Union leaders warn of a potential collapse in Ontario's healthcare due to inadequate support. CUPE & OCHU's report reveals the province lags behind Canada in hospital staffing; needing 33,778 more positions to match. While the government touts a workforce increase of 63k nurses & 8k physicians since 2018, hospitals still face fast staff turnover. Current RPN vacancies stand at 12%, up from 4.71%.
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This week on the Caring Support Podcast, we talk with Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist Natasha Halliday. Come with us as we learn about being a social worker, the mental health symptoms you should watch for in yourself, and how you can help your loved ones or coworkers who may be experiencing mental health difficulties.
Health Canada greenlights Arexvy, the inaugural respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine for seniors aged 60 and above. Amid calls from doctors for an RSV vaccine targeting seniors, the approval marks a crucial step. However, limited utilization anticipated during the upcoming respiratory virus season. GSK's Arexvy demonstrates promise, boasting an 82% prevention rate for RSV-induced lower respiratory tract issues in a recent trial. The RSV season spans late fall through spring in Canada.
A new COVID-19 variant, EG.5 emerges, underlining ongoing global mutations. EG.5 was added to WHO monitoring on July 19. EG.5 constitutes 14.6% of UK cases and 17.3% of US cases. Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an expert in infectious diseases at University Health Network in Toronto, anticipates the emergence of EG.5 cases in Canada shortly, possibly even if they have not surfaced yet. “It's probably everywhere and if it isn't everywhere, it'll be everywhere,” he told CTVNews.ca in a phone interview Monday.
Canadian health officials want people to consider getting a COVID-19 booster shot before the flu season, despite it being almost two months away. An immunologist from McMaster University believes it will be challenging to achieve vaccination targets this fall, given historical difficulties in reaching required numbers for flu vaccinations. The city's COVID-19 dashboard shows over 76,000 infections and 700 deaths since the pandemic began.
London Health Sciences Centre launched Ontario eHub Health Information Exchange, sharing patient data with LTC homes within 30 mins of discharge. Collaborating with 29 LTC providers in southwestern Ontario, it streamlines care by providing medication, health history, allergies, and care plans through electronic health records, eliminating LTC staff's need to call for information. Immediate support awaits patients at their new home.
We'll keep you updated on all new application updates and features!