Good morning, Other Siders!

I hope you are all caught up with changing the time on your wristwatch, wall clock, digital clock, cooking range clock, microwave clock, and all the other clocks which still require human intervention (phew!! tiring!). Well on the bright side, the warm weather is in sight!🌻

Here’s today’s quote to keep you 😳 (awake) through the week:

News that impacts you!

The Rising Popularity of Physician Assistants: A Look at How They're Helping P.E.I.

Physician Assistants (PAs) are healthcare professionals who work in collaboration with physicians and provide medical care to patients. They are trained to perform tasks such as taking medical histories, performing physical exams, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, and prescribing medications.

Just like other Canadian provinces, the province of Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.), is facing a crisis due to a shortage of physicians. To address this, the Progressive Conservative and Green parties are exploring the possibility of introducing PAs to the healthcare system as part of their election platforms.

But here’s the caveat, Physician Assistants are in high demand firstly because of the widespread Physician shortage and secondly, because there are only three universities in Canada that offer the two-year graduate-level training program: two in Ontario and one in Manitoba.

While Physician Assistants look like a great solution to the primary care crisis, there is an equal number of barriers to having them support the healthcare system.

Let us know what you think about the integration of Physician Assistants into the Healthcare System.

• Should International Medical Graduates be asked to support the system as Physician Assistants while they wait through the long and cumbersome licensure process?

💭Let us know what you think by writing to us at [email protected]

🍒 BC Leads the Way: A Call for Other Provinces to Offer Free Birth Control?

British Columbia has recently become the first province in Canada to offer free birth control. The program offers all residents access to free prescription contraception, including pills, intrauterine devices (IUDs), and contraceptive injections. The initiative aims to make contraception more accessible and affordable for all, with the goal of reducing unintended pregnancies and improving overall reproductive health.

The move has been praised by advocates for reproductive rights, who hope that other provinces will follow suit. With the cost of birth control often cited as a barrier to access, free contraception could have a significant impact on reducing unplanned pregnancies and promoting reproductive autonomy. While some other provinces already offer subsidized birth control, this initiative marks a significant step forward in providing universal access to contraception.

The British Columbian government aims to spend about $119 million over the next three years on the program, which is set to launch on April 1, 2023.

Tools & Tech to keep a tab on!

🏥 ‘We only rise by lifting others’…that is something that Bruyère Hospital not just preaches, but also puts into practice.

A critical aspect of patient care includes transfers- moving to a wheelchair, bed, or other devices for the provision of care. This process often requires a couple of staff members to plan and participate in a coordinated effort to ensure successful transfer occurs. However, despite the use of best practices, a high chance of risk exists for both the patient and staff members. The immobility of patients can impair their ability to react to any discomfort or injury. Furthermore, staff members could suffer from injuries should there be a miss in their coordination or lifting technique.

Off to the rescue came Able solutions with their ALTA Platform™ which aims to put pressure on* (as part of its functionality) and as a result, remove pressure off the staff members. The device conveniently aligns with a hospital bed, *puts pressure on the mattress and slides under the patient, before slowly lifting and transferring the patient. No wonder Bruyère has announced the procurement of the platform for its complex care units. They sure know how to get their ‘move’ on.

The platform will gift staff members the ability to conduct transfers independently in a safe manner and use the time saved to engage with patients at their bedside.

🧘‍♀️ In keeping with the theme of lifting each other, MWM pledges not to weigh you down…

To treat Canadians living with obesity, the Medical Weight Management Centre of Canada (MWM) has launched their virtual weight management clinic based on the 5E approach- Expert-led, Evidence-based, Effective, Ethical, & Empathetic care.  

The clinic is run by licensed weight management physicians and dietician and is accessible to all residents of Ontario and Nova Scotia. Patients can speak with one of their healthcare professionals to determine if this is an appropriate option for them. Plans are also in place to expand to all Canadian provinces by the end of 2024. Case identification and management needs would surely benefit from such an initiative; however, it also promotes active participation by patients and the achievement of sustainable results.

🩺 It is a win-win for ALL! No matter which side you’re on.. ;)

Good News! The Coordinated Accessible National (CAN) Health Network is expanding to Quebec, the territories (the Northwest Territories, Yukon, Nunavut) and remote communities.  

The CAN Health Network is a federally funded organization that works with healthcare providers to identify their biggest challenges and match them with Canadian-made technology solutions. This is facilitated via an integrated marketplace model which gives health tech companies the opportunity to demonstrate their offerings, gain an understanding of the procurement process, leverage opportunities to enter the Canadian Healthcare market and subsequently, grow. Likewise, it also gives providers the opportunity to test, find best-fit solutions and procure the latest technology through a competitive process.  

If that is not inviting enough- approx. four years since the network launched, it has supported over 40 companies with $55 million of procurement and over 1,000 jobs created. That should have got you thinking already 🤔

📈What’s Trending🔥

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