avert another wave of serious infections and deaths.

But two months after the administration first authorized the shootings, adoption has been low. According to federal data, less than 9% of Americans have received one. Officials blame pandemic fatigue and a lack of resources to fully promote the snaps.

Learn more here.

MANCHIN CALLS FOR AGREEMENT ON SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICAL INSURANCE AND MEDICAID

Centrist Sen. Joe Manchin (DW.Va.) on Thursday called for broad bipartisan agreement to protect the solvency of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, popular programs that will face serious funding challenges in the coming months. decades.

“You will put your financial affairs in order. We can’t live with this crippling debt,” Manchin, whose crucial vote both delayed and helped push through big pieces of President Biden’s agenda, told Fortune’s Alan Murray at a CEO conference. .

“If we don’t look at the trust funds that are going bankrupt, whether it’s Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, the highway, all of those — there are huge problems right now,” Manchin said when was asked where he saw potential areas. compromise in Washington after the November 8 midterm elections.

If Manchin continues to push for a bipartisan deal to shore up Social Security and Medicare finances, he may have a negotiating partner in Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) , which has proposed sweeping rights reform on several occasions.

Learn more here.

Lawmakers push to end maternal health crisis

The Black Maternal Health Caucus led discussions on the legislation. The caucus was created in 2019 to address the drastic racial disparities that exist for pregnant black women. Despite proposing a 12-package law of protections for pregnant women, most of the caucus laws did not pass.

The Momnibus Black Maternal Health Act of 2021 called for recognizing and addressing the social determinants of health, funding community organizations, diversifying the perinatal workforce, and other key provisions. But so far, only part of the package has been signed into law by President Biden – the Protecting Moms Who Served Act.

This particular law commissions the first-ever in-depth study of America’s maternal health crisis among female veterans while supporting maternal care programs at Department of Veterans Affairs facilities.

• Still, Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.), one of the main sponsors of the “Momnibus” bill and founder and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, said the caucus is pleased with the progress made so far. .
• “We have incredible momentum,” Underwood told The Hill. “Eighty percent of the rest of the Momnibus was included in Build Back Better and we worked with our Senate colleagues to find a way to put a vehicle in place for the Momnibus. And I feel very optimistic right now.

Recently, the Maternal Immunization Act, which would fund programs to increase maternal immunization rates, was passed with bipartisan support in the House.

But with days to go before the midterm, legislative talks were suspended, though the caucus worked with Sen. Cory Booker (DN.J.), the Senate bill’s lead, to tie up the rest of the package. to another vehicle. hoping to pass.

Learn more here.

WHAT WE READ

• A ‘blank cheque’: A bill to spur antibiotic development touted as a ‘flawed’ gift to the pharmaceutical industry (Statistical)
• A treatment approved in Europe to prevent RSV in infants may soon be coming to the United States (CNN)
• For Republican candidates, talking about moms and babies is a thorny issue (Kaiser Health News)

STATE BY STATE

• The Rio Grande Valley Abortion Clinic was purchased by an anti-abortion pregnancy center (Texas Grandstand)
• Florida could surpass record number of Affordable Care Act enrollments in 2023 (Tampa Bay Weather)
• Colorado and Idaho pull out of national survey that tracks adolescent mental health (KUNC)

🏎 Lighter Click on: The hills Pictures of the week

That’s all for today, thanks for reading. Discover The Hill’s Healthcare page for the latest news and coverage. See you next week.

“We need to focus on access to health care and expand Medicaid,” says Barb Nash.

Nash, one oneAdvanced Practice Registered Nurse and Adjunct Professor at USC Beaufort is running as a Democrat for the SC House of Representatives in District 124 in the Nov. 8 election.

She has her registered nursing degree from Christ Hospital School of Nursing, and a master’s and bachelor’s degree in nursing from The Ohio State University.

She has never held public office but ran for District 124 in 2020.

The Island Packet sent out questionnaires to all contenders in contested races. Candidates were asked to limit their responses to 150 words per question.

Here are Nash’s responses:

What are your main challenges for this campaign?

1. Improve access to health care in South Carolina through Medicaid expansion, increase primary care providers by removing barriers to advanced practice nurses, and improve health care for women, including women having access to legal and safe abortions without restrictions.

2. Safer communities by providing law enforcement with the support they need and equipping them with the resources to deal with the issues they face in today’s world. Implement gun safety laws and close the Charleston loophole.

3. Fully fund public education and provide a solid public education for all children so they are ready to live their best lives, and improve teachers’ working conditions and pay.

4. Combating the threats of climate change for the Lowcountr.

5. Protect our voting rights by removing arbitrary barriers.

6. Pass a hate crimes bill.

What issues affecting the district will be addressed in the next legislative session?

The 2023 legislative session in South Carolina must complete unfinished business from 2022 and address new initiatives. Budget and spending are a concern as the new tax cut takes effect, and lawmakers need to determine what revenue is available to fund needed social programs, infrastructure and education.

Hopefully we will achieve full funding for public education and reform that allows teachers to do their job without wasting time on bureaucratic duties. South Carolina is one of two states without a hate crimes bill and I anticipate that this legislation will be reintroduced and eventually enacted.

We need to focus on access to health care and expand Medicaid so that people currently at risk of financial ruin are assured of a safety net.

Should the state use public money to create scholarship accounts to allow parents to send their children to private schools?

All children deserve access to a solid, quality public education. Private schools have their place in our state, but public money (taxpayer money) should never be used to fund them. If private schools have an endowment, they are free to offer scholarships from their own funds. Instead, we must fully fund public education from universal K-12, which we have never done. We have teacher flights to South Carolina, because between 5,000 and 7,000 teachers leave each year.

We need to hire the best teachers we can find, pay them well, improve the facilities they work in, reduce class sizes, and provide statewide broadband. Siphoning off public money for private schools contributes to the continued decline of the public education system and keeps South Carolina ranked 46th in education in the nation. Our children deserve better!

Should SC ban abortion? What exceptions, if any, should there be for an abortion ban?

Abortion is a health care procedure performed for a variety of reasons and should never be prohibited or restricted in any way. Criminalization and restrictive abortion laws prevent health care providers from doing their jobs properly and providing the best care options to their patients, in accordance with good medical practice and their professional ethical responsibilities. Pregnancy is complicated and the development of the fetus is not always a smooth and perfect process. Abortion bans endanger health care for those who do not seek abortions, such as women who experience an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage, and the bans are a slippery slope toward banning certain forms birth control.

For women who are denied an abortion, household poverty increases and often entails difficulty finding housing, food and escaping abuse. Bans do not stop abortions. They just make them less safe and more women die. Women deserve the right to bodily autonomy without government interference.

The Green Space Sales Tax Referendum is also on the ballot for Beaufort County voters. Do you support the statewide effort to fund conservation efforts with sales taxes?

Yes, I support green space conservation funding as long as the money goes to its intended use. We need to preserve areas that will remain intact and contribute to the quality of life in the county. This proposal is an example of a true bipartisan initiative that not only benefits our county but also our state.

Is there anything that can be done at the state level to address the shortage of affordable housing in the Lowcountry?

The South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 31 – Housing and Redevelopment, Chapter 22, Section 31-22-10(B), addresses affordable housing. However, the purpose of this chapter is to authorize a local government to establish and manage, individually or jointly, a local housing trust fund or a regional housing trust fund in order to promote the development of affordable housing. Recently, eight cities and towns and counties…signed on to invest $10 million over the next 10 years to find and build affordable and workforce housing in the region. This example of cooperation and coordination is a great start, but it still takes land, money and developers to come together to build truly affordable housing for our families and workers.

At the state level, measures can be adopted through the tax system to provide incentives to developers, but also to provide tax credits to future owners. For example, in South Carolina, the allocation of low-income housing tax credits is limited below what we are allowed at the federal level. We could also launch a basic state tenant assistance program to help young families meet their housing needs. We need a willingness to work together – state, counties and local municipalities – to solve this problem.

WORCESTER – About 2,770 nurses and health care workers from several hospitals in the UMass Memorial Health System have ratified new contracts in recent months, offering pay increases of between 8% and 19.5%, depending on the institution and the contract length.

“Our UMass nurses and healthcare professionals have been the backbone of Worcester area hospitals since the pandemic began in early 2019. But those same professionals have also been overstretched and often burnt out,” Katie Murphy, a registered nurse and president of the Massachusetts Nurses Association, said in a statement Friday announcing the ratifications.

“Too many patients, too few resources and insufficient compensation forced them off the bedside,” Murphy added. “But with overdue improvements like those seen in these UMass contracts, we expect nurses to come back and stay at the bedside – something our local communities need.”

Related:Nurses at St. Vincent’s Hospital overwhelmingly approve contract, officially ending strike

Contracts involving nurses and medical professionals were ratified June 29 at the Memorial and Hahnemann campuses of UMass Memorial Medical Center; September 29 at UMass Memorial Medical Center – University Campus; July 28 at Marlborough Hospital; and Sept. 7 at the Clinton Campus of UMass Memorial HealthAlliance – Clinton Hospital.

Clinton and Marlborough hospitals ratified two-year contracts, while UMass Memorial contracts were for three years.

“Every day, we are moved by the compassion, resilience and professionalism of our nursing staff, who continue to provide exceptional care to all of our patients and their loved ones,” Justin Precourt, who is a registered nurse and head nurse / chief nursing vice president of patient care services at UMass Memorial Medical Center and chief nursing officer at UMass Memorial Health, said in a statement.

“We are excited to have these newly ratified contracts in place, which will bolster critical recruitment and retention efforts for our system and support our talented clinical teams to improve patient outcomes,” Precourt said. “Given the pervasive economic challenges of the healthcare industry, we are grateful to our nurses for engaging in amicable negotiations throughout this process.

