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Daily Health and Healthcare News
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October 2008: Landmark Research Study is Launched to Assess Impact of Personal Genetic Testing
A consortium of health care, technology and research leaders have joined forces in a first-of-its-kind research study to assess the behavioral impact of personal genetic testing on people who choose to receive such screenings to identify their potential risk for developing certain diseases.
October 2008: RBC Chair in Cardiovascular Research draws nursing researcher home
After a decade in American academia, Dr. Sean Clarke returns to Canada as the inaugural RBC Chair in Cardiovascular Nursing Research and the newest recruit to the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing and University Health Network.
October 2008: Bright, Young Minds at Lawson Fight Breast Cancer
The future of breast cancer treatment may involve targeting cancerous stem-like cells (cancer stem cells). These cancer stem cells have recently been identified as the cells that initiate and maintain tumor growth.
October 2008: Canadians are not practicing what they preach when it comes to hygiene
An international survey on hygiene practices has shown that for the third consecutive year, Canada tops the charts when it comes to knowing the importance of infection prevention.
October 2008: Key Findings of International Hygiene Survey 2008
All information below refers to the International Consumer Hygiene Study 2008 in which 10,000 consumers were surveyed across 10 countries.
October 2008: U of T Researchers reveal Epstein-BarrVirus protein contributes to cancer
Researchers at the University of Toronto have discovered that the EBNA1 protein of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) disrupts structures in the nucleus of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells, thereby interfering with cellular processes that normally prevent cancer development.
October 2008: Durham College Receives $840,000 for New Equipment from Provincial Government
Durham College announced today that the provincial government is investing $840,000 in one-time funding in support of the institution’s Critical Care Nursing E-Learning graduate certificate program.
October 2008: Canada's Nurses Stand Up for Medicare
Nurses for Medicare was launched today by Canada’s nurses to
protect and strengthen medicare.
October 2008: Hospital Delays Under Scrutiny by Researchers at the MUHC
The earlier a cancer is detected, the better the patient's chances of survival, particularly if the patient is a child.
October 2008: McGill University Health Centre Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Canada’s 1st Kidney Transplant
A medical milestone is being celebrated at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) this month.
October 2008: Sainte-Justine Hospital Selects IBM for Mobile Solution
Sainte-Justine Hospital has provided its physicians and care providers in the Hematology/Oncology department with an advanced mobile communications technology in collaboration with IBM.
October 2008: Protti Foundation Recipients 2008
At a ceremony in Victoria in May of this year, Courtyard Managing Partner, Dave
Wattling, presented $50,000 to the Denis and Pat Protti Endowment Fund, a fund
designed to support the University of Victoria's School of Health Information Science.
October 2008: New Specialist on Regulation and Licensure Joins ICN Staff
Highly respected senior nurse leader Anne Morrison has joined the staff of the International Council of Nurses (ICN) as a Nurse Consultant, focusing primarily on the areas of licensing and regulation.
October 2008: New 40th Edition of Gray's Anatomy Celebrates 150 Years as the World's Preeminent Anatomical Reference
Elsevier, the leading publisher of medical and scientific literature, announces the publication of the 40th edition of the most famous anatomical reference in the world, Gray’s Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice.
September 2008: Newfoundland Surgeon Heralds New Era as Royal College President - William Fitzgerald, CM, MD, FRCSC
The Royal College of Physicians and
Surgeons of Canada welcomes Dr. William Fitzgerald, CM, FRCSC, who succeeds
Dr. Louise Samson, FRCPC, as the College's 40th president.
September 2008: ICN Announces New Global Nurse Executive Institute
The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is delighted to announce the establishment of a new leadership institute for senior nurse executives from across the world.
September 2008: Royal College Starts Conference with Astronaut’s View of NASA Training and Medical Education
Former astronaut Dr. David Williams will open the Royal College of
Physicians and Surgeons of Canada International Conference on Residency Education.
September 2008: Royal College and Canadian Patient Safety Institute - Launch Road Map for Medical Educators to Ensure Patient Safety
The Royal College of Physicians and
Surgeons of Canada and the Canadian Patient Safety Institute today introduced
the first-ever framework of inter-professional patient safety competencies.
September 2008: Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International Releases Two New Publications
Two new publications will be published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International -- Ready, Set, Go Lead! A Primer for Emerging Health Care Leaders and Words of Wisdom.
September 2008: Canadian Patient Safety Week 2008
To raise awareness of patient safety issues, and
to highlight the important initiatives and innovations related to medication
reconciliation happening across the country, the Canadian Patient Safety
Institute today launched its fourth annual Canadian Patient Safety Week
(CPSW).
September 2008: Global accreditation for health professionals in hyper-mobile workforce aim of U of T’s Health Human Resources Migration International Symposium
Strategies for a global credential recognition system for health-care professionals are one of the aims for the University of Toronto’s Health Human Resources Migration International Policy Symposium.
September 2008: Federal leadership needed to create national mental health system
The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)
issues a strong reminder to politicians that Canada remains the only G-8
country without a mental health strategy, spending only 5% of its health
budget on mental health services.
September 2008: Amnesia myth challenged as researchers parse regions of the brain
Damage to the brain’s hippocampus may result in more severe loss of personal memory than originally thought, according to a study led by a York University professor.
September 2008: Groups cry foul over private clinic opening
Friends of Medicare and the Council of Canadians are leading a wide coalition of Albertans who are concerned about the Copeman private health clinic opening in Calgary on Monday September 22.
September 2008: Infoway Standards Collaborative releases catalogue of health informatics standards
Health informatics professionals can now access the latest standards, available in the Standards Collaborative Guide & Standards Catalogue. The free catalogue is Canada’s first reference tool on electronic health record (EHR) standards.
September 2008: Ottawa dermatologist honoured by Ministry of Health and Social Services in Iqaluit
Dr. Robert Jackson, of the Division of
Dermatology, University of Ottawa, and former president of the Canadian
Dermatology Association (CDA), was honoured for over 10 years of providing
dermatology services to the eastern portion of Nunavut, encouraging the use of
telehealth for dermatology consultations and as a leader among medical
specialists providing services from Ottawa.
September 2008: "From Microscope to Stethoscope" back for a third series
For a third consecutive year, researchers from the Research Institute of the MUHC are offering a series of fascinating lectures. From the microscopes they operate every day to the stethoscopes that put their discoveries to the test, they will discuss how their work gives us better quality medical care.
September 2008: Healthcare professionals are 'helping 'til it hurts': York study
Healthcare professionals who work with trauma survivors day after day are at risk of developing compassion fatigue, and the way to prevent this is to reduce their workloads and have them work in clearly-defined teams, a York University professor has found.
September 2008: Nurses Dispense Medications Faster and Pharmacies See Hard-Dollar Inventory Savings with McKesson’s Latest Connect-Rx Software
Hospital nurses are dispensing medications faster than ever and reporting more efficient workflow with newly redesigned AcuDose-Rx® automated medication cabinets from McKesson.
September 2008: CritiCall Ontario Providing More Service to Physicians and Patients
CritiCall Ontario - the province's medical resource for hospital-based
physicians who are caring for critically ill patients - has expanded its call
centre, implemented new state-of-the-art technology and moved to a new
facility designed specifically for this purpose.
September 2008: More Canadians than Ever Before Now at Risk, According to New Guidelines Launched by Canadian Diabetes Association
Canadians currently affected by diabetes, up to six million more have prediabetes putting them at an increased risk for developing diabetes and its complications.
