Be Aware Health Care | July 26, 2023

Canadian Study Highlights Clinical Impact of Food Insecurity on Youth's Mental Health

A new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) reveals the clinical impact of food insecurity on young people's mental health. Rising rent and food prices are making it challenging for families to afford basic necessities. The study found that in food-insecure households, children and adolescents were more likely to rely on health services to cope with mental health and substance use disorders. With 6.9 million Canadians, including 1.8 million children, facing food insecurity, researchers emphasize the need for initiatives to tackle this issue, such as basic-income programs and school nutrition programs, to prevent long-term consequences on mental health.

In This Week’s Email:

Ontario News

1. Introducing Shoppers Drug Mart’s First Care Clinics in Ontario

2. Ontario Announces $330 Million Boost in Children’s Health Care Funding

3. Addressing Health-Care Staffing Shortages: Ontario Launches 3 Programs

4. 11% Wage Increase in 2-Year Deal

Canada News

1. Scribeberry: The Edmonton-Made App Alleviating Burnout for Health-Care Professional

2. Gonorrhea Cases Across Several Countries | WHO Warns

3. Canada Launches Nationwide Crisis Hotline | 988

Ontario News

Introducing Shoppers Drug Mart’s First Care Clinics in Ontario

Shoppers Drug Mart has introduced its first pharmacy care clinics in Ontario, with two locations opening in Burlington and Mississauga. These clinics offer a wide range of pharmacy healthcare services, including the assessment and treatment of injuries and common ailments such as urinary tract infections and pink eye. The clinics are fully integrated with the pharmacies, which have been redesigned to enhance the patient experience. With the expanded scope of practice for pharmacists in Ontario, these clinics aim to make healthcare services more accessible to Ontarians. Appointments can be booked, but walk-ins are also welcome. The success of pharmacist-led clinics in Alberta and Nova Scotia has demonstrated their potential to provide convenient care, closer to home, and reduce unnecessary visits to emergency departments.

Ontario Announces $330 Million Boost in Children’s Health Care Funding

The Ontario government will increase children's healthcare spending by $330 million annually to alleviate the burden on the pediatric health system. The move comes amidst a crisis in pediatric care worsened by the pandemic, leading to long wait times for treatment and mental health support. The funding will expand treatment capacity and improve access to critical services, reducing waitlists and ensuring children receive specialized care promptly. The federal government has also committed $2 billion to improve children's health care across Canada.

Addressing Health-Care Staffing Shortages: Ontario Launches 3 Programs

Ontario is implementing three new programs to address staffing shortages in the healthcare sector. The initiatives include a $40-million fund to improve patient access to services, a program to expedite the hiring of internationally trained physicians, and a nursing mentor program. These programs come as hospitals struggle with a severe shortage of nurses, leading to temporary closures of emergency rooms. The Models of Care Innovation Fund will support projects for faster access to care and increased healthcare worker capacity. The Clinical Scholar Program aims to pair experienced nurses with new graduates or internationally trained nurses, while the "practice ready" program will bring 50 new doctors to Ontario by 2024.

11% Wage Increase in 2-Year Deal

The Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) has announced an arbitration decision granting an 11% wage increase over the next two years for hospital nurses and healthcare professionals in the province. This marks the most significant wage increase in decades for over 65,000 registered nurses and healthcare workers. Combined with recent arbitration decisions, the total wage increases will average 16% from March 2023 to April 2024.

The wage negotiations followed the overturning of Bill 124, which capped healthcare workers' wages at one percent compensation for three years. Nurses had been pushing for better wages to address staffing issues and retention challenges, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ONA sees this agreement as a vital step in attracting and retaining nurses and enhancing patient care in the Ontario health care system. The decision also includes provisions for "dedicated isolation pay" for healthcare workers exposed to communicable diseases, including COVID-19.

Canada News

Scribeberry: The Edmonton-Made App Alleviating Burnout for Health-Care Professional

Edmonton physician Dr. Zaahir Moloo has developed a web-based app called Scribeberry to tackle burnout among healthcare professionals. The app uses artificial intelligence to generate medical dictations, transcriptions, and chart notes, aiming to reduce administrative burdens for physicians and improve patient care. Moloo was inspired to create the app after facing burnout himself due to the stressful documentation process in his family medicine practice. Teaming up with software developer Amaan Rattansi, they designed Scribeberry to automatically generate notes while doctors interact with patients, freeing them from time-consuming administrative tasks. The app also ensures patient data privacy and has partnered with Microsoft for Startups to expand its reach across North America, gaining popularity in Alberta and Ontario.

Gonorrhea Cases Across Several Countries | WHO Warns

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning about a surge in cases of highly resistant gonorrhea in several countries, including Canada. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted prevention, testing, and treatment services for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), leading to a resurgence of infections. Gonorrhea, caused by the Neisseria gonorrheae bacterium, has become increasingly challenging to treat due to antimicrobial resistance. WHO's latest guidelines emphasize the need for improved testing and diagnosis of STIs to combat their spread. Gonorrhea cases have nearly tripled in Canada over the past decade, raising concerns about public health.

Canada Launches Nationwide Crisis Hotline | 988

Canada is set to launch its nationwide crisis hotline, 988, on November 30th, providing free texting or calling services for those struggling with mental health challenges. The government will invest $156 million over three years in the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) to support the 988: Suicide Crisis Helpline. The service will offer immediate and confidential suicide prevention support in English and French, 24/7, by trained crisis responders via phone or text. The idea for the service was proposed by MP Todd Doherty in 2020 and was formally announced in August 2022. Canada follows the United States, which also established a nationwide 988 crisis line in July 2022. While work is underway to introduce 988 in Canada, existing crisis services like Talk Suicide Canada and Kids Help Phone remain available for support