“We look forward to continuing to partner with them to create a work environment that values ​​the contributions, well-being and growth of our nurses. »

Luis Garcia, MD, FACS, MBA, president of the clinic at Sanford Health, will join the HealthLeaders The Way Forward Leadership Summit as a panelist October 20-21, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. The two-day summit brings together 30 healthcare system leaders – CEOs, CFOs, CMOs, chief executives and CIOs – to discuss strategies to address current challenges facing healthcare systems and the way forward .

The Way Forward will be the most widely distributed content Health Leaders has published.

Garcia was invited to participate in a roundtable with clinical leaders from health systems across the country, including Jordan Asher, MD, executive vice president and chief medical officer of Sentara Healthcare, Hoda Asmar, MD, executive vice president and CMO of the system for Providence, Eric Eskioğlu, MD, executive vice president and chief medical and scientific officer of Novant Health and Janet Tomcavage, executive vice president and chief nursing officer of Geisinger Health.

The roundtable will be an opportunity for clinical leaders to share their perspectives on a range of topics, including how systems partner with population health initiatives, recruitment and retention strategies, investments in digital health and new models of care delivery.

“It is an honor to join such accomplished and respected healthcare leaders to discuss solutions to the challenges we all face,” said Garcia. “I’m proud of Sanford Health’s ongoing journey to transform the healthcare experience and provide access to world-class care for our patients. »

As President of Sanford Health’s Clinical Division, Garcia oversees governance, recruitment and retention, clinician wellness initiatives, and overall clinic development and integration for physicians and advanced practice providers. .

Garcia has worked for Sanford Health since 2002 and is a board-certified surgeon specializing in advanced laparoscopic and bariatric surgeries. He is a strong advocate for Sanford Health in health care policy development and serves on several important industry boards and committees, including the International Esperanza Project, American Medical Group Association, Leadership South Dakota and Morrison Family College of Health.

Health

As mainstream health services struggle to keep up with demand, an initiative by Ngāi Tahu on the west coast of the South Island sees treatment offered to all comers

Could this be the way of the future for small towns with declining services?

Health care provided by Maori organizations that bring it to the people?

Everyone, that is, not just tangata whenua.

It’s an idea whose time has come, say organizers of a ‘Wellness Day’ novel in Reefton this month.

Poutini Waiora, a health and social service provider from Ngāi Tahu who has been supporting west coast whānau for 21 years, reached out to the wider community last week with an expo-style multi-clinic at the town hall.

“Come join us for a free health check,” the posters read.

And the people of Reefton – more used to losing health services than seeing them coming to their doorsteps – jumped at the chance.

“About 200 people showed up during the day, which is not bad for a town of 900 people. It shows there is a real need out there,” says organizer Tess Hunter.

Hunter and her husband Tony Manuel, both community veterans, encounter much of this need daily in Reefton.

“People have been going through a really anxious time in the last year or so since Covid. We didn’t have a GP over the winter due to shortages of locums so it was a way of saying we care and can help.

The event brought together the services of Maori and traditional providers.

“Services are there but many are 80km away in Greymouth or Westport. And rural folks may not even know they exist,” says Hunter.

At the Reefton event, blood pressure and diabetes checks, peak flow tests for asthma, child checks, advice on breast and bowel screening, green prescriptions , mental health support and Covid or flu shots were offered at the Reefton event.

Surprised locals were greeted with non-clinical offers including free hand knits and activity packs for children. Sausages, hot drinks and soup were also available.

“A man drove his 90-year-old mother from Maruia in the snow for her Covid recall. They were happy to have a cup of tea after that,” says Hunter.

Vaccinators ran out of boosters, administering 30 shots during the day, and the gut screening nurse distributed 10 test kits, a significant number for the small town.

“A young mum told me that she brought up a few things with Tamariki Ora’s nurse that she didn’t feel comfortable telling anyone, I think because she felt felt comfortable and welcome.”

Regular rehearsals

The plan now is to make Reefton Wellness Day a quarterly event, Hunter says.

In the past, Poutini Waiora has held such events at Arahura marae and Hokitika to cater to the higher numbers of tangata whenua in these areas.

“Our first priority is Maori, but the well-being of the whole community is important,” says Dianna McLean, team leader for Poutini Waiora in Westport.

The organization has contracts for services ranging from community mental health to truancy and its staff are a mix of Maori and Pākehā.

“We don’t turn people away just because they’re not Maori. We have a percentage allocation for non-Maori in our budgets and mainstream services are currently in shock.”

Practicing Māori tikanga means teams start the day with karakia and put clients’ needs first, new experiences for staff previously employed in the mainstream health sector, she says.

“Our new mental health worker is from Finland. He asked me how long his appointments were supposed to last. We told him, ‘As long as it takes.’ He was blown away by it.

Poutini Waiora administrator Joan Blacktopp says the success of Reefton Wellbeing Day shows what is lacking in rural health services.

“It filled real gaps. Many people avoid going to GP clinics. It’s all formal and they have to pay, so they’re less likely to go get their blood pressure or diabetes checked.

The result, as a surgeon leaving Greymouth observed, is that many West Coasters only turn to the health system in an emergency or with advanced illness that could have been detected by routine checks. .

Greater things are calling

The success of Reefton Wellness Day is now causing some locals to wonder if some bigger things could also be better handled with a tikanga Māori approach.

“The DHB closed our nursing home and sent our elderly to die away from home – now they are coming back in wooden boxes,” says Ali Caddy, local businessman and health representative.

“Nurses want to work here – we know that – but the DHB is diverting them to Greymouth or Hokitika because there is a national shortage of nurses. We are just not their priority.

Graeme Neylon, a former member of a primary health organization and Buller adviser, said as part of health reforms the government has asked West Coast councils to take the lead in consulting communities on services of health they need and who should provide it.

“Reefton, Westport and Karamea all had a raw deal with the former Greymouth-based DHB system. But under this pilot program, we have a chance to make a fresh start, to structure things from the bottom up.

“It’s not like we’re going to find a local surgeon or anything, but if organizations like Poutini Waiora are already doing the mahi we need and doing it well, we can say they should be funded to extend their services to places like Reefton.”

Coastal councils should start working on health consultation in the near future, now that local elections are over, says Neylon.

Produced with the support of the Fund for Public Interest Journalism

Spokane appears to be returning to more routine days and more routine health care as the COVID pandemic fades from front-page news. Many people have delayed care during the pandemic. Demand rebounded as people returned to their doctors’ offices to catch up on routine healthcare needs such as cancer screenings, minor surgeries, wellness checkups and vaccinations.

Today, getting treatment doesn’t just mean making an appointment and driving to the doctor. In fact, many of your health needs can be addressed at home with what’s known as “telehealth,” a convenient way to get care with just your mobile device or computer.

Discover telehealth

With an increased demand for care, it is important to understand your options. There are many different entry points to get the care you need outside of a direct, face-to-face appointment with your primary care provider.

One of the most important things you can do to improve ease of access and communication between you and your healthcare team is to take advantage of technology or develop some degree of computer literacy or access a smart phone if needed. These devices can allow you to access your medical records through a secure portal, reorder medications, review test results, and send messages to your healthcare team.

It’s important to understand that your primary care provider is not “going away”. You can have in-person appointments even if you also use technology and virtual health. It is always very important to schedule this annual wellness visit to connect and review your comprehensive health care needs.

Telehealth appointments help you avoid travel

More and more providers are offering telehealth, which includes online chats with healthcare teams and phone or video appointments with your providers. For seniors, telehealth can mean not having to drive or commute to every appointment and being able to stay home when mobility is limited. Most of these services can be accessed using any smart phone or tablet like an iPad in addition to a computer.

Suppose a patient suffered a minor fall at home and fortunately only injured the hip muscles. After an acute care visit to check and treat minor injuries in an emergency room, for example, follow-up may be an in-person visit with a primary provider, review of ER notes and x-ray reports in electronic records, then another recording by video or telephone with the supplier.

This could include a recommendation for physical therapy. After an initial assessment with a physiotherapist, she may be able to choose between in-person visits or access home physiotherapy with telehealth visits with the therapist. She can also have online access to her exercise program and links to videos that show how to do the exercises.

Video and phone appointments can include everything from asking questions about a minor illness like the flu, getting a regular check-up with a specialist like a pulmonologist, or asking your primary provider about medications. You can even have a dermatologist look at a mole or blemish via video or photo sent via secure message and recommend if you should come in for an in-person exam. It may be faster and more convenient to start with telehealth, especially for older people who may need to arrange transportation to come.

Many mental health services now also offer telehealth options. Some providers also offer online ordering, mail order or prescription delivery. Find out what your suppliers have available.

For those with more limited technology access or know-how, it’s often straightforward to use healthcare technology platforms once you’re set up, so it can be helpful to ask a son, daughter, or a friend to help you the first time and show you how. You can also ask your provider if they have support or assistance with using technologies such as self-checking tools available as part of the online scheduling process.

Electronic health records coordinate all your care

If you are part of a system that uses electronic health records, which most do, clinicians have access to your medical data at their fingertips, including lab results, vaccinations and screenings, and visits to specialist providers.

Your primary care nursing staff and physician assistants can ensure that your vaccinations are up to date, that the appropriate labs are ordered and screened in advance for an upcoming appointment, or that necessary cancer screenings are ordered, all without having to see your provider face-to-face. Records of services you get outside of your primary care office, including emergency rooms and services like a colonoscopy or bone density or breast cancer screening, should be included in your electronic record and your primary provider can access it in one place.

If you’re in a healthcare system, records from labs, pharmacy, and other providers can be automatically transferred and accessed by your healthcare team, and if not, you want follow up and ask the external vendor to make sure the files get shared. This gives health care providers the full range of information to make decisions and can improve both the safety and quality of your care.