September 2008: CIBC’s $500,000 donation to increase cancer diagnostic services and reduce wait times at Credit Valley Hospital
CIBC (CM: TSX;NYSE) today announced a $500,000 donation to the Credit Valley Hospital Foundation in Mississauga that the hospital will use to increase its diagnostic services for cancer patients from the current one-half day a week to five days per week.
September 2008: Viral “magic bullet” targets cancer cells with help of new compound
Researchers at McGill University and the affiliated Lady Davis Research Institute of the Jewish General Hospital – along with colleagues at the University of Ottawa and the Ottawa Health Research Institute (OHRI) – report a significant breakthrough in the use of viruses to target and destroy cancer cells, a field known as oncolytic virotherapy.
September 2008: Montreal to be the epicenter of research & treatment news in multiple sclerosis
Starting with a consumer program
focused on Living With MS, Sept. 16 at 9.00 - 17.00 in LE CENTRE SHERATON and
moving on to the scientific proceedings on treatment and research in MS,
Sept. 17-20 at the PALAIS DES CONGRES DE MONTREAL, the World MS Congress
offers several historic firsts.
September 2008: Goodman gift to bolster cancer research at McGill
McGill University is pleased to announce that its Cancer Centre has been renamed the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Centre, thanks to a major gift from the philanthropic couple.
September 2008: McGill celebrates new era of life sciences research in Canada
Boasting a long history of collaboration between its teachers and researchers, McGill University is now taking its deeply rooted research culture a giant step further with the opening of a multimillion-dollar McGill University Life Sciences Complex.
September 2008: Agfa HealthCare Project Wins 2008 Merit Award for helping Ontario hospitals improve collaboration
Agfa HealthCare, a leading provider of IT-enabled clinical workflow and diagnostic imaging solutions, announces today that the Hospital Diagnostic Imaging Repository Services (HDIRS) project has received the Showcase Ontario 2008 Merit Award.
September 2008: Herpes drug inhibits HIV in patients infected with both viruses
Researchers at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), McGill University and other institutions have discovered how a simple antiviral drug developed decades ago suppresses HIV in patients who are also infected with herpes.
September 2008: Serious challenges to recruiting community nurses will affect patient home care and support in near future, study says
High workload and burn-out rates, long hours, wage inequity across sectors, and perceived inefficiencies in providing home care services are serious challenges to recruitment and retention of community nurses, concludes a recent study by the Nursing Health Services Research Unit at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto.
September 2008: Canada Ranks Near the Bottom of Developed Countries In Providing Public Access to New Drug Treatments, Says New International Study
A first of its kind comprehensive study by Wyatt Health Management shows that Canada ranks near the bottom of developed countries when it comes to providing access to new drug therapies for its most vulnerable citizens including seniors and low income families.
September 2008: Taking back-to-school to heart
With a new environment, new friends and new activities, the first day of school is a big step in the lives of young school-age children and one that requires all their cognitive, motor and social-emotional skills.
September 2008: Largest ever Canadian study on osteoporosis shows osteoporosis-related fractures increase risk of subsequent fracture independently of low bone mineral density
Results of the largest ever Canadian
study on osteoporosis presented this weekend at the 30th annual American
Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) meeting in Montreal show that
Canadians over 50 years old who experience an osteoporosis-related fracture
are at increased risk of a subsequent fracture.
September 2008: VON Canada ready with flu clinics
VON Canada (Victorian Order of Nurses) is
once again providing influenza immunizations across Canada. This will be VON’s
13th consecutive year offering flu clinics from coast to coast.
September 2008: Toronto Grace Health Centre Foundation receives largest donation in its history
Toronto Grace Health Centre Foundation received
its largest donation in the over 100 year history of The Salvation Army
Toronto Grace Health Centre site.
September 2008: Nunavut patient records to be electronic by 2012
Supporting the standardization and technological
advancement of a Nunavut Electronic Health Record System, Leona Aglukkaq,
Minister of Health and Social Services and Richard Alvarez, President and CEO,
Canada Health Infoway (Infoway) today jointly announced a $7.4 million investment
by Infoway towards Phase 2 of the department’s E-health program.
September 2008: Infoway investment to increase access to telehealth in Nunavut
With the goal of increasing access to quality
patient care, Minister of Health and Social Services Leona Aglukkaq and
Richard Alvarez, President and CEO, Canada Health Infoway (Infoway) today
announced a $2 million investment by Infoway to expand access to telehealth for
Nunavut residents.
September 2008: Public Drug Plans: Canada Ranks Near Bottom in International Study
Media are invited to join patient representatives at the national release of the 2007 Wyatt Health International Comparison on Monday, September 15.
September 2008: Patients with complex health issues well managed in Primary Care Networks
Chronic disease management (CDM) programs are well and thriving in Primary Care Networks (PCN) across Alberta with patients often receiving faster access, more regular check-ups and standardized care, and tools and education that help them become partners in managing their own health.
September 2008: Sandoz opens second state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Boucherville
Sandoz Canada today announced
the opening of its second manufacturing plant in Boucherville, Québec, to meet
growing demand for its generic sterile products in Canada and in other markets
around the world.
September 2008: McGill physician named “Family Medicine Researcher of the Year”
The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) has named McGill family medicine professor Dr. Ann C. Macaulay “Family Medicine Researcher of the Year” for 2008.
September 2008: Doctors can now make immediate "housecalls" worldwide thanks to Webcam MD
Remember the days when doctors actually made
housecalls? Well, those days are back, thanks to Webcam MD, a revolutionary new
web-based medical technology site.
September 2008: Saint Elizabeth Health Care has received the 2008 Canada Awards for Excellence!
Saint Elizabeth Health Care has received the 2008 Canada Awards for Excellence Bronze recognition for Organizational Quality & Healthy Workplace®.
September 2008: Eczema Awareness campaign helps take the itch out of winter
The Canadian Dermatology Association is launching a national Eczema Awareness campaign beginning in
September and lasting through the dry winter skin season.
September 2008: Ontario group of hospitals selects AnyWare Group’s ROAM platform to enable Regional Dictation and Transcription System
Healthcare providers at the Region of Waterloo and Wellington County’s group of hospitals will now be able to make more timely diagnoses and provide more efficient patient care with AnyWare Group’s Role-Oriented Access Management (ROAM) management software.
September 2008: Sunnybrook Announces Largest Sustainability Program of its kind in Canadian Healthcare
Please join Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre on September 10, 2008 as they announce the launch of a new Energy and Facility Renewal Program, the largest of its kind for any Canadian healthcare institution.
September 2008: Siemens launches world's first 'pocket-sized' ultrasound device in Canada
Siemens Canada Limited has partnered with Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) to implement the new ACUSON P10 ultrasound system - the world's first hand-held ultrasound imaging device - replacing the existing technology.
September 2008: GIDRU awards support studies at world-class research facility
Gastrointestinal disease is probably not the last frontier for medical science, but it's definitely one of the
least understood human health problems.
September 2008: Spending time in the intensive care unit can traumatize kids
Children who spend time in the intensive care unit of a hospital can be traumatized by the experience even months after returning home. Dr. Janet Rennick from the Research Institute of The Montreal Children's Hospital of the McGill University Health Centre and her colleagues have developed the Children's Critical Illness Impact Scale to measure psychological distress in children following hospital discharge.
