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		 		<title>Provided by ShiftCentral</title>
				<link>http://www.shiftPortal.com/nbhealth</link>
				<description>nbhealth</description>
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				<copyright>Copyright 2012 shiftcentral.com</copyright>
				<lastBuildDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:23:56 GMT</lastBuildDate>
			
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					<title><![CDATA[Progress being made on N.B. catastrophic drug program, committee says]]></title>
					<link>http://shiftportal.com/nbhealth/redirection/index.cfm?id=17163</link>
					<description><![CDATA[The head of a committee tasked with creating the model and infrastructure for New Brunswick's catastrophic drug program says progress is being made, but the component that will help all citizens is still many months from being ready. Former provincial health minister Dr. Dennis Furlong said the province has asked the committee to work on three related projects -- vision and dental care programs for children of the working poor, and a prescription drug program for those without coverage -- before creating a catastrophic drug program. Furlong said the formulary for the prescription drug program has been figured out, adding that the initiative serves as a sort of "Section A" of the universal catastrophic drugs program. "Section B will be one that includes the highly expensive drugs," he said. The committee is planning consultations with representatives from health charities, after which it will seek input from medical professionals. The province has asked a consulting firm to assist the committee with examining how similar programs work in other provinces.
Related News:
Health group sings Valentines blues in online drug lobby - The Guardian Charlottetown]]></description>
					<category><![CDATA[Care Experience]]></category>
					<pubDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2012 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>		
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					<title><![CDATA[Nova Scotia's Extended Care Paramedic Program wins national award]]></title>
					<link>http://shiftportal.com/nbhealth/redirection/index.cfm?id=17164</link>
					<description><![CDATA[Nova Scotia's Extended Care Paramedic nursing home program, which allows seniors to be treated at home instead of the ED, has won a gold Public Sector Leadership Award in the Health Care category  from the Institute of Public Administration of Canada and Deloitte. The program, part of the province's Better Care Sooner plan, has responded to nearly 800 calls for care since being implemented in Feb. 2011, with 72% of patients receiving treatment at home. The Extended Care Paramedic program, delivered by Emergency Health Services in partnership with Capital Health, includes 17 nursing homes in Halifax Regional Municipality.]]></description>
					<category><![CDATA[Care Experience]]></category>
					<pubDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2012 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>		
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					<title><![CDATA[Nova Scotia expands free drug coverage for palliative home care patients]]></title>
					<link>http://shiftportal.com/nbhealth/redirection/index.cfm?id=17167</link>
					<description><![CDATA[Nova Scotia has launched an expanded the Palliative Home Care Drug Coverage Program, making patients receiving palliative care at home eligible for free full drug coverage. The Department of Health and Wellness will fund palliative home care drug coverage in all areas of the province. The program covers drugs recommended for coverage in the Pan-Canadian Gold Standards in Palliative Home Care. The drugs will be dispensed at no cost to the patient at community pharmacies, which will direct-bill the Department of Health for expenses.]]></description>
					<category><![CDATA[Care Experience]]></category>
					<pubDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2012 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>		
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					<title><![CDATA[Ontario joint project steers lung cancer patients into treatment, helps reduce wait times]]></title>
					<link>http://shiftportal.com/nbhealth/redirection/index.cfm?id=17174</link>
					<description><![CDATA[A joint project by the Niagara Health System and St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton has helped reduce wait times for diagnosis of patients who may have lung cancer from 95 days to 27, officials say. The Lung Diagnostic Assessment Program includes a &quot;nurse navigator&quot; who works with patients to guide them through the treatment and care processes. The navigator acts as everything from an initial contact with care providers to serving as a supporter and counsellor. The position has helped bring down the wait time for diagnosis and treatment&nbsp; If a patient is diagnosed with lung cancer, the team collaborates with oncologists, surgeons and other specialists to determine the best treatment method as quickly as possible. The head of oncology for the NHS said the LDAP has been &quot;huge&quot; for patients, having helped the navigation of patients with family physicians to the appropriate referrals. He adds that the success of the program could mean a look at initiating similar projects for other kinds of cancers]]></description>
					<category><![CDATA[Care Experience]]></category>
					<pubDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2012 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>		
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					<title><![CDATA[Sask. residents with depression, COPD receiving better care as a result of CDM Collaborative: report]]></title>
					<link>http://shiftportal.com/nbhealth/redirection/index.cfm?id=17172</link>
					<description><![CDATA[Saskatchewan's Health Quality Council has released a final report on the Chronic Disease Management Collaborative, saying the initiative involving 49 family practices around the province has improved care for residents living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and depression. Two thirds of people were assessed with a patient questionnaire within one week of being diagnosed with depression, and 84% received an assessment at some point during the Collaborative. Meanwhile, there was a 35% increase in the percentage of people who had their COPD diagnoses confirmed with a spirometry test, with80% of health regions in the Collaborative creating at least one new pulmonary rehabilitation program. Two thirds of patients with COPD had created an action plan to help them better self-manage their condition at home, and researchers noted a 24% increase in the percentage of COPD patients being offered counselling to help them quit smoking. The first Collaborative focused on improving care for people with diabetes and coronary artery disease.
]]></description>
					<category><![CDATA[Care Experience]]></category>
					<pubDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2012 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>		
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					<title><![CDATA[B.C. government makes available 10-year plan to address mental health and substance abuse]]></title>
					<link>http://shiftportal.com/nbhealth/redirection/index.cfm?id=17157</link>
					<description><![CDATA[The B.C. Ministry of Health's Health and Human Services Library has published Healthy minds, healthy people: a ten-year plan to address mental health and substance use in British Columbia. Monitoring progress: first annual report. The report aims to transform the approach to mental health and substance use in the province through health promotion across the lifespan, and across the range of people's mental health needs. The plan considers the mental health of the entire population and presents a positive outlook that aims to build and support strong mental health for everyone in British Columbia. The plan establishes three overarching goals:

