In the News

In the News highlights current media articles related to nursing practice topics. The page also includes new research study findings in health services in the media.

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Our health care system is also a major cure for inequality

Date:

May 14 2013

The Canadian Institute of Health Information (CIHI) on Tuesday released a new study on the impacts of Canada’s publicly funded health care on income inequality. Overall, health care spending amounted to more than $200-billion in 2012. Of this amount, over $140-billion was financed by federal and provincial tax revenues.

Legislation Would Allow Nurse Practitioners, Midwives to Admit Patients to Hospitals

Date:

Apr 26 2013

Health Minister Theresa Oswald today introduced legislation which would expand the role of nurse practitioners and midwives in the delivery of health care to Manitobans by allowing them to admit patients to hospitals.

“Nurse practitioners and midwives already play a key role in our health-care system by providing a wide range of services that enhance quality of care and improve patient outcomes,” said Oswald. “This legislative change will take advantage of their high level of training and skills and further streamline the admissions process, helping to save time for patients and their families while also making the health‑care system more efficient.”

Pilot program lets Albertans monitor heart health from home

Date:

May 2 2013

A new pilot project being launched in Sherwood Park will soon see 250 patients forgo trips to the doctor in favour of monitoring their heart health at home with the help of a virtual nurse.

As CBC’s Kim Trynacity reports, this new telehealth technology may offer a glimpse into the future of Alberta health care.

Health literacy lowest in older, newer Canadians, UBC conference hears

Date:

May 3 2013

Canada’s already low levels of literacy surrounding health could be slipping even more as immigrants with limited education — and the population in general — get older, according to the organizer of a conference at the University of British Columbia this week.

A 2007 Canadian study found that 60 per cent of adults (and 88 per cent of seniors) lacked the ability to obtain, understand and act on health information such as taking prescription drugs as instructed or preparing for a medical procedure such as a colonoscopy.

SFU hopes to put 'lab on a chip' medical tests onto smartphones

Date:

Apr 29 2013

An engineering research team from Simon Fraser University is working on a life-and-death puzzle.

Team members know that quickly determining which antibiotic will effectively treat infant diarrhea - a leading cause of child death in the developing world - can save a life and prevent the creation of drug-resistant bacteria.

They also know that existing tests can readily determine the proper antibiotic needed, but require laboratories, transportation and lost time.

NextGenU puts health care training within reach of millions

Date:

Apr 5 2013

A free for-credit online learning project that its creators say is the first of its kind was officially launched in Vancouver this week with the aim of bringing specialized education to low-income countries.

NextGenU already has more than 1,000 students from 54 countries in its first courses, which focus on health.

The project’s founder and president is Dr. Erica Frank, who holds a Canada Research Chair at UBC’s School of Population and Public Health.

Uproar over Health Council’s demise isn’t worth it

Date:

Apr 17 2013

If you want to know why the Canadian health system is mired in mediocrity, look no further than the predictable, braying response to news that the Health Council of Canada is winding down.

In Canada, we love our rhetoric, and we defend nothing more fiercely than the status quo.

E-health records saved medical system $1.3B in 6 years

Date:

Apr 22 2013

A study done for Canada Health Infoway, the federally funded organization set up to monitor and improve the use of information technology across Canada's health care system, has found that increased use of electronic medical health records has saved $1.3 billion over the last six years.

James Bond: a Surrey surgeon on a daring mission

Date:

Apr 20 2013

Nurse navigators, as I wrote a few years ago, are the greatest development in health care that most people have never even heard of, let alone encountered. They’re one of the most important, effective health care innovations as my major series on them showed. Unfortunately, our Canadian health care system doesn’t have enough of them because of a shortage of resources.

Enhancing the Role of Ontario Nurses Ontario Government Working Toward Better, More Comprehensive Patient Care

Date:

Apr 12 2013

Ontario is working to help nurses deliver more services that will improve the care of their patients.

The provincial government will work with the College of Nurses of Ontario to expand the scope of Registered Nurses and Registered Practical Nurses so they can dispense medication in specific circumstances - for example, when patients do not have quick access to a pharmacy.