September 2008: Health care research vulnerable to conflicts of interest
Canadians may be in the dark about conflicts of interest affecting research into new drugs and devices because the standards set by some health science centres aren’t rigorous enough, says a York University professor.
September 2008: Estate of Bluma Appel Donates $500,000 to Student Awards at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing
Paying for their education has become a little easier for some nursing students, thanks to a $500,000 gift from the estate of Bluma Appel, given to support student awards at the University of Toronto’s Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing.
September 2008: David Benton Appointed the New Chief Executive Officer of the International Council of Nurses (ICN)
The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is pleased to announce the appointment of David Benton as the new Chief Executive Officer. David takes over from Judith A Oulton who is stepping down after 12 years at the helm of ICN. He will take up the post as of 1 October 2008.
September 2008: Plexxus to Transform Ontario’s Healthcare Support Services With SAP
SAP Canada Inc., a fast-growing subsidiary of SAP AG (NYSE:SAP), today announced that Plexxus, a not-for-profit healthcare support services provider, will implement SAP® Business Suite applications and the SAP® for Healthcare solution portfolio to support supply chain, finance, payroll and human resources processes across its member healthcare organizations.
August 2008: U of T discovery yields new hope for Fragile X syndrome treatment
Researchers at the Faculty of Medicine have uncovered a new link between the neurotransmitter dopamine and the genetic variation that causes the mental impairment known as Fragile X syndrome, raising hope for new treatments for the little-known neuropsychiatric disorder.
August 2008: Heart attack patients who stop statin risk death, say McGill researchers
Patients discontinuing statin medication following an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) increase their risk of dying over the next year, say researchers at McGill University and the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC). Their study was published in a recent issue of the European Heart Journal.
August 2008: Labour standards: Canada is lagging
As they get set to relax on this Labour Day long weekend, working Canadians might think their living and working conditions are among the best on the planet. They would be surprised to find out just how far they really lag behind workers in other parts of the world.
August 2008: Inequities are killing people on a "grand scale" reports WHO's Commission
A child born in a Glasgow, Scotland suburb can expect a life 28 years shorter than another living only 13 kilometres away. A girl in Lesotho is likely to live 42 years less than another in Japan. In Sweden, the risk of a woman dying during pregnancy and childbirth is 1 in 17 400; in Afghanistan, the odds are 1 in 8. Biology does not explain any of this. Instead, the differences between - and within - countries result from the social environment where people are born, live, grow, work and age.
August 2008: MUHC welcomes OCPM report on its Mountain Campus plans
The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) today welcomed the report from the Office de consultation publique de Montréal (OCPM) regarding its plans to modernize and expand the Montreal General Hospital as part of its Redevelopment Project on the Mountain Campus.
August 2008: Canada's commitment to cancer research demonstrated in new CCRA report
5 cents of every $1 spent by the federal government on science and technology R&D went to cancer research in 2006.
August 2008: Ornge purchases new fleet of high performance medically equipped helicopters
Ornge, Canada's leading innovator in the field of transport medicine announced today it is purchasing 10 new AgustaWestland helicopters to replace the current aging fleet of Sikorsky S-76 helicopters owned and operated by Canadian Helicopters Limited (CHL).
August 2008: Medical Records Institute Unveils Platform for Studying Cell Phone Applications in Healthcare
Medical Records Institute introduces today the Center for Cell Phone Applications in Healthcare (C-PAHC), a membership-based organization that will study and advocate the advancement of cell phone applications in healthcare.
August 2008: B.C. doctor says health minister's comments about safe injection site 'repugnant'
A doctor who works with addicts at North America's only supervised injection site says Health Minister Tony Clement's slam against physicians who support the facility is "repugnant'' and "introduces an element of ugliness into the discussion.''
August 2008: The Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International publishes nursing’s first etiquette book—the “missing link” in career advancement
Tips on proper protocol and decorum for nurses in these situations and many more are offered in The Nurse’s Etiquette Advantage: How Professional Etiquette Can Advance Your Nursing Career, the newest book from the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International. The 224-page paperback, written by Kathleen D. Pagana, RN, PhD, is full of helpful hints and lessons on the proper etiquette that will help nurses get a job, keep a job and move ahead in nursing.
August 2008: UOIT professor receives $116,500 in grants to create prototype of radiation detecting triage mask
Emergency medical service (EMS) responders may soon have another life-saving device added to the tools of their trade - a radiological triage mask (RTM) that has the ability to quickly identify radiation contaminants in patients, including individuals who may be the victims of radiological dispersal devices, which are also known as dirty bombs.
August 2008: MUHC, McGill University receive largest-ever CFI research grant
$100 million in federal funding for the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre on the Glen Campus will result in groundbreaking medical advances.
August 2008: McGill’s Mark Wainberg named to prestigious Légion d’honneur
McGill University professor Mark Wainberg, a trailblazer in HIV/AIDS research, has been named a Chevalier of France’s Légion d’honneur. The world-renowned order, established by Napoléon Bonaparte in 1802, is the highest decoration in France. Dr. Wainberg, a professor in the faculty of Medicine, Molecular Biology/Virology, is also the director of the McGill AIDS Centre at the Jewish General Hospital’s Lady Davis Institute, which he established in 1984.
August 2008: The University of Ottawa inaugurates its Nursing Best Practice Research Unit
The University of Ottawa's Faculty of Health Sciences and the School of Nursing are hosting the official opening of the new Nursing Best Practice Research Unit, on Wednesday, August 20, 2008.
August 2008: CFI'S Investments on Right Track for Canada's Research Hospitals
The Association of Canadian Academic Healthcare Organizations (ACAHO), the national voice of the Canada's Research Hospitals - Teaching Hospitals, Academic Regional Health Authorities and their Research Institutes - welcomes the investments that our member institutions have received from the Canada Foundation for Innovation's Research Hospital Fund.
August 2008: Canadian Medical Association/Not in My Backyard: Mental Illness Stigma Widespread Among Canadians
The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) today released its eighth annual National Report Card on Health Care in Canada, focusing on both access to health care services and mental health care in Canada.
August 2008: A first in Quebec: MUHC heart specialists implant new “smart” defibrillator
McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) heart specialists are the first in Quebec (and the second in North America) to implant a fully automatic biventricular cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator. While continuously working to “pace” the patient’s heart, this “smart” technology allows the defibrillator to adjust itself automatically if it senses any change in the patient’s condition.
August 2008: New CMA Report Warns Poor Air Quality Killing Canadians
The Canadian Medical Association released staggering new data today showing that this year alone as many as 21,000 Canadians will die prematurely from the effects of air pollution. While most of those deaths will be due to chronic exposure over a number of years, almost 3,000 will be the result of acute, short-term exposure.
August 2008: Canadian electronic health record projects quadruple in four years
Canada's electronic health record (EHR) projects increased by 12 per cent last year and have quadrupled since 2004 announced Richard Alvarez, President and CEO of Canada Health Infoway (Infoway).
August 2008: Canada Health Infoway finalizes preferred solution agreement with GE Healthcare for diagnostic imaging solutions
Canada Health Infoway (Infoway) today announced it has negotiated preferential conditions and pricing with GE Healthcare Canada through a Preferred Solution Agreement for their Centricity Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS) and Diagnostic Imaging Repository (DI-r).
August 2008: Hamilton Health Sciences’ energy projects recognized by Ontario’s Chief Energy Conservation Officer
Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) was recognized by Peter Love, Ontario’s Chief Energy Conservation Officer, for its leadership and long-term commitment to energy conservation as demonstrated by the hospital’s $48 million Energy Retrofit project.
