Health care workers in BC will be required to get a flu shot or wear a mask during the coming flu season in order to protect patients from the virus. That announcement from Provincial Health Officer Doctor Perry Kendall today. Kendall says the new policy will apply to health authority staff, doctors and residents, volunteers, students, … [Read more...]
Health minister says he won’t act on private clinics’ illegal billing
August 4, 2012 by
The City of Vancouver says it is up to the Ministry of Health to take action on two private health clinics found to be billing illegally. But Minister Mike de Jong doesn't seem ready to do so yet. Cambie Surgery Centre owner Dr. Brian Day is challenging public health care laws in court, and de Jong says he will wait to see how that plays … [Read more...]
BC’s Health minister is already onboard with releasing all MLA expenses
August 3, 2012 by
As a Legislative committee tries to iron out privacy concerns over posting MLA expenses online, BC's Health minister wants to know what the big deal is. The privacy concerns are around constituency office staff and their pay but Mike DeJong says he has been posting that information on his MLA website for years. "There is a global … [Read more...]
Digital Health Innovation Summit
August 3, 2012 by
Connect. Accelerate. Transform. A unique conference focused on the future and convergence of health, creativity and technology that is designed to connect people and ideas from multiple sectors, accelerate innovation and commercialization of new solutions that can make healthcare better, and transform an old and costly system into a new and … [Read more...]
It’s not good news for those living in the Fraser Health Region
July 31, 2012 by
An internal Fraser Health Authority Report shows a hike in emergency room visits and the number of days patients are in hospital putting even more pressure on a system already at capacity which may be preventing some from getting the care they need. The report says in the fiscal year 2011-2012 there was a 7.3-per cent increase in ER visits, … [Read more...]
Clinic launches health care fight
July 31, 2012 by
It's being called a defining case in the history of Canadian health care. Four plaintiffs have now joined a constitutional challenge of BC's health laws. The challenge, launched by Doctor Brian Day of the Cambie Surgical Centre, was started after a recent audit revealed the private clinic was billing for services normally covered by Medicare. Now … [Read more...]
Private health clinics in Vancouver run afoul of the Canada Health Act
July 18, 2012 by
Two private health clinics in Vancouver are facing court action from BC's Medical Services Commission if they continue illegally billing patients for services covered by medicare. An audit started in January of last year has found the clinics operated by the Cambie Surgery Centre found more than 200 cases of illegal billing. Commission … [Read more...]
Health officials remind people to keep an eye on air-quality warnings
July 8, 2012 by
With smoke from massive wildfires in both Colorado and Siberia lying over parts of B.C.’s south coast, likely until this Friday, health officials remind those with health problems to keep a close eye on their well-being. Gillian Arsenault speaks for the Fraser Health Authority and offers three tips: "One is to keep an eye on the B.C. air … [Read more...]
Private health providers not an option for reducing surgical wait times
June 20, 2012 by
Long waits for surgery are costing Canadians over one billion dollars according to the Fraser Institute but politicians doubt the group has the right prescription to cure the problem. The report says waiting times are costing Canadians over one billion dollars a year, $ 116 million here in BC. Health Minister Mike De Jong says BC has … [Read more...]
