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- Be Aware Health Care | February 20th, 2024
Be Aware Health Care | February 20th, 2024
Goodbye 124 📜 | Patients Paying For Care?
Marc
February 20, 2024
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In this week’s email:
Ontario News
Goodbye Bill 124
Grey Areas = Patients Paying
Age is More Than Just a Number
One Doctor’s Story is the Story for Many
Canada News 🇨🇦
Less Access to Transplants from Race and Beliefs
That’s 5 Reported Measles Cases for Canada
Forgiving Medical Student Loans
Ontario News
Goodbye Bill 124
The Ontario government is getting rid of a law called Bill 124, which put a cap on how much money public sector workers could get as raises. The Court of Appeal said this law was not fair because it hurt certain groups of workers more than others. Premier Doug Ford made this law in 2019 to help with money problems, but the court said there were other ways to control wages without hurting workers' rights. People are happy that the law is going away, especially workers in unions. They say it caused a lot of problems, especially in healthcare and trust with the government. Some workers didn't get paid enough, and now the government might have to spend more money to fix it. Even though the law was supposed to last for only three years, its effects are still causing problems because of contracts and long negotiations.
Grey Areas = Patients Paying
A new clinic named Holistic Solutions NP in Hamilton offers fast access to basic health care services without using Ontario's public health insurance - OHIP. Though it wants to help the community with health care, the clinic faces problems because the rules about OHIP funding aren't clear. Even though the Ministry of Health is trying to help hospitals by making changes, some small clinics, like Holistic Solutions NP, decide to charge patients directly for their services. While this method tries to meet the community's urgent needs, it makes people wonder if it follows health care laws correctly. The Ontario College of Family Physicians warns that there aren't enough family doctors and there's too much paperwork, showing that the health care system has ongoing problems. As the clinic gets ready to grow, there are still talks about whether its way of getting money is legal and fair.
Age is More Than Just a Number
A recent report by health economists shows that Ontario will need more home-care workers in the coming years due to a growing number of seniors. This report was requested by Home Care Ontario, and stresses the importance of having enough personal support workers (PSWs) and other home-care staff to maintain the current level of service. It estimates that Ontario will need an extra 6,800 PSWs between 2024 and 2029 to keep up with demand. By expanding the home-care workforce, the report suggests that hospitals could be less crowded because chronic conditions would be managed better, reducing the need for emergency care. Home Care Ontario is alarmed by projections showing a 23% increase in Ontario's senior population over the next five years. Despite government plans to tackle healthcare workforce issues, the report insists that immediate action is necessary to meet the growing need for home-care services.
One Doctor’s Story is the Story for Many
Dr. Ivan Escudero, a family physician trained in the U.S., is facing major delays in getting his medical license to work in Canada. Despite getting job offers from clinics in southern Ontario, he's been stuck waiting for seven months because of a lot of paperwork and rules. This shows how tough it is for foreign-trained doctors to practice in Canada. There aren't enough family doctors in Ontario. Even in places like Hamilton, people have trouble with access to healthcare. Even though the government is trying to make it easier for international medical graduates, Escudero's case shows there's still more work to be done to help them join the Canadian healthcare system.
Canada as a Whole 🇨🇦
Less Access to Transplants from Race and Beliefs
Reema Garcha and her family celebrate her kidney donation anniversary with a cake shaped like a kidney! Her bond with her sister, Binn Johal, grew stronger when Garcha donated her kidney to Johal. However, many South Asian Canadians hesitate to ask for kidney donations due to cultural barriers. Dr. Jagbir Gill notes that they're less likely to receive transplants due to awareness gaps and reluctance to seek donations. Initiatives aim to improve access to living donor transplants and raise awareness. Concerns about cultural beliefs impacting donation decisions have been raised in focus groups. Dr. Gill and Dr. Istvan Mucsi have studied challenges faced by South Asian and African, Black, and Caribbean patients, finding that online testimonials and culturally sensitive materials could help. Yet, racialized groups remain underrepresented in healthcare, fostering distrust. Efforts are underway to address these issues and improve access to transplants for all Canadians.
That’s 5 Reported Measles Cases for Canada
Five cases of measles have been found in Canada this year, sparking concerns about decreasing vaccination rates and the potential for outbreaks. The most recent case was a hospitalized baby in Toronto who had recently traveled abroad. Dr. Jeff Pernica, an infectious disease expert, warns that measles is highly contagious and can lead to severe complications, especially in children. While measles is no longer common in Canada, outbreaks usually stem from imported cases. However, the risk of outbreaks is higher due to low vaccination rates. Vaccination rates also lowered during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Measles symptoms show up about 10 days after exposure and include fever, runny nose, and a rash. Serious complications like encephalitis can occur, especially in young children and those with weakened immune systems. Dr. Pernica emphasizes the importance of checking vaccination status and staying up-to-date with vaccines to prevent measles and its spread.
Forgiving Medical Student Loans
The government said they'll forgive up to $60,000 in student loans for doctors who work in rural places to help with the doctor shortage there. But Julie Leroux from NOSM University's student council said medical school is expensive, and most students graduate with around $90,000 in debt. The loan forgiveness is good news, but it doesn't cover all the debt, and it's only for family doctors. Dr. Dannica Switzer, who works as a family doctor in northern Ontario, thinks it's important to keep experienced doctors in rural areas and suggests making plans to support them better and avoid them getting burnt out.
Sources:
Goodbye Bill 124
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/bill-124-appeal-court-ruling-ontario-1.7112291
Grey Areas = Patients Paying
https://globalnews.ca/news/10279113/ontario-clinic-direct-billing-highlights-grey-area/
Age is More Than Just A Number
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-seniors-aging-population-home-care-demand-1.7118076
One Doctor’s Story is The Story For Many
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/family-doctor-shortage-1.7117965
Less Access to Transplants from Race and Beliefs
That’s 5 Reported Measles Cases For Canada
Forgiving Medical Student Loans
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/medical-student-loan-forgiveness-1.7115514