August 2008: Early treatment is key to combating Hepatitis C virus - Researchers publish research results in on-line edition of Journal of Virology
Canadian researchers have shown that patients who develop a rapid poly-functional immune response against hepatitis C virus (HCV) can eliminate the virus rapidly without any treatment, according to a new study published in the Journal of Virology.
August 2008: Mexico City AIDS Conference: New Bill of Rights for Nurses
The Association of Nurses in AIDS Care and the Health Action AIDS Campaign at Physicians for Human Rights have collaborated to develop a Statement on the Rights of Nurses to Health and Safety; essentially a bill of rights for nurses. The Statement has already been endorsed by over 20 organizations ranging from the International Council of Nurses to Partners in Health, as well as many more individual health care providers.
August 2008: Physician Practices and Information Management
The healthcare industry is evolving and electronic health records and coding for reimbursement are two areas of change where health information management (HIM) professionals bring a multitude of data management expertise to the new era of physician practices, according to an article published in the August issue of the Journal of AHIMA.
August 2008: Providence Health Care: Vancouver Doctor Becomes President of International AIDS Organization
Dr. Julio Montaner, Director of the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, part of Providence Health Care, has been appointed president of the world's leading independent association of HIV/AIDS professionals.
August 2008: Ontario Power Authority to honour Hamilton Health Sciences for leadership and commitment to energy conservation
On August 7, 2008, the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) will honour Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) for its $48 million Energy Retrofit project. This project is recognized as one of the largest undertaken by a Canadian hospital and will translate into $48 million in energy savings for the hospital over 10 years.
July 2008: MediSolution Introduces Staff Planning Module for Virtuo Human Capital Management Suite
MediSolution Ltd., (TSX:MSH) today announced the availability of an innovative staff planning module for its Virtuo Human Capital Management (HCM) Suite. The tool is fully compliant with the Quebec government's Gestion previsionnelle de la main-d'ouvre provincial guidelines that require healthcare centers to closely monitor staff movement through a series of staff planning key performance indicators (KPI) and reports.
July 2008: York U study offers hope for schizophrenia patients who want to quit smoking
A new study by a York University professor is challenging the notion that people with schizophrenia are doomed to high rates of smoking and unable to quit once they’ve started.
July 2008: French Agency Receives 10 Million Dollar Grant From the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to Support the Establishment of National Vaccine Advisory Committees in Africa and Asia
The French agency Agence de Medecine Preventive (AMP) has received a grant of 10 million dollars from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support the development of National Vaccine Advisory Committees in Africa and Asia.
July 2008: Researchers discover cell’s “quality control” mechanism
Researchers in Japan and Canada have discovered a key component of the quality control mechanism that operates inside human cells – sometimes too well. The breakthrough has significant implications for the development of new treatments for cystic fibrosis (CF) and some other hereditary diseases, the researchers say. Their results were published July 25 in the journal Science.
July 2008: Servier Canada wins Coversyl® (perindopril) patent infringement lawsuit against Apotex Inc.
Servier Canada announced today that on July 2nd the Federal Court of Canada rendered judgment that Servier Canada’s patent for perindopril is valid and has been infringed by the generic perindopril 8 mg product sold in Canada by Apotex Inc.
July 2008: BMJ Group Launches BMJ Point of Care
Innovative Online Clinical Resource Delivers Superior Diagnosis and Treatment Guidance at the Immediate Point of Care
July 2008: Lawson Scientist Corrects Cystic Fibrosis Intestinal Mucous Defect in Mice
There is no known cure, but there is hope. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common, fatal genetic disease affecting young Canadians. This multi-organ disease,
characterized by an over production of mucous in the lungs and digestive system, affects one in every 3,600 children born in Canada.
July 2008: Ontario Adopts Canada’s First Cardiac Autopsy Guide for Unexplained Sudden Death (PDF)
The University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI) working with the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario has developed a standardized autopsy protocol to investigate unexplained sudden cardiac death in youth and safeguard genetic material to help identify surviving family members who might be at risk for the same condition.
July 2008: Pandemic research receives $1.6M funding boost
Densely populated cities and increased air travel can be factors which create and spread pandemic disease. But a McMaster University researcher is working with isolated Hutterite communities to understand the transmission of pandemic diseases like influenza.
July 2008: Alzheimer's breakthrough discovered by treating it like a brain injury
Use it or lose it. That slogan has people's knees knocking when they face the spectre of growing old and losing their memory to Alzheimer's disease.
July 2008: Ontario Enhancing Hospital Services In Scarborough
McGuinty Government Delivers Grant To Redevelop Diagnostic Imaging Department
July 2008: Kuwait chooses Accreditation Canada to develop national accreditation program
Accreditation Canada International has been commissioned to develop the national accreditation program for the Kuwait Ministry of Health.
July 2008: Boost adult literacy before ushering in new e-health era: joint studies
Critics who lament the sluggish pace at which e-health is being integrated in to the Canadian health care system should consider the low literacy and technology skills of nearly half the adult population, says the Dean of York University’s Faculty of Health, Harvey Skinner.
July 2008: Toronto East General Laying Off Registered Nurses: Ontario Nurses' Association says patients at risk
The Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) is gravely concerned with the future quality of patient care at Toronto East General Hospital following the news that the hospital plans to initially lay off six registered nurses and replace them with supervisors; the elimination of a further 30 RN positions is planned.
July 2008: McKesson Customers Report Significant Gains in Improving Patient Safety and Operational Efficiencies
To recognize excellence in the use of healthcare information technology, McKesson today announced the winners of its eighth annual VIP Award competition.
July 2008: ONA, Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital Resolve Grievance
The Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) and Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital in Windsor have resolved a long-standing grievance filed by ONA following the tragic death of Lori Dupont, RN.
July 2008: Canada's trans fat scorecard: fast food sector making good progress but many margarine and pastry manufacturers remain inTRANSigent
The Heart and Stroke Foundation today welcomed the recent progress in the fast food sector's reduction of heart-clogging trans fats, as indicated in Health Canada's second trans fat monitoring results.
July 2008: Solving Mental Health Problems by Turning Research Into Action
Government of Canada announces $4.4 million to improve mental health of Canadians
July 2008: Canada's Pathologists Unveil Action Plan
The Canadian Association of Pathologists (CAP) wrapped up its annual meeting in Ottawa today with the release of a five-point plan to ensure Canada has the highest quality laboratory services.
July 2008: McKesson Acquisition of EN-Chart Enhances Emergency Care Solutions
McKesson today announced it has acquired EN-Chart Scanning Program, LLC, a market-leading provider of computer-assisted facility coding and compliance solutions for emergency department (ED) visits. Based in Dandridge, Tenn., EN-Chart provides advanced coding and charge capture capabilities that enhance emergency department information systems (EDIS) and help to optimize revenue. EN-Chart solutions can be used stand-alone or integrated with existing hospital EDIS, including McKesson’s comprehensive Horizon Emergency CareTM emergency department solution.
July 2008: Genetic cause of innate resistance to HIV/AIDS
Some people may be naturally resistant to infection with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The results of a study conducted by Dr. Nicole Bernard of the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) bring us closer to a genetic explanation. Her study findings were published on July 16 in the journal AIDS.
