Healthcare

West Kelowna Fire Service has responded to nearly 1,500 medical calls so far in 2022. (Black Press file photo)

West Kelowna Fire Service answering the call more often due to B.C. ambulance woes

‘There is absolutely no question we are doing more medical calls than we ever have’

 

Vancouver naturopath Dr. Jordan Atkinson has been suspended and fined, after he admitted to failing to fully document one patient’s medical records. (Credit: Pixabay/DarkoStojanovic)

Vancouver naturopath suspended after patient says he failed to detect their tumor

Dr. Jordan Atkinson was treating his patient for hemorrhoids at the time

 

FILE - A sign requiring masks seen on a storefront in February 2022. Four groups in B.C. are calling on the province to re-introduce a mask mandate, in an open letter published Nov. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

Should B.C. reintroduce mask mandate? Groups pen open letter to province

Province says it’s not considering it at this time

 

FILE - The Amazon logo is displayed on a screen at the Nasdaq MarketSite, July 27, 2018. Amazon is stepping back into virtual care with a new service that uses secure messaging to connect patients with doctors for help with nearly two dozen conditions. The retail giant said Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, it will launch Amazon Clinic in 32 states to provide medication refills and care for conditions like allergies, erectile disfunction, hair loss, and urinary tract infections. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

Amazon plans new virtual care offering based on messaging

Amazon is stepping back into virtual care with new services including Amazon pharmacy

FILE - The Amazon logo is displayed on a screen at the Nasdaq MarketSite, July 27, 2018. Amazon is stepping back into virtual care with a new service that uses secure messaging to connect patients with doctors for help with nearly two dozen conditions. The retail giant said Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, it will launch Amazon Clinic in 32 states to provide medication refills and care for conditions like allergies, erectile disfunction, hair loss, and urinary tract infections. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)
Frank Duralia, 82, waited in a hospital bed at the Boundary District Hospital in Grand Forks with a broken hip for 59 hours before an ambulance transported him to Trail for surgery. (Credit: Marion Duralia)

‘Excruciating pain’: B.C. man waited 59 hours with broken hip for ambulance transfer

Rural hospital lost its in-patient services in March due to a staffing shortage

Frank Duralia, 82, waited in a hospital bed at the Boundary District Hospital in Grand Forks with a broken hip for 59 hours before an ambulance transported him to Trail for surgery. (Credit: Marion Duralia)
Canada’s health ministers are set to meet in Vancouver on Nov. 7 and 8 to discuss solutions to health-care crises. (Adobe Stock Image)

Doctors, nurses call for action on crumbling care, health ministers meet in Vancouver

Health ministers from across Canada set to meet Monday and Tuesday

Canada’s health ministers are set to meet in Vancouver on Nov. 7 and 8 to discuss solutions to health-care crises. (Adobe Stock Image)
Buena Vista Lodge, a mental health facility with 12 beds, has been in operation in White Rock for over 50 years. The beds at the facility are funded by Fraser Health, but that funding will cease in June once the facility has been sold to a new owner. (Unsplash photo)

B.C. residential mental health facility to close over lack of funding

Owner worried over fate of residents as Fraser Health declines to enter contract with new owner

Buena Vista Lodge, a mental health facility with 12 beds, has been in operation in White Rock for over 50 years. The beds at the facility are funded by Fraser Health, but that funding will cease in June once the facility has been sold to a new owner. (Unsplash photo)
Residents are shown at Idola Saint-Jean long-term care home in Laval, Que., February 25, 2022. In B.C., long-term care residents and their family members are being promised a stronger voice with the creation of new regional councils and a provincial committee. CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

B.C. long-term care residents, family promised greater input with new councils

Ministry of Health creating provincial committee to address concerns

Residents are shown at Idola Saint-Jean long-term care home in Laval, Que., February 25, 2022. In B.C., long-term care residents and their family members are being promised a stronger voice with the creation of new regional councils and a provincial committee. CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
The Prince Rupert Regional Hospital has been under controlled access since Oct. 25, 2022 when an individual made threats against health care workers. The hospital is pictured here on May 5, 2021. (Photo: K-J Millar/The Northern View)

Prince Rupert hospital locked down, man arrested following threats to health care workers

“Unsettling” trend of increased violence toward health care workers: Health Services Administrator

The Prince Rupert Regional Hospital has been under controlled access since Oct. 25, 2022 when an individual made threats against health care workers. The hospital is pictured here on May 5, 2021. (Photo: K-J Millar/The Northern View)
In this file photo, Health Minister Adrian Dix speaks in the press theatre at the legislature in Victoria, on March 10, 2022. On Oct. 31, he announced a new payment model for family doctors. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. announces long-awaited new payment model for family doctors to launch in 2023