Apps and online platforms facilitate care

Many healthcare systems have a secure web portal or smart phone app where you can get your own personal ID to access care. For example, on our system, you can view your health records and reminders, schedule appointments, and renew your medications. You can often send a secure, private message to your health care providers for non-urgent questions and expect a response in about a day.

You’ll need to set up with a login account and for people with less tech savvy it might be helpful to have someone show you the tools.

What we all ultimately want is success for patients achieving their health goals, whatever that looks like to you. Using technology can help you get the best care quickly and efficiently to ensure you stay happy and healthy as the years go by.

AMA Research has launched a new business research with the title Health Care Mobility Solutions Market Study Forecast to 2028. This report on Healthcare Mobility Solutions Market brings data for the estimated year 2022 and forecast till 2028. in 2028 in terms of value (US$ MN) and volume (MT). The report also includes a detailed assessment of macroeconomic factors and market outlook for the Healthcare Mobility Solutions market. Also, to complete the information, EXIM Data, Consumption, Supply & Demand Figures, Gross Price Analysis, Market Revenue and Gross Margins.
Some of the companies listed in the research study are Oracle Corporation (USA), SAP SE (Germany), McKesson Corporation (USA), Cerner Corporation (USA), Omron Corporation (Japan), Zebra Technologies ( USA), Philips Healthcare (Netherlands), AT&T Inc. (USA), Cisco Systems, Inc. (USA), Airstrip Technologies, Inc. (USA).

Download sample PDF report (including full TOC, table and figures) @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/sample-report/105737-global-health-care-mobility-solutions-market#utm_source=OpenPR/Rahul

Definition:
Ever-growing and changing medical needs have driven the evolution of healthcare mobility solutions. The objective of these solutions is to reduce healthcare costs and provide patients with an optimal solution in a minimum of time. The simplicity of this objectivity has been successfully achieved through the development of healthcare mobility solutions products and services such as mobile devices, enterprise mobility platforms and mobile applications. Mobility is rapidly becoming an integrated part of the healthcare ecosystem. Mobility solutions can enable efficient patient care, improve response time, improve workflow efficiency and increase patient throughput, all while reducing cost and risk.

Market trends:
• Advanced connectivity to improve the quality of healthcare solutions
Market factors:
• Increased focus on patient-centric mobility applications
• Growing adoption of smartphones and tablets in health systems
• Shortage of nurses and doctors favoring the adoption of mobility solutions
Market opportunities:
• Robust penetration of wireless networks such as 2G and 3G
• Improved profitability of mobility solutions resulting in a streamlined workflow

The Global Healthcare Mobility Solutions Market segments and market data breakdown are illustrated below:
by Type (Mobile Devices, Mobile Applications (Apps), Enterprise Mobility Platforms), Application (Enterprise Solutions {Patient Care Management, Operations Management, and Workforce Management}, MHealth Applications), End User (payers, suppliers {hospitals)

The Global Healthcare Mobility Solutions Market report highlights information regarding current and future industry trends, growth patterns, as well as offers business strategies to help stakeholders to make sound decisions that can help ensure the trajectory of earnings over the forecast years.

You have a question ? Market a request before purchase @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/enquiry-before-buy/105737-global-health-care-mobility-solutions-market#utm_source=OpenPR/Rahul

Geographically, the detailed analysis of consumption, revenue, market share and growth rate of the following regions:

The Middle East and Africa (South Africa, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Egypt, etc.)
North America (United States, Mexico and Canada)
South America (Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, etc.)
Europe (Turkey, Spain, Turkey, Netherlands Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Russia UK, Italy, France, etc.)
Asia-Pacific (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, Korea, Thailand, India, Indonesia and Australia).

Report objectives
To carefully analyze and forecast the Healthcare Mobility Solutions market size by value and volume.
-Estimate the market shares of the main segments of healthcare mobility solutions
To present the Healthcare Mobility Solutions market development in different parts of the world.
To analyze and study the micro markets in terms of their contributions to the Healthcare Mobility Solutions market, their prospects, and individual growth trends.
-To offer accurate and helpful details about factors affecting the Healthcare Mobility Solutions growth
-To provide a meticulous assessment of crucial business strategies employed by leading companies operating in the Healthcare Mobility Solutions market, which include research and development, collaborations, agreements, partnerships, acquisitions, mergers , new developments and product launches.

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Main highlights of the table of contents:

Healthcare Mobility Solutions Market Research Coverage:
It includes major manufacturers, emerging player’s growth story and major business segments of Healthcare Mobility Solutions market, years considered and research objectives. Further, segmentation based on product type, application, and technology.
Healthcare Mobility Solutions Market Executive Summary: It provides a summary of global studies, growth rate, available market, competitive landscape, market drivers, trends, and issues, along with indicators macroscopic.
Healthcare Mobility Solutions Market Production by Region Healthcare Mobility Solutions Market profile of manufacturers-players is studied on the basis of SWOT, their products, production, value, their finances and other vital factors.

Key points covered in the Healthcare Mobility Solutions Market report:
Overview, Definition and Classification of Healthcare Mobility Solutions Market Drivers and Barriers
Healthcare Mobility Solutions Market Competition by Manufacturers
Impact Analysis of COVID-19 on Healthcare Mobility Solutions Market
Healthcare Mobility Solutions Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2022-2028)
Healthcare Mobility Solutions Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2022-2028)
Healthcare Mobility Solutions Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type {Mobile Devices, Mobile Applications (Applications), Enterprise Mobility Platforms}
Healthcare Mobility Solutions Market Analysis by Application {Enterprise Solutions {Patient Care Management, Operations Management & Workforce Management}, mHealth Applications}
Healthcare Mobility Solutions Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis Healthcare Mobility Solutions Manufacturing Cost Analysis, Industry/Supply Chain Analysis, Sourcing Strategy & Downstream Buyers, Marketing
Strategy by major manufacturers/players, standardization of connected distributors/traders, regulatory and collaborative initiatives, industry roadmap and analysis of value chain market effect factors.

Browse Full Abstract & Table of Contents @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/reports/105737-global-health-care-mobility-solutions-market#utm_source=OpenPR/Rahul

Answers to key questions
How feasible is the healthcare mobility solutions market for long-term investment?
What are the factors influencing the demand for healthcare mobility solutions in the near future?
What is the impact analysis of various factors on the growth of the Global Healthcare Mobility Solutions Market?
What are the recent regional market trends and how successful are they?

Thank you for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Middle East, Africa, Europe or LATAM, Southeast Asia.

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Craig Francis (Public Relations and Marketing Manager)
AMA Research & Media LLP
Unit #429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJ
New Jersey United States – 08837
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sales@advancemarketanalytics.com

About the Author:
Advance Market Analytics is a global market research industry leader that provides quantified B2B research to Fortune 500 companies on emerging, high-growth opportunities that will impact over 80% of global business revenue.
Our analyst tracks high growth study with detailed and in-depth statistical analysis of market trends and dynamics that provides a comprehensive overview of the industry. We follow a thorough research methodology coupled with critical insights related to industry factors and market forces to generate the best value for our clients. We provide reliable primary and secondary data sources, our analysts and consultants obtain informative and usable data tailored to the business needs of our clients. The research study enables clients to achieve varied market objectives ranging from global footprint expansion to supply chain optimization and competitor profiling to mergers and acquisitions.

This press release was published on openPR.

(NewsNation) – Healthcare workers have gone above and beyond for their patients, battling a global pandemic and countless natural disasters.

NewsNation examines whether America is failing them.

Florida nurse Sarah Warren told NewsNation’s “CUOMO” on Tuesday that conditions in many US hospitals were “treacherous.”

“No amount of money can compensate for a loss of dignity in your work,” Warren said. “When you’re working harder than ever before and still seeing poor outcomes for your patients because you don’t have adequate resources…it weighs on you.”

Critical care nurse Lauren Leanders said she and her colleagues were unprepared during the pandemic and did not have proper medical equipment to protect themselves.

“I think nurses have really lost faith in our hospitals and in our healthcare system throughout the pandemic,” Leanders said on “CUOMO. “Why weren’t we prepared? Where was our PPE? Why are we still wearing N95s for seven days straight?

Leanders says the healthcare system has a responsibility to try to earn back that trust in a meaningful way and rebuild the nursing workforce.

Minnesota ICU nurse Kelley Anaas and other healthcare workers went on strike for nurses’ rights. She underscored the importance of nurses to ‘CUOMO’, saying the profession is at a breaking point. She says as more and more resources are taken away, patients are going to struggle.

“We came out to say, ‘You need us.’ We need to be well staffed so we can do our best for our patients, not the bare minimum so you can save $1.

Will B., a registered nurse from Abilene, Texas, called “CUOMO” and said “we see states wasting money without helping people, and then we always get all the bad rap, so as a medical professional, we just appreciate you because there are a lot of issues that you talk about that no one else talks about.

The VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System residency program is designed to develop the resident’s skills and competencies in providing patient-centered care as part of an interdisciplinary team with a focus on primary care, mental health, and geriatrics.

Dubai: Nafis, a federal program that supports Emiratis in the private sector, has signed five memorandums of understanding with higher education institutions in the United Arab Emirates to expand Emirati involvement in the health sector through of Nafis’ “National Health Care Program” initiative.

The new initiative, which opened for registration in late July, received applications from 3,721 Emirati students through the Higher Colleges of Technology, Fatima College of Health Sciences, Fujairah University, University of Sharjah, University of Ajman, Gulf Medical University and Ras Al Khaimah University of Medical and Health Sciences.