July 2008: Culture and Depression: New data may help doctors more accurately diagnose patients
The expectation that East-Asian people emphasize physical symptoms of depression (e.g. headaches, poor appetite or aches/pains in the body) is widely acknowledged, yet the few available empirical studies report mixed data on this issue. A new study from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) debunks this cultural myth, and offers clinicians valuable insight to into cultural context when assessing a patient, leading to more accurate diagnosis.
July 2008: Survey finds growing concern about the impact of mental health issues in the workplace but lack of awareness in the Executive Suite
A survey of over 450 Canadian organizations conducted by Mercer in conjunction with The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) found that mental health issues are a growing concern for employers. Almost 80% reported that mental health issues have increased in importance compared to three to five years ago. Mental illness is estimated to result in 35 million workdays lost every year in Canada and low productivity related to mental illness adds significant cost to employers.
July 2008: Men and women programmed differently when it comes to temptation: McGill researchers
Temptation may be everywhere, but it's how the different sexes react to flirtation that determines the effect it will have on their relationships. In a new study, psychologists determined men tend to look at their partners in a more negative light after meeting a single, attractive woman. On the other hand, women are likelier to work to strengthen their current relationships after meeting an available, attractive man.
July 2008: George Brown College announces health sciences facility on Toronto waterfront
s the news headlines trumpet, George Brown College will be constructing a state-of-the art campus to serve as the new home for the Centre for Health Sciences, in the heart of Waterfront Toronto’s new East Bayfront development just east of Jarvis.
July 2008: Gene therapy research in developing world raises ethical red flags: experts
Early stage gene therapy clinical trials are recruiting patients from the developing world, providing medically deprived populations access to interventions that show promise but have largely unknown effects in humans. According to commentary by bioethicists at Carnegie Mellon and McGill universities published in this week's issue of The Lancet, the practice may be inconsistent with international ethics guidelines on justice.
July 2008: Intel Receives FDA Market Clearance on In-Home Medical Device for Management of Health Conditions
Intel Corporation today announced the receipt of 510(k) market clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Intel's personal health system, the Intel® Health Guide, a care management tool for healthcare professionals who manage patients with chronic conditions. The Intel Health Guide enables caregivers to provide their patients with more personalized care at home, while also engaging and empowering patients to take a more active and positive role in their own care.
July 2008: Largest International cardiac surgery study will compare open-heart surgery with or without heart-lung machine (PDF)
The world's largest cardiac surgery clinical trial, expected to involve 4,700 patients, will be undertaken by researchers at the Population Health Research Institute of Hamilton Health Sciences and McMaster University
July 2008: Six in ten aging Canadian boomers experienced short term memory loss in the past year
Findings from a recent survey on Age Associated Memory Impairment (AAMI) showed that 6 in 10 (58%) aging Canadian boomers have experienced short-term memory loss over the past year, with 7 in 10 (68%) noting that they are very or somewhat concerned about this complaint.
July 2008: York U embarks on health education and research partnership in India
York University will launch an initiative with the Rajasthan University of Health Sciences on Wednesday to develop joint teaching and research projects designed to give health industry professionals and nurses the high quality skills they need to work in health care in both India and Canada.
July 2008: New Canadian immigrants face less than ideal working conditions
Recent immigrants not only have poorer job situations than Canadian-born workers, but immigrant men are also twice as likely to sustain workplace injuries that require medical care compared with men born in Canada.
July 2008: Alberta’s Health superboard to tackle governance
Alberta's health superboard is expected to consider administrative changes to the province's health regions next week, including cuts that could lead to the departure of some senior executives from the regional authorities.
July 2008: Nightingale Launches ASP Service for OntarioMD Funded Physicians
Eligible physicians across Ontario can now receive funding to implement Nightingale's ASP EMR offering, representing a significant revenue growth opportunity for the Company
July 2008: The Director of the Research Institute of the MUHC elected to the Académie nationale de médecine in France
The achievements realised during his career as a researcher by Dr. Vassilios Papadopoulos, Director of the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) and Associate Executive Director of the MUHC, have once again been recognized and rewarded internationally.
July 2008: SSHA Adds Senior Expertise to Enhance Client Service (DOC)
Smart Systems for Health Agency (SSHA) has added three seasoned staff members in its Client Relationship Management Division to drive e-Health deployments in the laboratory, public health, telemedicine and physician sectors.
July 2008: RCPSC Announcement: Interim Director of the Office of Education (PDF)
I am pleased to announce that David Hawkins, MD, FRCPC, will assume the role of Director, Office of Education, effective July 1, 2008, on an interim basis for approximately six months.
July 2008: Children’s Treatment Network Makes Strides at Recent Symposium with Help from SickKids Foundation and Network Partners
Over 250 participants including 70 parents and family members of kids with special needs, 160 front line professionals, and 21 Board members and CEO’s of partner organizations gathered for the Children’s Treatment Network of Simoe York 2nd Annual Symposium in Alliston, Ontario in June.
June 2008: Wait time priority procedures continue to increase
Over a two-year period, Canadian patients outside Quebec underwent almost 60,000 additional surgical procedures in priority areas targeted for wait time reductions, according to a new study by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI).
June 2008: Redefining the Boundaries of Care
A major redevelopment of West Park Healthcare Centre which will redefine the boundaries of rehabilitative care received a $3 million boost today with the awarding of a planning and development grant from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
June 2008: Ministry of Research and Innovation and Health Technology Exchange affirm Ontario well positioned to be a global leader in healthcare technologies
Already the epicenter of Canada’s medical and assistive technologies (MAT) sector, Ontario has the opportunity to take a leading worldwide role in MAT research, development and commercialization, creating robust, skilled local employment and contributing to innovative healthcare delivery on a global scale, according to the Health Technology Exchange (HTX), a non-profit organization established by the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation (MRI) to help accelerate the development of the $4-billion MAT industry sector in Ontario.
June 2008: McGill researchers overcome chemotherapy resistance in the lab
Researchers from McGill University’s Faculty of Medicine have discovered a compound that reduces resistance to chemotherapy agents used to treat cancer. Their results were published in the June issue of The Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI).
June 2008: First CyberKnife System to be Installed in Canada
Accuray Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARAY), a global leader in the field of radiosurgery today announced that Centre Hospitalier de l'Universite de Montreal (CHUM) has purchased a CyberKnife(R) Robotic Radiosurgery System for installation at Hopital Notre- Dame du CHUM, in Montreal, Canada.
June 2008: Janet Ecker new chair of Rouge Valley Health System
The new chair of Rouge Valley Health System (RVHS) Janet Ecker says the board of directors will continue to focus the hospital on quality improvement during the next two years.
June 2008: CIHR Rewards Four Mentors Who Have Helped Create Tomorrow's Researchers
Three different Synapse awards recognize mentors who have helped young Canadians understand the value of health research and the potential of science.
June 2008: Medisolv Acquires Clinsaver & McCartney Consultants in Toronto
Medisolv— the market leader in Business Intelligence and Clinical Decision Support Solutions for hospitals and healthcare systems has expanded its global healthcare business with the acquisition of Clinsaver Software, Inc. and its subsidiary McCartney Consultants in Toronto, Ontario.
June 2008: New Change Foundation report puts human face on navigating Ontario health system (PDF)
Who is the Puzzle maker? Patient/Caregiver Perspectives on Navigating Health Services in Ontario. The Change Foundation Health Integration Report, June 2008.