New model promises compensation based on time spent, complexity of visits

In this file photo, Health Minister Adrian Dix speaks in the press theatre at the legislature in Victoria, on March 10, 2022. On Oct. 31, he announced a new payment model for family doctors. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
The emergency sign of a Toronto hospital is photographed on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022. The Canadian Paediatric Society says the strain children’s hospitals are seeing due to a resurgence of viral infections is likely to get worse in the months ahead and could spill over into already-struggling community hospitals. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Alex Lupul

Local hospitals could face strain as early viral infections swamp pediatrics: CPS

Hospitals report an earlier than usual season of respiratory illnesses

The emergency sign of a Toronto hospital is photographed on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022. The Canadian Paediatric Society says the strain children’s hospitals are seeing due to a resurgence of viral infections is likely to get worse in the months ahead and could spill over into already-struggling community hospitals. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Alex Lupul
The paramedics’ union is pushing the province for changes to address staffing shortages plaguing rural communities, said union president Troy Clifford. (Photo courtesy of Ambulance Paramedics of BC)

‘It’s a broken system,’ say emergency responders about B.C.’s rural paramedic shortages

Quadra Island had no local paramedics available for 11 days during the summer and fall

  • Oct 23, 2022
The paramedics’ union is pushing the province for changes to address staffing shortages plaguing rural communities, said union president Troy Clifford. (Photo courtesy of Ambulance Paramedics of BC)
Health Minister Adrian Dix speaks in the press theatre at the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on March 10, 2022. On Oct. 19, he tabled new health legislation that would provide stronger oversite of health professions in B.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. tables new legislation promising ‘stronger oversight’ of health professionals

New act would create single oversight body, independent discipline tribunal

Health Minister Adrian Dix speaks in the press theatre at the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on March 10, 2022. On Oct. 19, he tabled new health legislation that would provide stronger oversite of health professions in B.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
A ambulance drives past the emergency entrance of Vancouver General Hospital in Vancouver on April 9, 2021. B.C. hospital workers are being trained on how to respond to active attacker situations as of October 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Run, hide, fight: B.C. hospital staff being trained for active attacker scenarios

Training for ‘code silver’ underway in 3 health authorities so far

A ambulance drives past the emergency entrance of Vancouver General Hospital in Vancouver on April 9, 2021. B.C. hospital workers are being trained on how to respond to active attacker situations as of October 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
(Black Press Media Creative)

54 new family doctors sign on with B.C.’s incentive package

Offer received criticism back in June for failing to cover true costs of being a doctor

(Black Press Media Creative)
Pharmacists in B.C. will be able to prescribe certain medications beginning in spring 2023, under the province’s new Health Human Resources Strategy. (Credit: Unsplash)

B.C.’s new 5-year health-care strategy promises to breakdown barriers, expand powers

Pharmacist prescribing, reduced hurdles for international grads, more medical seats among promises

Pharmacists in B.C. will be able to prescribe certain medications beginning in spring 2023, under the province’s new Health Human Resources Strategy. (Credit: Unsplash)
Adrian Dix, B.C. Minister of Health. (Union of B.C. Municipalities photo)

PODCAST: UBCM hosts ‘reimagining health care in B.C.’ session

Today in B.C.: Panel offers transformative solutions to province’s health care problems

Adrian Dix, B.C. Minister of Health. (Union of B.C. Municipalities photo)
Family confirmed that Sheri Onstein’s medevac plane was landing just before noon on Friday. (Submitted photo)

B.C. senior in serious condition finally flown out for treatment

Medevac delayed after post surgery infection

Family confirmed that Sheri Onstein’s medevac plane was landing just before noon on Friday. (Submitted photo)
Rebecca Onstein with her mom at the Mills Memorial Hospital in Terrace on Sept. 22. (Submitted photo)

‘No place will take her’: No help for B.C. senior in “life or limb” condition

“If they don’t get my mom out she’ll lose her leg or she will die. And that’s not fair,” says daughter

Rebecca Onstein with her mom at the Mills Memorial Hospital in Terrace on Sept. 22. (Submitted photo)
B.C. health minister Adrian Dix speaks on the healthcare crisis at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Whistler Sept. 13. (Credit: Union of B.C. Municipalities)

Dix offers words but no prescription as B.C. municipalities demand healthcare solutions

Mayors, councillors gathered in Whistler for Union of B.C. Municipalities convention

B.C. health minister Adrian Dix speaks on the healthcare crisis at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Whistler Sept. 13. (Credit: Union of B.C. Municipalities)
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