Be Aware Health Care | March 12th, 2024

Worlds First: Implantable Hypertension System 

Good morning readers, big news in the world of medical innovation: A company called Aria CV has just hit a major milestone! Their revolutionary Pulmonary Hypertension System has been implanted in a patient for the first time ever. This breakthrough device targets pulmonary hypertension, a condition that can spell heart failure.

Implanted right into the patient's main pulmonary artery, this device works wonders by boosting blood flow to the lungs, mimicking the function of healthy vessels. It's all part of the ASPIRE PH trial, led by Dr. Ashwin Ravichandran and Dr. Scott Hittinger, who performed the groundbreaking procedure in Indianapolis, Indiana.

This could be a game-changer for patients battling pulmonary hypertension. 3 cheers for lifesaving innovation!

In this week’s email:

Ontario

1. Nurses Get Second Chance After Being Fired

2. TELUS Health Lands a Massive Deal

3. Community Groups Rally for Safe Consumption

4. Kingston's Disease Outbreak

5. More Bad News For Kingston

Canada as a Whole 🇨🇦

1. Canadian’s Surged in Interest in U.S. Care

2. Health Canada Cracks Down on Unauthorized Products in B.C. Store

Nurses Get Second Chance After Being Fired

An arbitrator in Ontario has dropped the hammer, ruling in favor of nine nurses fired over COVID-19 vaccine non-compliance. James Hayes, the arbitrator, didn't mince words, labelling the hospital's decision as 'unreasonable' and calling for the nurses' reinstatement pronto.

For the first time in Ontario's history, a hospital's been handed orders to bring back nurses they've let go over vaccine compliance. The Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) welcomed the decision, highlighting the importance of standing up for employee rights.

Quinte Health, the hospital in the hot seat, is playing it cool, respecting the ruling, and is ready to move forward and discuss steps with the ONA. But here's the kicker – this ruling is throwing fuel on the fire of the vaccine mandate debate in healthcare circles, sparking questions about where employee rights fit into the mix.

TELUS Health Lands a Massive Deal

In a major win for healthcare innovation, TELUS Health is gearing up to roll out its Remote Care Management (RCM) solution across Ontario, Canada. This cutting-edge tech is all about arming healthcare pros with the tools they need for top-notch remote patient monitoring.

The goal? Spotting patient issues early, slashing hospital admissions, and leveling up those patient outcomes. And you better believe TELUS Health isn't messing around when it comes to clinical best practices, integration, and top-tier privacy and security standards.

Drawing from their wins in other Canadian provinces, they're primed and ready to tackle the challenges in Ontario's acute care system. And let's not forget their track record – from Electronic Medical Record systems to mobile clinics for underserved communities, TELUS Health is all about making a difference.

With a strong commitment to community engagement and accessible healthcare, TELUS Health is on a mission to shake things up and make life better for Ontarians everywhere.

Community Groups Rally for Safe Consumption

Fifty-one community groups across Ontario, pushing the provincial government to fund supervised consumption services, especially in spots like Sudbury and Timmins.

The Canadian Drug Coalition is leading the charge, firing off an open letter to Ontario's Health Minister and Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. Their demand? Emergency funding by March 29, 2024 – no ifs, ands, or buts.

Why the urgency? Because these supervised consumption sites are lifesavers, plain and simple. Not only do they save lives, but they're also slashing healthcare costs and giving folks better access to health and social services.

The provincial government hit pause on funding applications for these sites back in fall 2023, right after a shooting near one in Toronto. And now, Sudbury's The Spot is facing the chopping block due to depleted funding, while Timmins' Safe Health Site is facing an uncertain fate, despite serving up hundreds of overdoses.

With opioid toxicity mortality rates through the roof in these regions, it's crystal clear: we need these services, and we need them now.

Kingston's Disease Outbreak

It's a wake-up call from Kingston, Ontario – recent outbreaks of invasive meningococcal disease are shining a light on the importance of vaccination. The price tag for protection is no pocket change.

We're talking a hefty $320 per child for the meningococcal B vaccine, and that's without the safety net of private insurance coverage putting lifesaving protection out of reach. Sure, certain high-risk groups get a free pass, but for the rest of the population? It's an uphill battle to access affordable shots. And with vaccine hesitancy on the rise among some Canadian parents, the stakes couldn't be higher.

That's where government intervention comes in – we're talking the need for serious action to level the playing field and ensure every Canadian child gets the protection they need.

More Bad News For Kingston

It's a scene straight out of a movie – a medical clinic in Kingston, Ontario, finds itself swamped as eager patients camp out overnight and queue for hours just to snag a spot with a primary care physician. But here's the twist: despite having room for thousands of new patients, the clinic's hitting roadblocks left and right thanks to provincial red tape.

Each patient has to be reached out to individually. And paperwork? It's got to be done in person. Cue the administrative delays!

The clinic's not taking this lying down, though. They're calling for systemic changes to streamline the process, urging the government to swoop in and save the day.

In the meantime, the clinic's pulling out all the stops – expect more rostering days and a big push for online registrations. Because if we’re really taking steps to improve wait-times; this is a baby one.

Canadians Surged in Interest in U.S. Care 

Canada's healthcare woes are sparking a surprising trend – a recent Ipsos poll shows a whopping 42% of folks eyeing routine healthcare south of the border, even if it means spending out of pocket. That's a 10% jump from just last year.

What's driving this trend? It's not dissatisfaction with quality but sheer frustration with the wait-times.

While some are hopeful for more funding to fix the system, opinions are split on whether federal funds are the magic cure. And here's where it gets spicy – whispers of healthcare privatization are gaining traction, especially among those with deep pockets. Stay tuned as Canada's healthcare needs to act and act fast!

Health Canada Cracks Down on Unauthorized Products in B.C. Store

Health Canada's not messing around – they've swooped in and seized some unauthorized health products from a store in Richmond, B.C. The Tokyo Beauty and Healthcare spot in Aberdeen Centre mall was caught selling items labeled as packing prescription and controlled drugs for skin fixes or cold relief.

Two of those items were said to contain aminocaproic acid (often used for bleeding conditions), a recipe for dizziness and nausea. And get this – it's not the first rodeo for Tokyo Beauty and Healthcare. Selling unauthorized health goods? That's a big no-no and comes with some serious risks. After all, Health Canada hasn't given them the green light for safety and quality. Stay vigilant, folks!