June 2008: New Study Demonstrates High Level of Safe Surgeries Performed in Accredited Facilities
The American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF) has developed a new study which analyzes data submitted by accredited ambulatory surgery facilities from January 2001 through June 2006.
June 2008: CAMH introduces “Mental Health & Addiction 101” – A fast, easy information resource for one of Canada’s most widespread health concerns
With as many as one in five Canadians expected to face a serious mental health or addiction challenge in their lifetime, there’s never been a greater need for fast, easy-to-use education material on these issues.
June 2008: Canadian Physician in Zimbabwe Recognized by Royal College
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada is pleased to present the Teasdale-Corti Humanitarian Award for the first time ever to Dr. Paul Thistle, FRCSC, who has built his life around serving the people of rural Zimbabwe.
June 2008: New workplace violence prevention DVD for health and community care sectors
OSACH, the Ontario Safety Association for Community & Healthcare, today releases the first workplace violence prevention video developed specifically for the province's health and community care sector.
June 2008: Patient safety is first
This Citizen editorial was inflammatory, claiming "many doctors still sneer at nurse practitioners" and want to maintain an "exclusive club" by "being the exclusive custodians of the power to heal" and "protecting turf" not patients.
June 2008: Astronaut to launch patient safety plan
James Bagian is in Wellington to help the Government launch its national safety improvement programme, which follows the publication this year of summaries of hundreds of adverse events and near-misses in hospitals.
June 2008: Investigation among nurses: They would work more hours in mixed public-private practice
An investigation conducted among nurses by the Montreal Economic Institute reveals that the report of the Quebec roundtable on the nursing workforce neglects an important factor in nurses' availability: more than half (54%) are willing to work on weekdays in the private sector in addition to their usual 34-hour work weeks in the public sector.
June 2008: Cancer Care Ontario's Research Chairs Program aims to attract leading cancer scientists to Ontario
Cancer patients in Ontario live longer and enjoy a better quality of life than ever before because of advancements stemming from research. Cancer Care Ontario is today announcing the 2008 recipients of the Cancer Care Ontario Research Chairs, a program that will further strengthen Ontario's cancer research capacity.
June 2008: Landmark Provincial Aging at Home Strategy Launches in Toronto Central LHIN
Standing in front of six new Dodge Caravans that will provide area seniors with rides to appointments, George Smitherman, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, today announced a series of local Aging at Home initiatives receiving $4.9 million this year.
June 2008: McGill conference tackles global food crisis
The world is currently facing one of its most serious challenges in ensuring there is enough food for everyone.
June 2008: Weight-loss surgery can cut cancer risk
Successful bariatric surgery allows morbidly obese patients to lose up to 70 percent of their excess weight and to maintain weight loss.
June 2008: Stem Cells an Ontario success story
It was Ontario scientists who discovered the existence of stem cells back in 1961 and since that moment Ontario has been at the forefront of global stem cell research.
June 2008: President and CEO of VON Canada Acclaimed as President-Elect of CNA (PDF)
VON Canada (Victorian Order of Nurses) is proud to announce that Dr. Judith Shamian, President and CEO of VON Canada, was acclaimed as the new president-elect of the board of directors of the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) at its 2008 annual meeting.
June 2008: Emerging therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (PDF)
UCB today announced new data showing that CimziaTM (certolizumab pegol), the only PEGylated, Fc-Free anti-TNFα (Tumor Necrosis Factor), added to methotrexate (MTX), significantly inhibits progression of joint damage in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as early as 16 weeks after the start of treatment. Presented at the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) meeting in Paris, these data are the first to show such rapid inhibition of progression of structural damage in patients receiving an anti-TNF.
June 2008: Canadian scientists deliver on promise of stem cell therapy for lung disease
Two Quebecers suffering from pulmonary hypertension, a rare but debilitating lung disease, were treated in Montreal with their own gene-modified stem cells. This experimental treatment was administered at the Jewish General Hospital's Centre for Pulmonary Vascular Disease.
June 2008: Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre Announces Commencement of Construction of New Health Centre
The Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Center Board of Directors are pleased to announce that construction contracts to build the new health care facility have been successfully tendered, and that the actual building construction is now underway.
June 2008: Physician Adoption of Electronic Health Records Still Extremely Low, But Medicine May be at a Tipping Point
Despite the promises it offers health care and quality improvement, only a small minority of U.S. physicians have embraced electronic health records (EHR) as a routine part of practice, says a study in the June 19 online edition of the New England Journal of Medicine. The survey of 2,758 physicians—the most up-to-date and comprehensive picture of EHR adoption trends—shows that only 4 percent have a fully functional EHR system and 13 percent have a basic one.
June 2008: Same drug, different results: MUHC researcher on the path to personalized medicine
Minor genetic differences between individuals change the effect of a common medication, study shows
June 2008: Health System expands use of McKesson IT
A hospital is expanding its use of advanced information technologies and automation solutions from McKesson to better connect clinicians and staff members across the enterprise and enhance patient outcomes.
June 2008: Central Texas Doctor Named AMA President-Elect
Dr. James Rohack, director of Scott & White’s Center for Healthcare Policy, was named president-elect of the American Medical Association Tuesday.
June 2008: CIGNA Reaches across Borders to Improve Health Care
lobal Knowledge Exchange Network (GKEN) was created through an unrestricted grant from the CIGNA Foundation to the Wye River Group on Healthcare (WRGH), a non-partisan group known as a catalyst for constructive health care change. Initially, this three-year program will bring together leaders from government, health care, business, philanthropy and academia to discuss and advance better practices in health care among industrialized nations.
June 2008: CEO turns company's attention to more aggressive marketing
Montreal technology firm Sonomax Hearing Healthcare Inc. has a new strategy to free its shareholders from penny-stock shock and break out the company's full potential.
June 2008: Judith Oulton Recipient of Highest Canadian Nursing Honour, the Jeanne Mance Award
Judith Oulton will receive Canada's most prestigious nursing award, the Jeanne Mance Award, for her positive impact on the practice of nursing in Canada and internationally.
June 2008: More Bedside Care and Greater Accountability in Ontario's Long-Term Care Homes
Ontario is introducing a new level of transparency and accountability - as recommended in Shirlee Sharkey's report on staffing and care standards for long-term care homes - by publicly reporting and measuring health outcomes and resident satisfaction in long-term care.
June 2008: Intel Launches Online Community to Connect Caregivers
With a goal to connect and assist the more than 50 million caregivers in the United States, Intel Corporation today unveiled ConnectingForCare.com, the first online community of its kind for family caregivers, nurses, social workers and others to share information and provide emotional support, filling a void in today's healthcare system.
June 2008: Inspiring and Creating Change - This year's focus at the Federation of Medical Women of Canada Annual General Meeting
The Federation of Medical Women of Canada (FMWC) will be assisting members to speak up, speak out and speak together by offering communication workshops in conjunction with our 84th Annual General Meeting at the Palliser Fairmont Hotel in Calgary from June 22-23, 2008.
June 2008: Renowned Cancer Researcher and Leader of Scientific Institutions Wins Prestigious Friesen Prize in Health Research
Dr. Harold Varmus, President of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York and Nobel Laureate, has been awarded the 2008 Henry G. Friesen International Prize in Health Research. The Friesen Prize recognizes Dr. Varmus' exceptional leadership and innovative contributions to medical research and to the promotion of science over the past four decades.