Scholarships paid

Estimates

Lauren Westmoreland, Writer

[email protected]

Eastern Plumas Health Care continues to grow in a way that benefits the community, and the next phases of growth are no exception. In a recent chat with EPHC Director of Rehabilitation Services, Jim Burson, Plumas News learned about current Eastern Plumas Health Care (EPHC) offerings, as well as some exciting news about additions and upgrades. coming. “We are excited about the changes that have and are happening here – there are great things to come,” Burson said with a smile.

Current offers of rehabilitation services

Currently, there are a total of 14 employees in the rehabilitation services department. “This whole department only came into being about three and a half years ago. Among these staffing positions, the EPHC has five physical therapy positions, three occupational therapy positions, including a certified hand therapist and a speech therapist or speech therapist. The rest of the staff are supportive with me,” Burson said.

Something Burson really wants the community to be aware of is that Eastern Plumas Health Care understands the difficulties many have had in finding therapy services covered by MediCal insurance. “Most people in the area with MediCal need to know that our hospital offers therapy and takes out MediCal insurance,” Burson explained. About a quarter of all patients seen at the EPHC are currently using MediCal insurance. “This will hopefully help those who still travel to Truckee or Reno for these services, especially with gas prices so high!” Burson added.

In addition to other therapeutic modalities, the center on the Portola campus currently offers the services of a clinician named Amanda Ferraro, PT DPT, who has worked at EPHC for just over a year and focuses her practice on the balance and vestibular vertigo. , troubles. “There was a very strong community response,” Burson said. “We found that there are a number of people who have problems in this area.”

The EPHC has purchased special equipment such as vestibular goggles, which work much like virtual reality goggles with a computer in a set of goggles that helps identify problems and train the patient with clinician guidance.

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“It’s just one of many tools that are used here,” Burson said. “Each budget year, we buy equipment. We use commercial grade Matrix equipment in our gym.

“Between the four physiotherapy staff at the outpatient center, we can treat virtually any physiotherapy-related condition or diagnosis. We have a lot of breadth in terms of experience and skills, and that includes orthopedics and neurology, as well as general conditioning,” Burson noted.

The department quickly outgrew its temporary 1,900 square foot space in the building that served as the education center on the Portola campus, as it is able to serve more members of the community. Burson said he and other members of the department are looking forward to the new therapy and wellness center that will be built on campus.

New building of the therapy and wellness center

Burson explained the exciting plans for the future at Eastern Plumas Health Care’s Portola campus, with final designs for a large new therapy and wellness center building undergoing final engineering stages before to obtain permits.

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“The new center will be located between the Portola Medical Clinic and the Skilled Nursing Facility. Our patients will have a great view of the forest and the city park,” Burson said.

“We expect to obtain the necessary permits by October this year and have shovels in the ground by spring 2023.” The EPHC expects construction to take about a year and hopes to move the department to the new facility by early summer 2024.

The new center will expand the EPHC from its current 1,900 square feet to 8,400 square feet. “There’s so much potential, think about what we can offer with that kind of space,” smiled Burson.

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The wellness center, located on the lower floor with separate parking and entrance, will have a therapeutic pool. Variable speed currents in the pool will allow swimming and walking on a treadmill built into the pool. The latter will provide some buoyancy for those who need to practice walking, but without the full effects of gravity. “It allows people with painful joints or neurological issues to work on their strength safely,” Burson said.

It will be large enough to accommodate up to five people at a time, allowing for future community classes, in addition to individual therapy.

Burson went on to say that the wellness center will focus on just that, and that wellness is much more than just exercise. “For example, an out-of-the-box program is a follow-up program. The aftercare program is very popular in many clinics – the patient graduating from therapy will be one of many to go there, in a separate gymnasium downstairs. Follow-up will include former patients who need supervised qualified counseling to advance their practice. This can be done in the gym, pool, or meditation room adjacent to the gym, which will be a room for quieter floor exercises, such as yoga or Pilates. “The meditation suite will be enclosed in the quietest part of the building and will have an adjoining terrace overlooking the forest,” Burson said.

The wellness center will include numerous programs, with Burson planning to collaborate with area talent such as yoga instructors, massage therapists, tai chi instructors and more. “We will give them a new place where they can make their own offerings,” Burson said. “Rather than the public perception that we will be competing with local practitioners, we want to make it clear that we are providing another venue for people with these certifications and talents to achieve.

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There will also be a classroom that can accommodate 64 people in the new wellness center, which will provide space for gatherings such as nutrition classes, diabetes education and workshops on many related topics. to health and well-being. “It’s basically a public building,” Burson said. “It will be a way to share and receive wellness on many levels.”

For those interested in joining the therapy and wellness team at EPHC, there is currently an opening for a Speech-Language Pathologist. The position is full-time and offers a bonus and benefits of $5,000. Those who may be interested in joining the EPHC in this role are invited to visit ephc.org for more information.

ROCHESTER, NY — For the past few weeks, News10NBC has been reporting on the fine print of the state’s healthcare worker bonus program. Most healthcare workers who are employed by private medical and dental practices are excluded, as are home healthcare and direct care workers and now most of those who work in assisted living facilities have discovered that neither did they receive any money.

Many healthcare workers are excluded based on the requirement that the facility or agency where they work serve at least 20% of the Medicaid population for them to be eligible. This excludes about two-thirds of assisted living facilities in the state and they are not happy with it. “Why should it be about whether the government paid these workers or whether it was paid by the resident, they were doing the exact same thing,” says Lisa Newcomb, executive director of the Empire State Association of Assisted Living. .

Assisted living facilities that accept Medicaid are further limited in who they can claim the bonus for because of another line in state rules that reads: “support staff are only eligible bonus if he works in a patient care unit of a hospital or other institutional medical setting. Assisted living facilities are not considered institutional. “These employees provide the same services, it’s the same, the Nursing home residents may be more fragile,” says Newcomb.

Newcomb says his organization, which represents hundreds of facilities across the state, has repeatedly sought clarification from the New York State Department of Health. “We need to be sure that the department actually sees them as eligible, because what we fear or fear is that if we go ahead without them providing this clarification and potentially submitting it for a year or two later, the department might come back to the assisted living provider and say your workers weren’t eligible, you have to pay that back,” Newcomb says.

News10NBC contacted both NYSDOH and Governor Kathy Hochul’s office. A spokesperson for the Executive Chamber said, “Governor Hochul is proud to have worked with the Legislature to provide bounties to hundreds of thousands of healthcare heroes across New York State, including a large range of employees in front-line health and mental hygiene professions. Governor Hochul remains committed to building on continued efforts to retain, rebuild and grow our healthcare workforce and ensure we provide the highest quality care to all New Yorkers.

The spokesperson also clarified that to be eligible for the bonuses, those employed in areas listed under “all other healthcare support workers” must be employed by a facility that provides ongoing medical or nursing services, such than the type provided in acute care hospitals, inpatient psychiatric facilities, skilled nursing homes, or other health-related facilities.

Since adult care and assisted living facilities are not permitted to provide the continuing medical or nursing services offered in acute care hospitals, inpatient psychiatric facilities, skilled nursing homes or other health-related facilities, generally speaking, adult care workers and assisted living facilities are not eligible to participate.

FARGO — Whitney Fear overheard a judgmental conversation between her fellow nurses in a hospital neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) that she couldn’t pass up.

Her fellow nurses were talking about a baby who was going to be brought to the unit at the White Earth Indian Reservation in Minnesota. One of the nurses said dismissively that the child probably had fetal alcohol syndrome.

“I turned around and told them you had no idea what it was like growing up there,” she said.

Fear, now a psychiatric nurse practitioner, knows firsthand what it’s like to grow up on a reservation, where entrenched poverty and lack of opportunity are entrenched realities of life. She is a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe and grew up on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.

Experiences like the NICU conversation convinced Fear that the nursing profession needs more diversity. She believes that the more educated healthcare professionals from diverse backgrounds are, the better the profession can provide comprehensive patient care.

“There really is a need for this,” said Fear, who works at the Family HealthCare clinic in downtown Fargo. There are only 12 Native American nurses with doctorate degrees in the United States, and 0.8% of nurses are Native American.

Yet Native Americans suffer from much higher rates of disease, including diabetes, heart disease, and alcoholism, than the general population.

Fear, which started talking about the need for more diversity in healthcare, is featured in a documentary film, ”

Who Cares: A Nurse’s Fight for Equity

which will be presented to an audience of nurses and nursing students in a special screening at the Fargo Theatre.

She hopes the film, which has been supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, will help open people’s eyes. It includes candid discussions between Fear and his colleagues – one of whom jokes that Fear “talks like a sailor” – and includes comments from his grateful patients, including a former homeless Indigenous man who struggles with addiction.

Fear worked her way up, starting as a licensed practical nurse, then working as a registered nurse before becoming a nurse practitioner.

She has found herself drawn to mental health and psychiatric nursing, and also enjoys working with the diverse community of patients at Family HealthCare, a federally licensed health center.

Today, with a dozen years of nursing experience, Fear says, “I’ve worked with people with mental illness since birth.”

* * *

Fear’s grades were so low in high school that she thought she had carved an academic hole for herself that she couldn’t escape.
“I kind of hit a wall in high school,” she said.

Her grades plummeted as she grew apathetic about her school work, driven by deep pessimism.

She saw that her father never seemed to get ahead despite years of hard work, including jobs on the family’s cattle ranch to pay the bills.

“Many times it was by the skin of his teeth to go on another year,” she said. “He was exhausted all the time. What’s even the point of working so hard? You can work hard all your life and have nothing.

Disheartened, Fear fell into a period of alcohol abuse.

“I was a teenage alcoholic,” she said, adding that she also suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. “It feels good not to feel anything. Poverty is so high there.

But then a high school counselor, who recognized his intelligence and saw his potential, was able to change Fear’s fatalistic attitude and help him find meaning in life.

“He was very direct about it,” she said. At the time, she was supposed to be in high school, but only had enough credits to be a sophomore. “I didn’t know how to fix it,” Fear said.

