The latest surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations is taking a toll on healthcare workers across the country. As provinces grapple with a sixth wave of the pandemic, a growing number of doctors, nurses and other hospital staff are calling in sick, raising concerns about the availability and quality of care for patients. Dr. Gerald Evans, infectious disease specialist at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, said hospitals across the province are struggling with staffing levels.
Listen to Dr. Paul Woods, medical doctor and healthcare systems expert; Don Thibert, a prominent figure in the private college education field in Ontario; Hilary Anderson, a senior executive in Corporate Services and Human Resources applied to healthcare; and Byron Ells, senior marketing executive and well-known leadership advisor to startups.
This week, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommended that fourth doses of the COVID-19 vaccine be administered to residents aged 70 and over, just as provinces and territories are expanding eligibility to millions of Canadians. In Ontario, fourth doses are open to anyone 60 and older, especially those living in long-term care homes and retirement homes; as well as First Nations, Inuit and Metis people, and immunocompromised people.
Several groups, including the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), have banded together to ask the federal government to move forward with a human resources strategy that would count, track, train and retain health professionals to keep Canada’s systems afloat. While waiting for the new federal budget, Dr. Katharine Smart, CMA's president, says a proper plan is needed. “This human health resource crisis is really becoming extreme and it’s dramatically impacting our ability to care for people.”
Home care can be tricky for families to set up because oftentimes there are too many feelings involved, a lack of caregiving experience, and other difficulties. To provide you with accurate and valuable information on this topic, we've recently had a conversation with Mike George, who along with his wife Jan founded Soaring Families, a community that is focused exclusively on helping family caregivers navigate the complex world of care.
A recent study out of Quebec suggests that a number of healthcare workers are grappling with life-altering long COVID impacts, and according to the researchers it could jeopardize their ability to work while putting strain on the healthcare system. The study surveyed 6,000 out of the more than 17,000 confirmed cases among healthcare workers in Quebec between July 2020 and May 2021 and it found a high prevalence of post-COVID health issues in those who fell ill during the first three waves.
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