June 2008: Medicines derived from cannabis: A review of adverse events
Researchers at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), McGill University and the University of British Columbia (UBC) determined that medical use of cannabinoids do not cause an increase in serious adverse events, but are associated with an increase in some non-serious adverse events.
June 2008: MUHC cancer care teams receive top marks from Quebec Health Ministry
Dr. Arthur T. Porter, Director General and CEO of the McGill University Health Centre, congratulates the MUHC Cancer Care Mission on the exceptional accreditation ratings it earned from Quebec’s Direction de la lutte contre le cancer. After an exhaustive assessment of MUHC cancer care capabilities, this agency of Québec Ministry of Health and Social Services awarded level four status – the highest possible ranking – to 10 MUHC teams. A further two teams achieved level three status.
June 2008: Mounting evidence links hospital cutbacks, high occupancy rates to increased risk of infection-related patient deaths
Ontario's health minister is ignoring mounting evidence from the United Kingdom that links high hospital bed occupancy rates and cuts to cleaning staff to increased risk of patients dying from hospital-acquired infections, says the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU), the hospital division of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario.
June 2008: CCI Awarded Contract to Support New St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton Hospital
Comprehensive Care International (CCI), a leading healthcare project management firm, is pleased to announce its selection as the vendor of choice for the St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton (SJHH), Centre for Mountain Health Services redevelopment project.
June 2008: CHCA urges governments to seize the opportunities for information technology applications in home care
The Canadian Home Care Association (CHCA) has concluded an important piece of work, sponsored by Canada Health Infoway, to gain a better understanding of the potential and readiness for information communication technology in home care in Canada.
June 2008: Submissions Now Open for the 2008 Canadian Healthcare Excellence in Quality Award (CHEQA)
Canada's premiere healthcare award, recognizing quality of care and patient safety, is now accepting submissions for a chance to win $15,000.
June 2008: Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital Presents “Implementation of Local Health Integrated Network (LHIN) Wide EHR”
With a decade worth of strides toward a paperless environment, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital has established a model environment for electronic medical records. Alison Anderson, HIM Director and Maureen Robbins, Health Records & Privacy Coordinator, will be presenting the benefits and challenges of this endeavor on June 13 at the CHIMA Annual Conference.
June 2008: Healthcare systems firms Clinitrust and Consulting Cadre enter into strategic alliance to offer joint web-based solution
Consulting Cadre International Inc., one of Canada’s leading healthcare solution providers, and Clinitrust Global Inc., one of Canada’s leading secure email system innovators, today announced they will market a joint solution to the Canadian health industry consisting of CCI’s Clarity Healthcare Solutions and Personal Health Journal deployed on Clinitrist’s CliniMail secure email system.
June 2008: Nortel, Bell Canada Help Santa Cabrini Hospital Raise Quality, Lower Cost of Care
Already known for its leadership in both emergency and long-term care, Montreal's Santa Cabrini Hospital has partnered with Nortel* [NYSE/TSX: NT] and Bell Canada for a pioneering approach to raising the quality of patient care while lowering the cost.
June 2008: Letter to the community from Osler Health Centre supervisor
In this, my second letter to the community, I am pleased to inform you of some of the initiatives underway aimed at improving patient care at William Osler Health Centre.
June 2008: Electronic Prescribing Increasing, but Barriers Remain, Report Finds
Thirty-five million prescriptions were sent electronically in 2007, a 170% increase from 2006, but significant regulatory and cost barriers remain, according to a report released Wednesday by the eHealth Initiative and the Center for Improving Medicaid Management, Modern Healthcare reports.
June 2008: New Microsoft HealthVault Applications And Devices Unveiled
At the second Microsoft HealthVault Solutions Conference recently, a wide range of health technology companies introduced more than 40 new online health applications and devices designed to improve information sharing between patients and physicians; promote fitness, wellness and workplace productivity; and give people innovative online tools to manage their health and the health of their families more effectively than what is available today. These applications and devices take advantage of new features in HealthVault, Microsoft's consumer health platform.
June 2008: Nightingale to implement electronic medical record solution with Newfoundland-based Killick Health Services
Today, Nightingale Informatix Corporation ("Nightingale") (TSX-V: NGH), an application service provider (ASP) of electronic medical record (EMR) software and related services, announced that it will implement its web-based Nightingale On Demand EMR solution with Killick Health Services Inc ("Killick"), a Newfoundland-based private multidisciplinary healthcare clinic.
June 2008: New Change Foundation report puts human face on navigating Ontario health system (DOC)
Ontarians want and need clearer two-way communication among all the parts and players in our health system and better coordination of services, according to a new report released today by The Change Foundation.
June 2008: Canadian healthcare companies provide medical aid for people of Zimbabwe
The people of Zimbabwe are in a desperate situation and Canadian healthcare companies are responding with significant donations of medical aid through Health Partners International of Canada (HPIC).
June 2008: CHCA urges governments to seize the opportunities for information technology applications in home care
The Canadian Home Care Association (CHCA) has concluded an important piece of work, sponsored by Canada Health Infoway, to gain a better understanding of the potential and readiness for information communication technology in home care in Canada.
June 2008: Five University of Ottawa researchers receive Canada Research Chairs and over $1.12 million in CFI grants
The University of Ottawa is proud to be awarded five Canada Research Chairs, four of them new. Among the five researchers, four will receive Canada Foundation for Innovation grants totalling $1,125,249.
June 2008: Health Experts Call on Global Leaders to Ensure Access to Life-Saving Pneumococcal Vaccines
Nearly 1,000 of the world's leading experts in infectious diseases and vaccines are meeting during the 6th International Symposium on Pneumococci and Pneumococcal Diseases (ISPPD-6) this week to call for renewed and urgent action by governments to protect their citizens against pneumococcal disease, a leading killer of children and adults worldwide.
June 2008: In the Caring Hands of Your Neighbour: VON Expands Neighbours Helping Neighbours Program (PDF)
VON Canada (Victorian Order of Nurses) is pleased to announce it has received $200,000 from Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) to help expand its successful Neighbours Helping Neighbours Program, started by VON Hastings, Northumberland, Prince Edward.
June 2008: Québec Science honours Michel Tremblay and the McGill Cancer Centre
A breast cancer breakthrough made by McGill Cancer Centre Director Michel Tremblay and his team was named Quebec’s top discovery of 2007 in the “Ten Discoveries of the Year” award compiled by Québec Science, as voted on by the magazine’s readers.
June 2008: Kaiser and Microsoft To Provide Health Care Program
Microsoft Corporation and Kaiser Permanente, the largest managed care organization in the United States, have united powers to create a special pilot program according to which patients can have a control upon their health records.
June 2008: Digitizing Healthcare
The total cost savings from using information technology in healthcare may be disputed, but there's little doubt some savings would ensue. HR professionals should try to boost the use of electronic health records and e-prescribing in their local and regional medical networks, experts say.
June 2008: A health campus in the Outaouais to take care of our region
The President-Executive Director of the Agence de la santé et des services sociaux de l'Outaouais, Dr Guy Morissette, the minister responsible for the Outaouais region and MNA for Chapleau, Mr Benoît Pelletier, along with his colleagues Maryse Gaudreault MNA for Hull, Charlotte L'Ecuyer MNA for Pontiac, Norman MacMillan MNA for Papineau, Stéphanie Vallée MNA for Gatineau, are pleased to confirm that the partnership needed for the Campus santé Outaouais project.