The counselor got her into an early entry program at the tribal college, Oglala Lakota College, where she attended classes two nights a week while attending high school.

“I basically kept myself busy as much as possible so I wouldn’t get lazy and give up again,” she said.

Encouragement from her teachers boosted her confidence and she entered a science competition. Inspiration also came from her family, especially her father, who is a role model.

“My family was very lucky in so many ways,” she said. “We had electricity and running water. We had enough to eat. »

She began her nursing education at a technical college, then attended North Dakota State University before earning a master’s degree in nursing from Maryville University in St. Louis. His clinical interests include disorders arising from trauma or stressors, schizophrenia and psychotic disorders, personality disorders and substance use disorders.

Early in her nursing career, much of her exposure to mental health cases came through contact she had with patients in the emergency room.

Her early experiences with mental illness and her childhood in rural poverty helped her build relationships with patients. She is also the mother of 9-year-old twins, a boy and a girl.

“I am no longer in this place and it has been a long time,” but this dark chapter in his life gives him insight into the illnesses of his patients.

To heal his patients, Fear learned to pick up cues from their body language while bringing them out by confiding in his own struggles.

She learned “the power of really listening to people”.

Courtesy of SHIFT Productions, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

* * *

A panel discussion will follow the special, invitation-only screening of the documentary “Who Cares: A Nurse’s Fight for Equity” at the Fargo Theatre.
Participants will discuss health equity, how nurses can best provide individualized care and integrate health justice acts into their practice, and reshape the nursing narrative. They will end with a discussion on how to inspire the next generation of nurses.

The story of Whitney Fear shows how nurses can help achieve health justice for their patients, said Beth Toner, nurse and spokesperson for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

“We really believe that nurses can — they already do — play a role in health equity,” she said. Nurses are vital links because they play a central role in direct patient care. “They have the most contact with people wherever they work – hospitals, community clinics, schools.”

Fear’s story and example in overcoming difficulties in her life can also inspire other nurses, Toner said. “In some ways, it reminds nurses why they got into nursing,” she said. “We wanted health professionals and the public to be represented in the health professions. The nursing profession needs to be more diverse.

You can stream the documentary “Who Cares: A Nurse’s Fight for Equity”

online here

.

The film, made by SHIFT Productions and funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, stars Whitney Fear, a psychiatric nurse practitioner at Family HealthCare in Fargo.

SHIFT Productions, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

The front lines of health care in rural Nova Scotia communities remain passionate about patient care, even when faced with challenges beyond their control.

“When people come in and we’re closed, we have to deal with a range of emotions,” said Andrea van Hal, a registered nurse prescriber with more than 20 years of experience.

“We have empathy and understanding, but we also feel a lot of anger and frustration from people. And it all really stems from the fear of not being able to access it for themselves or their loved ones,” van Hal said.

The registered nurse is part of a tight-knit healthcare team at Twin Oaks Memorial Hospital in Musquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia.

She says that even in the face of limited resources, staff often work 24-hour shifts to try to avoid having to temporarily close their emergency department doors.

“Closing the emergency department is sort of the last, last resort. So what usually leads to that is staffing, whether it’s a lack of doctors or nurses,” she said.

While shortages of doctors and nurses are a province-wide problem, the result of these shortages in rural hospitals often leads to limitations in emergency care.

“Even calling an ambulance could also be a long delay due to the pressures on them. So knowing that they don’t have access to these community hospitals creates a lot of fear in the community and a lot of stress,” van Hal said.

According to data from Nova Scotia Health, in 2018 the Twin Oak emergency department was closed for 159 hours.

In 2019, it was closed for 560 hours, increasing to 1,059 closing hours in 2021.

When a temporary emergency department closure is in effect, van Hal says people are still being assessed at the door. If they need intensive care, she says the nurse’s only option is to call 911.

“Nothing about turning people away does any good from a health care perspective. It doesn’t feel good not being able to provide care,” she said.

Van Hal recently completed a new provincial program that expands the scope of nurses to include the ability to prescribe medication.

She hopes these types of innovative solutions along with active recruitment efforts will lead to a stronger health care system for Nova Scotia.

“I truly believe that we can do better and that people deserve better access to care.”

The Alaska Primary Care Association recently received $9.7 million through the US Economic Development Administration’s Good Jobs Challenge Grant. The funds will be used to increase the number of Alaskans entering the health care field, with a particular focus on apprenticeships.

Jared Kosin is CEO of the Alaska Hospital and Healthcare Association. He explains what this grant means for Alaska’s health care industry and how advocates are changing the approach to address long-standing labor shortages.

The following transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.

Jared Kosin: The workforce issue, if you will, has been a health care issue for years. And now with the pandemic, now that we’re kind of coming out of it, the problem has gotten worse. And we know that, we commissioned a study from the association last year, and we are going to do it again this year. But at the end of the day, in our healthcare workforce in Alaska, there’s a huge hole. Each year, we have more than 63,000 vacancies across the industry. More than 14 hundred of them are for registered nurses only.

So we have this huge labor hole that exists, and it’s probably worse. The problem is that, both in the health sector and in any sector, you post jobs, but no one applies. Where has everyone gone? So we’re in a situation where we can no longer rely on people responding to our messages and coming to work at our facilities, so you kind of have to change your thinking. How do we take our existing workforce, certainly support them through burnout and all the challenges they’ve had, but how do we train them for positions rather than looking and bringing people ? This is where this concept of learning really comes into play.

Michael Fanelli: So what do you think are the biggest hurdles to convincing Alaskans to become healthcare professionals? And how would that money perhaps seek to mitigate them?

JK: There are many obstacles. I mean, definitely, the post-pandemic world – if you could call it that, I know we’re still in it, and it’s going to be a part of our lives for a long time – but there’s a lot of toxicity to that. Health care workers have seen a lot that others would never want to see. And that both got political and affected people’s direct lives when they were coming home from shifts, so I think one of the challenges or obstacles that we have is, well, why would I get into health care? I just saw what they went through. Both publicly and we hear the stories privately – why should I choose this profession?

And so we need to do a better job, from a health care perspective, of engaging people at a much younger age and explaining what health is. You know, we don’t need those A+ students and those people who all their lives knew they were going to be a doctor. We need those people who may not know what they want to do and want to explore a professional field. Healthcare is ripe for it because once you get in, you can go anywhere with it.

FM: OK. So, other than this grant, what else does the health industry in Alaska need to get to where it needs to be?

JK: You know, we are in a much better situation than a year ago now. A year ago, we were preparing for Delta’s surge. And I would say that was the worst part of the pandemic for us. And that’s my personal opinion. But a year later, what do we really need? I think an understanding that things fluctuate, we are always busy. Fortunately, it’s not [because of] COVID, COVID has an impact [us] when he knocks out staff, but I would say probably behavioral health.

Behavioral health is something we all know, in the last couple of years it’s probably taken a big hit. People have experienced trauma. And now that things have sort of calmed down, I think that’s showing up more. What we’re going through is a broken continuum, where we see people in crisis, who need to be matched with counsellors, people trained in behavioral health therapy, but there aren’t any out there. So they end up going to the emergency department of a hospital and eventually wait to be placed in an inpatient psychiatric bed. It’s bad care. And I would say that’s a big priority for us, even though we’re in hospitals and nursing homes. If a piece of the continuum is extremely deficient, if it is broken, we all feel it. So we need to do our part when it comes to behavioral health.

Lutheran Services Carolinas partners with Asheville Health Center

Posted at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 11, 2022

SALISBURY — Lutheran Services Carolinas (LSC) recently announced a nonprofit partnership with Aston Park Health Care Center to serve seniors in Asheville. Aston Park has served the Asheville area for over 42 years.

Executive director Marsha McClure, who has more than four decades at Aston Park, will continue to lead the centre. “We are delighted with this partnership and look forward to strengthening Aston Park and LSC to serve in the future,” said McClure.

The partnership will include working together to support Aston Park’s dedicated team, ameliorate workforce issues, provide operational support and continue to explore Aston Park’s dream of adding apartments for the elderly on the campus.

“I have known and respected Marsha McClure and Aston Park for over 30 years,” said LSC chairman Ted Goins. “It is an honor to partner with such a strong nonprofit to serve the Asheville/Buncombe area for years to come.”

Aston Park is one of the few remaining nonprofit healthcare providers in western North Carolina.

Aston Park was founded as a non-profit community organization in Asheville in 1980 and has 120 skilled nursing beds and 19 assisted living beds. Aston Park provides rehabilitation, long-term care and memory care services to its residents and has been a strong community partner since its inception.

LSC was established in 1960 as a nonprofit organization and has grown to serve North Carolina residents and families with eight nursing homes, four senior living communities, senior housing low-income, PACE, home care and adult day services. LSC’s child and family programs are offered in both Carolinas and include foster care, refugee resettlement, disaster relief, supportive living, and more. LSC is a $140 million health and human services organization with more than 1,800 teammates. The closest LSC services to Aston Park are a seniors’ community in Arden, Trinity View, and a New Americans (refugee resettlement) program office in Asheville.

You can learn more about LSC and its programs at www.LSCarolinas.net.

CROSBY — Most people have never heard the phrase, “There’s a horse in the hospital today,” but those at Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby know it very well.

Cuyuna Regional Medical Center hosts a weekly “take your pet to work” day for its care center patients. The care center strives to schedule pet visits with cats, dogs, goats, and even horses to interact with residents. The event has been part of CRMC’s programming for about 10 years and Wednesday, September 7 was not the first time a horse came to visit.

Residents of the Care Center were surprised Wednesday with a visit from Vegas, a once-wild and now-tame mustang. Ashlin Schneider, a certified practical nurse at the CRMC-Care Center, brought Vegas into the program.

Vegas seemed thrilled to visit long-term care residents who gathered outside the care center to see him. Vegas wasn’t the only one excited, however.

“Residents really love seeing animals, it kind of revives them and brings them back,” said Rachel Weidell, director of activities for the Care Center. “It’s good to reminisce and it’s good for their minds too. It’s nice to have them come (and) see all kinds of creatures.

Residents enjoyed the beautiful weather while petting and feeding Vegas treats. Care Center resident Benita Harrison said she didn’t want to come in until Vegas left.

Weidell used to bring in her two horses for residents, but she will be moving soon. Before Weidell, another employee brought in her horses. The tradition is set to continue with Schneider and his horses in the future.

Vegas is an 8-year-old mustang gelding who spent six years with Schneider. Schneider entered the Mustang Heritage Foundation’s Extreme Mustang Makeover contest as a teenager and later got Vegas.

“I was 13 and there’s an event called Extreme Mustang Makeover,” Schneider, 20, said. “So you have about 100 days to take a wild horse and for the youngsters you just train them to lead and back and you can do freestyle events.”

Schneider begged her parents to do it and they initially said no, but eventually changed their minds.

Steve Kohls/Brainerd Dispatch

Vegas was a wild horse originally from Nevada, but Schneider went to Nashville to look for him. She trained him and after 110 days, Vegas and Schneider made the trip from Minnesota to Virginia to compete.

Schneider was a 4-H participant throughout high school and still participates in barrel racing when she can. Now she divides her time between work at the health center and nursing school. She said she has a passion for horses and health care, and CRMC gives her the opportunity to combine the two for their long-term residents.

SARA GUYMON can be reached at 218-855-5851 or sara.guymon@brainerddispatch.com. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/SaraGuymon.

Fall River, MA – Ste. Anne’s Hospital medical staff announced the recipients of this year’s scholarship program for healthcare students.

The awards are part of a long-standing annual program established by the hospital’s medical staff in recognition of outstanding academic achievement by area students and demonstrated commitment to the health professions.

This year’s $3,000 award recipients are:

Anne’s Hospital Family Award:

• Katelyn Medeirosfrom Dartmouth: Enrolled at Rhode Island College, with a major in medical imaging, Katelyn will study radiological technology, specializing in CT imaging.
• Tara Cordeirofrom Westport: Enrolled at Bristol Community College, majoring in nursing, Tara’s professional goal is to become a nurse practitioner.
• Camryn Loomisfrom Seekonk: Enrolled at Plymouth State University (NH), with a major in nursing, Camryn plans to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing and continue to earn her nurse practitioner degree.

Community Rewards:

• Hannah Caouettefrom Rehoboth: Enrolled at UMass Dartmouth, majoring in nursing, Hannah plans to pursue studies in pediatric critical care.
• Lily Giffordfrom Westport: Enrolled at Rivier University, Nashua, NH, majoring in nursing, Lily plans to major in surgical or emergency nursing.
• Melissa Sousafrom Fall River: Enrolled at the Brockton Hospital School of Nursing, Melissa’s long-term goal is to earn a master’s degree in nursing.

Additionally, Jason Arruda, enrolled in RI University’s Doctor of Pharmacy program, received the award. 2022 Malcolm W. MacDonald, MD, Memorial Scholarship. This $1,000 scholarship is sponsored by Saint Anne’s Hospital Massachusetts-Rhode Island Independent Physician Association..

For more information on the annual scholarship program, call St. Anne’s Hospital Medical Staff Office, 508-674-5600, ext. 2002.

About Ste. Anne’s Hospital

Founded by the Dominican Sisters of the Presentation in 1906, Saint Anne’s Hospital in Fall River, Massachusetts, is a full-service Catholic acute care hospital with 211 beds and satellite locations in Dartmouth, Attleboro, Swansea, New Bedford and Stoughton , Massachusetts. A member of Steward Health Care, Saint Anne’s provides patient and family-centered inpatient care and outpatient clinical services to patients in surrounding communities in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Saint Anne’s main services include the Orthopedic Center of Excellence; bariatric surgery; multiple robot-assisted surgical capabilities, including orthopedic surgery, spine surgery, and general surgery; Regional Cancer Center of Sainte-Anne Hospital; two outpatient surgery centers; the Pain Management Center; and inpatient geriatric psychiatry services. In addition to earning Straight A’s for Patient Safety since 2012, Saint Anne’s has earned national recognitions for Cancer Care, Spine Surgery, Bariatric Surgery, Stroke Care and patient experience. follow us on Facebook, Twitterand LinkedIn.

OTTAWA-

Nearly two and a half years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the staffing conundrum initially driven by high infection rates has turned into an acute workforce challenge.

Herb Emery, Vaughan Chair of Regional Economics at the University of New Brunswick, said that when it comes to staffing shortages, the pandemic was “like the straw that broke the camel’s back.”

“These emerging shortages have been there for decades,” Emery said. “So no one should be surprised that we’re running out of doctors that we’re running out of nurses.”

In recent weeks, hospitals across the country have taken drastic measures to deal with staff shortages, including temporarily closing emergency departments.

The labor shortage is not unique to health care. Nationally, Statistics Canada indicates that approximately one million jobs are unfilled. But health care shortages are most pronounced.

Statistics Canada said healthcare vacancies in the first quarter of this year were nearly double what they were two years ago. Nurses and nurse aides were among the top ten occupations with the largest increases in job vacancies during this period.

Emery says health care shortages are the result of policies introduced in the 1980s and 1990s that aimed to reduce health care costs. Physicians, who are paid on a fee-for-service basis, have been identified as a key driver of high healthcare costs and policies have been introduced to limit the supply of doctors, it said. -he declares.

The Canadian Institute for Health Information said in a 2002 report that policies such as reduced medical school enrollment and restrictions on international medical graduates have contributed to a lower influx of new physicians. .

On the nursing side, Emery said the stress of the pandemic and increased workloads have led to high rates of retirements and exits from the profession, and enrollments in nursing schools. nurses have not been high enough to compensate for the departure of nurses.

Some experts say one solution could be a move towards a team-based approach to care that ensures healthcare professionals are working at their level of skill. This would be tantamount to relieving doctors of the tasks that nurses or pharmacists could perform while leaving nurses to perform only work requiring nursing training.

Armine Yalnizyan, economist and Atkinson Fellow on the Future of Workers, called on provinces to develop a plan to address today’s health issues, including outlining a health human resources strategy.

“The most expensive parts of the system are overworked doing things they shouldn’t be doing, like cleaning rooms or moving patients down the hall on a stretcher,” Yalnizyan said.

The idea of ​​changing the scope of practice of health care workers is far from new. In 2002, the Royal Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada, also known as the Romanow Report, highlighted the need for this change in practice.

“Changes in the way health care services are delivered, particularly with the growing emphasis on collaborative teams and networks of health care providers, mean that traditional scopes of practice must also change” , says the report. “It suggests new roles for nurses, family physicians, pharmacists, case managers, and a host of new and emerging health professions.”

Emery said the fee-for-service structure for physicians is a barrier to moving toward team-based care.

“What 1/8 fee-for-service 3/8 discourages is that a nurse does some of the things she is qualified to do and can do very well because the doctor she works in doesn’t can’t charge for that.” Emery said.

The shift to team-based care would also require the restructuring of collective agreements, he said, which dictate “who does what” in hospitals.

“There are things that can be done, but they are politically controversial,” Emery said.

In Ontario, the provincial government has said it is considering the privatization of health care as a solution to the challenges facing hospitals. The suggestion provoked considerable backlash from opposition politicians as well as advocates.

However, Emery says privatization in this context refers to service delivery, not how services are paid for.

“It’s really, I think, about changing the site where care is provided from settings that tend to have more rigid rules about who can do what to whom and on what basis, to a setting where there’s has more potential to have that scope of practice, team-based care, and basically see more patients with the same number of doctors and nurses.”

Yalnizyan says the health system has faced low staffing levels for too long due to a lack of funding.

“It’s not just about not planning for the future. It’s about absolutely committing to not spending any money,” she said.

However, Emery warns that more funding will not solve the underlying problem, which is how workers are distributed within the system.

Failing to address these issues, he says, is what led to these shortages and health care pressure in the first place.

“What’s frustrating is that now that he’s been affected, we’re wringing our hands and saying, ‘Well, what do we do’, because there’s no easy way out. in the short term,” Emery said.

This report from The Canadian Press was first published on September 5, 2022.

TORONTO, September 3, 2022 /CNW/ – With 68,000 members, the Ontario Nurses Association (ONA), from Canada the largest union of nurses, celebrates Labor Day 2022 more determined than ever to protect public health care for all Ontarians.

“The current government’s unprecedented war against the very people who have dedicated their careers to caring for others has only strengthened our resolve to stand up for our patients, residents and clients,” said the ONA President. Cathryn Hoy, RN “The pandemic has brought to light the very real and devastating damage that privatization does when it creeps into the public system that all Canadians value so much.

Hoy says we’re at a turning point in Ontario and believes that the Ford government created the current crisis in the health care system in order to justify its privatization.

“The nursing shortage is a direct result not only of government neglect, but also of government policies that were undoubtedly aimed at sending nurses running for the exits,” she says. “However, as patient advocates, our commitment and solidarity have only been strengthened. We will do all we can to prevent the damage that the introduction of private profit into healthcare will cause to our patients.”

Hoy encourages Ontarians to pay attention to the province’s actions and to speak out. “We are strong and united, and we would welcome the support of the people we are committed to protecting,” she said.