June 2008: Web sites let you rate your doctors
Type your doctor's name, then write in your comments on RateMDs.com. DrScore.com lets your grade your physician, while Vitals.com links you to other sites to check for lawsuits and medical board complaints.
June 2008: Nurse staffing debate shifts to Senate
A fight over the level of nurse staffing at hospitals has erupted on Beacon Hill, with a showdown looming in the state Senate this summer.
June 2008: Diabetes, skin trouble plague expat workers in UAE
Diabetes and skin problems are the main diseases afflicting expatriate workers in the UAE’s construction sector, it was found after a medical camp held here. “From what we have seen, diabetes and skin-related problems top the list of diseases that afflict construction sector workers here,” Davis Paliakkara, president of Indira Gandhi Veekshanam Forum (IGVF), an Indian charitable organisation, told IANS.
June 2008: GE-Pittsburgh varsity forms new company
GE Healthcare, a division of General Electric Company, and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre (UPMC) on Friday announced the formation of a new company to "improve the speed, efficiency of diagnosis and interpretation of lab results".
June 2008: Hazards abound in rural hospitals
Audits of the seven rural regions found that they are at risk of making medical mistakes related to everything from incomplete patient charts to medication handling.
June 2008: Patients at risk in health facilities
The Alberta government released seven sweeping audits of the province's rural health-care system following freedom of information requests by the Calgary Herald and Edmonton Journal.
June 2008: Province launches patient safety reporting
As the C. Difficile bacteria continues to make headlines in Ontario, the province has unveiled a plan to promote transparency in how hospitals report adverse effects.
June 2008: Province appoints new chief coroner
Dr. Andrew McCallum has been appointed Ontario's chief coroner, effective June 4. Dr. McCallum's appointment follows an extensive international search, which began when Dr. Barry McLellan stepped down as chief coroner last September.
June 2008: Dubai Health Authority Unveils Healthcare for All
Everyone Living in Dubai Will Have Access to a Good, Affordable Health Service That Meets Their Basic Medical Needs.
June 2008: Cross-Ontario Homecare hearings: Three eminent panelists to gather stakeholders' input
Two well-respected health policy experts and the former mayor of Ottawa will be crossing the province this month to hear from patients, family members, seniors and advocacy groups on home care reform in Ontario:
June 2008: OMA encouraged by IMG announcement
The Ontario Medical Association (OMA) is encouraged by the government's announcement today of new legislative and regulatory initiatives that will be introduced to reduce barriers and make it easier for doctors educated outside Ontario and for internationally-trained physicians to practice in the province.
June 2008: New Public Peterborough Hospital Opening Sunday: OHC Report Shows Costs Dramatically Lower than P3 Hospitals
As the patients move into the brand new public Peterborough Hospital on Sunday June 8th a new Ontario Health Coalition report shows that it was completed at a fraction of the cost of the Private-Public Partnership (P3) Brampton William Osler Hospital and the P3 North Bay General Hospital. The report, "Cost Comparison Analysis of P3 Projects Versus Public Hospital" raises serious questions about the extraordinary cost of the privatized P3 hospitals and can be found at the OHC website at www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca.
June 2008: Canadians expected change, but Health Council of Canada says many hopes for health care renewal are not yet realized
Despite the nationwide commitment to build real and lasting change and the infusion of billions of dollars brought about by the 2003 Accord on Health Care Renewal, progress falls short of what could, and should, have been achieved by this time, says the Health Council of Canada's latest report to Canadians, Rekindling Reform: Health Care Renewal in Canada, 2003 to 2008.
June 2008: Allan Rock designated the University of Ottawa's 29th President and Vice-Chancellor
Allan Rock, PC, QC, LLB will become the 29th President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ottawa. His appointment is effective July 15, 2008.
June 2008: Saint Elizabeth Health Care Wins Healthcare Safety Award! (PDF)
The Canadian College of Health Service Executives (CCHSE) has created a new award which recognizes one leading health care organization that is committed to improving safety within the health care environment, through leadership, culture, best practices, innovation and change management.
June 2008: McGill researcher named CIHR Chair in Public Health
A McGill epidemiologist has been named to one of 14 new Chairs in Public Health funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and several partner agencies.
June 2008: Patient safety group introduces new medication cards
The Manitoba Institute for Patient Safety launched the free It’s Safe to Ask Medication Card today.
June 2008: Canadian researchers launch French-language web site
Obtaining up-to-the-minute, reliable, evidence-based information on autism just got easier for the 6.8 million Canadians whose first language is French.
June 2008: Best and brightest leukemia researchers receive $1-million from Cole Foundation
For the second year in a row, the Cole Foundation is awarding $1-million in fellowships to the most promising researchers studying pediatric leukemia and related diseases. The fellowships will enable these young scientists from the Université de Montréal, McGill University and the Institut Armand-Frappier to pursue their research.
June 2008: CMSA/The Compliance Team, Inc. Agreement on Accreditation Services (PDF)
The Canadian Medical Suppliers' Alliance has reached an agreement with The Compliance Team, Inc. (TCTinc), a nationally recognized healthcare accreditation organization based in Pennsylvania, to have TCTinc become the CMSA's official accreditation source.
June 2008: Hip and knee replacement patients
Hip and knee replacement surgery patients - who are often elderly - are at increased risk of developing potentially life-threatening thrombosis, or blood clots. Nevertheless, according to a study by Dr. Elham Rahme of the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) and McGill University, most patients in Quebec do not receive the recommended treatment to prevent a thrombosis. The study will be published June 3 in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
June 2008: Ontario Tackles ER Waits With $109 Million Investment
Responding to challenges patients are facing in emergency rooms, the Ontario government is taking numerous coordinated steps to reduce wait times and improve patient satisfaction.
June 2008: St. Mary's Hospital goes live with Epic Systems' electronic medical record
At St. Mary's Hospital in Madison, it's goodbye paper charts and hello electronic medical records as the hospital successfully “went live” at midnight with the launch of its new EMR from Epic Systems.
June 2008: Woman says CAMC fired her because she spoke up about patient safety
A Fayette County woman has filed a suit against a local hospital, claiming she was fired because she raised concerns over patient safety issues.
June 2008: Superbug Stats Promised
Ontario will start publishing the number of C. difficile cases in the province by Sept. 30, Health Minister George Smitherman announced yesterday.
June 2008: Neuroscience diploma will have social and scientific impact
A new diploma program in neuroscience will teach York University graduate students about the biggest health care problem in the world – brain disease.
May 2008: New arthritis medication achieves fastest adoption ever recorded (PDF)
Celebrex, a new antiinflammatory medication has outpaced all recent new drug launches in Canada, according to figures released by IMS HEALTH.
May 2008: TBayTel Partners to Bring Innovative HealthCare Technologies to Northwestern Ontario
Better care for Northwestern Ontario patients through the use of Information Technology (IT) will result from a new collaboration of Smart Systems for Health Agency (SSHA) with TBayTel and Hydro One Telecom (HOT).
May 2008: Ryerson University names School of Nursing
Sheldon Levy, President of Ryerson University, today announced that the University is naming its School of Nursing in honour of Daphne Cockwell, recognizing her family's ongoing support for Ryerson and its Master Plan development.
May 2008: Physicians debate computerizing medical records
In 2003, President Bush said he wanted most Americans' medical records to be computerized within 10 years. The savings from moving away from paper could rise into the hundreds of millions a year, the president said. And electronic records can reduce medical errors, proponents said.
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