The ONA is the union that represents more than 68,000 registered nurses and health professionals, and 18,000 affiliated nursing students, who provide care in hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, community, clinics and industry.

www.ona.org; Facebook.com/OntarioNurses; Twitter.com/OntarioNurses; instagram.com/ontario.nurses

SOURCE Ontario Nurses Association

Show original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2022/03/c7020.html

Schools are places where health care takes place, an essential part of the country’s public health infrastructure. During COVID-19, schools across the country responded to call to action immunize students and community members and provide nutritious meals and mental health counseling services to the children – despite the closed classrooms. Even before the pandemic, schools were providing care that supports classroom learning for 14% from public school children with special health care needs, including those with chronic physical, developmental, behavioral or emotional conditions.

A recent JAMA Pediatrics study found that schools are “the de facto mental health systemprogram, providing services to 57% of adolescents who needed care before the pandemic. In 2019, centers for disease control and prevention found 37% of high school students reported lingering feelings of sadness or hopelessness; 19% having seriously considered suicide; and 9% having attempted suicide. And the need is even deeper now. From April to October 2021, the proportion of pediatric emergency department visits related to mental health increased by almost a third for 12-17 year olds and 24% for children 5-11 years old.

As is always the challenge of public education, the needs far outweigh the available resources. But changes to federal Medicaid payment policy have paved the way for schools to access millions of dollars to fund school nursing, behavioral health and other services in schools.

For example, in 2014 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services expanded a long-standing network Politics to allow schools to be reimbursed for providing covered services to any Medicaid-eligible child. But only 17 states took advantage of this funding stream by modifying their state Medicaid plans (the document that defines the types of services and providers eligible for reimbursement) to reflect the new policy.

Michigan modified its state plan to include behavioral health analysts, school social workers, and school psychologists as covered providers, while the state legislature approved $31 million to fund behavioral health providers in schools. Since this change, there has been approximately one 6% increase in the amount of Medicaid reimbursement directed to schools. Louisiana changed its state Medicaid plan in 2015 and saw a 30% increase in Medicaid income as school nurses increased by 15%. Last year, Georgia changed its plan to allow Medicaid to pay for more school health services. Half the children of Georgia are covered by Medicaid or the state’s PeachCare system, so this change is dramatic and creates an opportunity to bring hundreds of millions of dollars to Georgia school districts to support the most vulnerable students.

More states can position themselves to take advantage of Medicaid funding for schools by clarifying and expanding the scope of school health services and providers covered in their state Medicaid plans. However, some schools face additional hurdles, such as complex billing processes. This question is addressed in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which directs federal policymakers to issue guidance, launch a help center, and release $50 million in planning grants over the next 12 months to help state Medicaid agencies and local educational entities navigate these challenges. These supports are likely to include strategies and tools to reduce billing administrative burdens, especially for rural schools, and best practices that schools and state Medicaid agencies can use to modify plans. so that the services students need and the providers who provide them become eligible for Medicaid reimbursement.

The National Collaborative for Healthy Schools 10-year roadmap for healthy schools prioritizes maximizing schools’ ability to bill Medicaid for school health services and, importantly, recognizes that when health and education officials do not collaborate, it is very difficult to achieve this objective. School nurses, district administrators, and state education officials should be prepared to work with state Medicaid agencies to take advantage of the supports the law will provide – prepare health needs data of their school communities, the types of services provided in schools (and that schools could begin to provide if reimbursed) and the types of licenses and credentials required for staff providing services in schools. State Medicaid officials can then ensure that changes to the state plan reflect the exact types of services students need and schools are able to provide.

How else can school nurses, district administrators and national education officials prepare?

• To find states reimburse Medicaid. Share information about upcoming supports to increase access to Medicaid funds for school health services and providers.
• Engage with the school or district Student Health Advisory Committees to gather community feedback on the health services they want to access, understand the unmet health needs of school communities, and increase awareness of the availability of Medicaid services at school.
• Review the Community health needs assessments local hospitals to better understand the important health needs of the community and the resources available to meet those needs.
• Make connections at the state Medicaid agency and advocate for reimbursement of school providers for specific services (e.g. counselling, personal care, case management, vaccinations) that are a priority for students.

Lawmakers, seeking to alleviate the shortage of mental health professionals in Wyoming, are considering measures that would make it easier for practitioners to work across state lines.

The joint labor, health and human services committee this month considered two bills that would allow the state to join the interstate psychology and counseling pacts. By allowing professionals licensed in one compact state to practice in all compact states, proponents say the agreements would give Wyoming patients access to more counselors and psychologists, and give Wyoming providers access to larger markets.

Wyoming residents could connect virtually with a counselor in Denver, for example, or a University of Wyoming student returning home for the summer could continue treatment with a Laramie-based psychologist. Expanding mental health care options is especially appealing in a rural state where the per capita suicide rate is often the highest in the country.

Proponents of the bill say state licensing requirements can be time-consuming, costly, and ultimately discourage psychologists and counselors from going through the process. Skeptics, however, worry that joining the covenants could wrest regulatory control from the state and cost mental health professionals clients.

The nonprofit advocacy group Mental Health America ranked Wyoming last in its 2022 State of Mental Health Report due to a dangerous combination of factors: a high prevalence of mental illness and access mediocre in care.

There’s been a phantom pandemic of behavioral health issues across the country, said Julia Harris, senior policy analyst for the Health Policy Project at the Bipartisan Policy Center. “There have been some of the highest overdose rates that have ever occurred in this country during the pandemic. There is increasing anxiety and depression due to pandemic pressures. »

“The demand is on the rise,” said Donald Benson, a Casper-based psychologist and president of the Wyoming Psychological Association. “Part of that has been the pandemic and the stress people have been under.”

“My phone is ringing non-stop,” said Cheyenne-based counselor Lindsay Simineo. It had been a long time since she had had a place in his schedule.

“We don’t want our counselors in Wyoming to get to the point where they’re so exhausted with overwhelming need that they walk away from the profession,” Simineo said. “So this additional out-of-state workforce will be extremely important to support our current mental health workforce.”

Simineo is also lobbying on behalf of the Wyoming Councilors Association, which supports joining the council pact.

The needs exceed the supply of mental health professionals, but the two pacts offer a potential way to alleviate this stress. Plus, joining them could make Wyoming a more attractive place for specialists to live and work.

Utah has joined the psychology and counseling pacts in recent years.

Anna Lieber, a licensed clinical mental health counselor and president of the Mental Health Counselors Association of Utah, says Logan, Utah’s proximity to the Idaho border is a prime example of the benefits pacts. “Most Logan therapists must be licensed in both Idaho and Utah,” Lieber said. “Which is a financial burden.”

“With COVID, we realized we could use telehealth a little more effectively and better,” said Amanda Alkema, deputy director of substance abuse for the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. “It’s really helped in our rural areas to expand that.”

She noted that Mountain West states often compete for the same workforce and that pacts allow for greater collaboration and shared expertise.

Wyoming has joined several pacts in recent years, noted Wyoming Hospital Association President Eric Boley. The pacts for doctors and nurses have proven particularly useful during the pandemic. Nurses and doctors from participating compact states were able to work in Wyoming without going through an arduous licensing process.

“We didn’t see any downside to that,” Boley said. “Everything has been really positive.”

The Wyoming Psychological Association has yet to take an official position on the pact, Benson said.

“There are absolutely people who are concerned that people in other compact states will select patients from Wyoming,” Benson said. “And it will reduce the livelihood of psychologists here.”

Additionally, some fear that states will lose regulatory control over their counselors and psychologists.

“And when it comes to the Legislative Assembly,” Boley of the Hospital Association said, “there is always a concern about oversight and who is ultimately responsible for making sure they are good practitioners, and that they adhere to all rules, regulations and guidelines.”

However, he also said earlier pacts for doctors and nurses had not resulted in substandard care. “There’s still oversight and they’re still allowed in their home country,” Boley said.

The pact is just an important step forward, said Andi Summerville, executive director of the Wyoming Association of Mental Health and Addiction Centers. “But we still need people on the ground in Wyoming. Telehealth is great, but it’s not a panacea.

She says the state should still focus on increasing the number of counselors living and working in Wyoming and improving salaries.

Summerville supports psychology and counseling pacts and the potential for more telehealth options.

“It’s important to recognize that this is how the country is moving in general,” Summerville said. “And without being part of the pact, it creates barriers for people to come and practice in our state.”

The Joint Labor, Health and Human Services Committee voted to move forward with the bills and formally finalize them at its next meeting.

WyoFile is an independent, nonprofit news organization focused on the people, places, and politics of Wyoming.

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The family of a woman who drowned in a swimming pool while streaming live on Facebook have received the money needed to bring her body back to her native Kenya.

Hellen Wendy Nyabuto, a healthcare worker in Toronto, Canada, was the only breadwinner in the African country, according to her relatives. Her father, a smallholder farmer in Kisii, southwestern Kenya, said Hellen would send money to cover school fees for his younger siblings back home. She died on August 18 while struggling to stay above water in a hotel swimming pool.

“She helped me financially to educate her brothers and sisters, especially in terms of school fees and other expenses. I’m stuck now and back to square one. I wonder how his younger siblings are going to continue their education,” Nyabuto John Kiyondi Told CNN.

The family set up an online fundraising account to raise $50,000 Canadian, or about $38,000 US, to cover repatriation and funeral costs so Wendy can be buried where she was born, according to tradition. . As of August 24, the family has raised nearly $52,000 Canadian or $40,000 US.

“I will not feel comfortable, psychologically, if my daughter is buried away from Kenya,” Kiyondi said.

Hellen’s younger brother, with whom she lived in Toronto, said she was “full of life” and had a warm smile and a lovely heart. Hellen worked part-time as a personal support worker and studied nursing at Peak College, according to reports. She emigrated to Canada in 2018. The 24-year-old smiled, swam and interacted with viewers on Facebook in the video which was later deleted, reports the Toronto Star.

“Everyone who met Wendy was in high spirits,” wrote Enock, one of the woman’s five siblings.

The Star reports that the video shows the woman spending three minutes frolicking in the shallow end of the pool at the Key Motel, where she was a guest. Hellen then moved to the bottom of the pool, where she began to thrash frantically. She disappeared from frame but could be heard calling for help. The newspaper, which viewed the video before it was removed from Facebook, reports that the pool was quiet and empty for hours until other motel guests discovered her body.

“I watched this video. I cried. It’s terrible,” her father said.

Family friend Alfonce Nyamwaya said Hellen “was a superhero in Canada” who worked with the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“She worked with seniors until the end,” he said. said. “She really had a passion for it.”

More local news

FAIRMONT — A Company Fairmont has taken the company’s anniversary celebration to a whole new level.

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, the leaders of Healthcare Management Solutions LLC decided to donate $1,000 to 20 different nonprofit organizations in North Central West Virginia, many of which are in Marion County, for a total of $20,000.

“We are proud to share some of the fruits of our 20 years of success with 20 deserving nonprofits,” HMS President Leah Heimbach said in a press release. “These charitable donations not only amplify the spirit of our work to protect vulnerable populations, but they also help make our local communities safer, stronger and healthier.”

Here is a list of the 20 organizations selected to receive donations.

Milan Puskar Health Right / Friendship House, Morgantown, which offers peer-to-peer recovery programs for people living with substance use disorder and other mental health issues. Health Right also funds and operates Friendship Fairmont at the corner of Locust and Cleveland Avenues.

Health Access Inc., of Clarksburg, works to eliminate disparities for those who do not have access to basic health care. They help residents of Harrison and Doddridge counties get primary and specialty care, prescription drugs, cancer screenings, vision care, dental care, and more, all for free.

The Disability Action Center, Fairmont, is a comprehensive education, training and enrichment center for more than 450 children and adults with disabilities and their families in North Central West Virginia.

Marion County Humane Society, of Fairmont, is a non-kill, non-profit animal welfare organization that provides care to more than 5,000 animals annually.

Hope Inc. Domestic Violence Center, of Fairmont, provides resources and services for domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, harassment and human tracking victims in Marion, Harrison, Doddridge counties, Gilmer and Lewis, keeping them safe, encouraging self-sufficiency, and promoting lives free from violence.

CASA of Marion County, which is based in Fairmont, advocates, educates and promotes the well-being of Marion County children who have been abused and neglected, harnessing the talents of community volunteers who ensure that children benefit from secure and permanent housing.

Pet Helpers Inc., of Fairmont, is an all-volunteer non-profit foster network for homeless pets waiting for forever homes. In the absence of facilities or paid staff, all funds are spent on veterinary care, food and medicine for the animals.

Soup Opera, of Fairmont, serves a daily meal seven days a week, 365 days a year, to more than 100 people in need daily in and around Marion County. Sobrania Inc./Soup Opera also provides hygiene and shower products, clothing, blankets, dishes and more depending on availability.

Stepping Stone Inc., of Fairmont, is a community treatment facility that serves adolescent males ages 14-17 and transitioning adult males ages 18-21, who are in the care of the Department of Health and West Virginia Human Resources, are victims of abuse or neglect and/or have resigned from higher level treatment or out-of-state placement, and exhibit disruptive behaviors and emotional distress. The program teaches residents to respect themselves, their community, their parents, the police, officials, adults and their peers.

Tygart Valley United Way, which has offices in Fairmont and Elkins, provides funding to several nonprofit organizations in a five-county region that improve the lives of others. This year, United Way is focusing on families who are employed but ineligible for any type of state or federal assistance, but simply cannot make it.

The Op Shop, by Fairmont, is a nonprofit, community-based rehabilitation program that creates opportunities for adults with disabilities in sheltered or competitive employment. Services include independent living skills, life skills training, job placement, job coaching, work adjustment and supported employment.

Pressley Ridge, of Morgantown, provides families and individuals with support and hope, through fostering and adoption assistance, community and home services, outpatient services, special education, autism services, residential services and transitional age services.

March of Dimes, of Arlington, Va., has been fighting for the health of mothers and babies for 80 years, supporting research, leading programs and providing education and advocacy so that every family can have the best possible start.

WV Rescues Ministries/Union Mission, of Fairmont, provides physical and spiritual services to those in need in West Virginia through a Men’s Shelter, Women’s and Children’s Shelter, Family Shelter, From a soup kitchen, thrift store and lounge, no one is turned away and everyone has access to hot meals and shelter.

Connecting Link, by Fairmont, responds to the immediate needs of people in crisis and helps locate resources for residents of North Central West Virginia, including assistance with utility termination, prescriptions, transport, eviction and the first month’s rent.

Genesis Youth Crisis Center in Clarksburg provides a safe, temporary place for children to stay until permanent placement arrangements can be made.

The Bi-County Nutrition Program, with offices in Nutter Fort, Salem and Shinnston, provides congregate and home-delivered meals, nutrition education and referrals for people 60 and older, their spouses and dependent children disabled.

WV Coalition to End Homelessness, of Bridgeport, assists agencies and communities in West Virginia where homelessness is a widespread or hidden issue, to ensure that no child, veteran, or family becomes homeless first venue. Housing people is the only way to end homelessness.

The Clarksburg Mission Community provides comfort, comfort and resources to those in need, including emergency shelter, transitional housing, food, assistance, and more.

Clarksburg Mustard Seed is a food pantry that serves community members with free food, clothing, cleaning and hygiene items, and household items. The pantry also accepts donations for those in need.

HMS uses a blend of healthcare and technology expertise to create cost-effective solutions that federal and state agencies and our private sector partners need to ensure residents of nursing homes and other facilities health care professionals receive the best possible care, no matter where in the United States.

Every two weeks, Campbellford Memorial Hospital (CMH) in Trent Hills is on the verge of having to close its emergency department (ED).

With the shortage of healthcare personnel across the sector, it is not easy or always possible to staff the emergency department at Campbellford Hospital. The CMH closed the emergency department at the end of 2021 from December 24 at 5 p.m. to December 25 at 7:30 a.m. due to a shortage of nurses.

Although the hospital’s emergency room hasn’t been closed since, CMH is often in a precarious position these days when it comes to keeping the doors open, CMH CEO Eric Hanna said at Brighton Independent.

“All healthcare professionals are in high demand and in short supply,” Hanna said, noting that this is not a situation unique to CMH.

“But we are doing everything we can to prevent an ED shutdown from happening. We have plans in place in case a closure is necessary as well as excellent local partners in both emergency medical services and nearby hospitals to ensure the impact on patient care is minimal.

One of the problems with small hospitals like Campbellford is that one or two healthcare workers miss a given shift, which can lead to closure, the CEO said.

“We would love to hire more part-time RNs who have the skills to work in the emergency department.

Over the past few months, more than 50 people a day have sought care at the Campbellford emergency room, peaking at more than 70 people a day over the May long weekend. This represents an increase of more than 25% in emergency room visits for the 34-bed rural hospital.

“The increase in ER visits on holiday weekends is nothing new, nor is it a busy day here and there, especially in the summer, but what has been different over the past few months is is how busy it gets almost every day,” said Dr. Eshay Elia, ED Chief and Acting Chief of Staff.

“We certainly don’t want to discourage people from going to the ER if they need to, but we do encourage those who have other options, like their family doctor, to consider them first for non-emergency issues.” , added Elia. .

Health Access Ontario, formerly Telehealth, is another way for patients to get non-emergency care. The free program allows patients to speak with a registered nurse online or by calling 811 to discuss their condition and determine if a trip to the emergency room is necessary.

While the increase in patient numbers continues to strain CMH’s emergency department, so does the level of acuity of patients seen and the resulting number of admissions.

Staffing shortages are also taking their toll, and various hospitals across Ontario have had to close their emergency departments, sometimes for days at a time, due to a lack of staff.

CMH’s vacancy rate is around seven percent right now. When taking into account absenteeism based on whether staff are absent due to COVID or other illnesses, it recently hovers around 10%.

At Quinte Health Care (QHC), which includes Trenton Memorial Hospital, the main hospital for Brightonians, ‘the unprecedented pressure on healthcare continues’. That was the message shared at QHC’s board meeting earlier this summer, while marking the board’s final year cycle.

“To say last year was difficult is an understatement,” said President Nancy Evans.

“The multiple waves of COVID outbreaks have strained our healthcare system, our hospitals, our staff, our patients and their families, and our communities like never before.”

And COVID infections are expected to rise again in the fall and winter.

QHC anticipates these impending surges — but they will come on top of seasonal flu rates and in the context of the troubling disruptions that have occurred within the healthcare system, Evans noted, in his report to the board.

“The health human resource challenge is widespread. Although QHC has been more successful than many others in continuing to attract people to work with us, we continue to see retirements or departures.

“Some areas of QHC are facing critical staffing challenges. The health human resource crisis requires an urgent system-wide approach, but one that takes into account the wide variety of settings, hospital sizes and community profiles in Ontario.

QHC is seeing higher patient volumes than pre-COVID – and expects this to continue for the “foreseeable future”.

Evans said it was also due to a mix of patient health situations that escalated during the pandemic; a large percentage of people in the region without regular primary care or access to basic health services, making them dependent on hospitals; and the health profile of the region’s population.

“These volumes can no longer be seen as temporary surges, but as the new normal for QHC. This means that our operating and funding models must adapt.

Evans noted an evolution of regular funding, recognizing the specific realities of local demand and the unique structure of the QHC is needed. Progress towards an evolved funding model must be a top priority for QHC in 2022-23, she added.

Story behind the story: We reached out to area hospitals to see how they were handling the surge in patients and staffing shortages.

-with files by Sarah Hyatt

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