    Improve the mental health and well-being of the population;
    Improve the quality and accessibility of services for people with mental health and substance use problems; and,
    Reduce the economic costs to the public and private sectors resulting from mental health and substance use problems.
]]></description>
					<category><![CDATA[Care Experience]]></category>
					<pubDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2012 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>		
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					<title><![CDATA[B.C. Ombudsperson's report lists recommendations to improve seniors care]]></title>
					<link>http://shiftportal.com/nbhealth/redirection/index.cfm?id=17177</link>
					<description><![CDATA[B.C. Ombudsperson Kim Carter has released a report on a three-year investigation into the care of seniors in British Columbia. The report makes 143 findings and 176 recommendations designed to improve home and community care, home support, assisted living and residential care services for seniors. Some recommendations are specific to the Ministry of Health and the five regional health authorities. The Ombudsperson found:

    that the Ministry has not made sure that seniors and their families have access to adequate assistance and support to navigate the home and community care system;
    that the Ministry has not analyzed whether the home support program is meeting its goal of assisting seniors to live in their own homes as long as it is practical;
    that it is ineffective and inadequate for the Ministry to rely on responding to complaints and serious incident reports as its main form of oversight for assisted living; and,
    that the Ministry's decision to maintain two separate legislative frameworks for residential care has resulted in unfair differences in the care and services seniors receive and the fees they pay.

Related News:
Disturbing report on elder care could make Liberals squirm - Globe and Mail
Ombudsperson provides roadmap for improved standards in residential care facilities - HEU]]></description>
					<category><![CDATA[Care Experience]]></category>
					<pubDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2012 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>		
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					<title><![CDATA[B.C. unveils seniors care plan]]></title>
					<link>http://shiftportal.com/nbhealth/redirection/index.cfm?id=17162</link>
					<description><![CDATA[B.C.'s health minister has outlined the province's seniors care action plan. Mike de Jong said the government will focus on six areas of change, which include establishing a seniors advocate to ensure a more accessible and transparent approach to seniors care. The province will also provide the United Way of the Lower Mainland with $15 million to expand home-support services in up to 65 communities. He promised a one-stop seniors services toll-free phone line, along with improved information, including online access to facility reports and easier access to health needs. De Jong said consultations on the development of a provincial elder abuse prevention and identification response plan will lead to a program being in place by December.
Related News:
B.C. Health Minister unveils seniors care plan - The Canadian Press
B.C. seniors wait 205 days for care assessments: ombudsperson - Vancouver Sun
Seniors advocate expected as part of premier's plan - Vancouver Sun
Senior solutions will take a long time - Victoria Times-Colonist]]></description>
					<category><![CDATA[Care Experience]]></category>
					<pubDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2012 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>		
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					<title><![CDATA[Fraser Health launches community-based mental health services]]></title>
					<link>http://shiftportal.com/nbhealth/redirection/index.cfm?id=17169</link>
					<description><![CDATA[Fraser Health has launched the Surrey Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program, an outreach program that takes mental health support outside the walls of traditional treatment facilities to community settings for hard-to-reach clients. Services include comprehensive assessment, treatment, rehabilitation and support activities. The ACT team includes a team coordinator, psychiatrist and 10-11 mental health staff including social workers, nurses, mental healthcare workers, occupational therapists and peer support workers. The team will be mobile with 75% of their services delivered in settings such as a person&rsquo;s home, shelters, drop-in centres, or parks.]]></description>
					<category><![CDATA[Care Experience]]></category>
					<pubDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2012 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>		
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					<title><![CDATA[Les rôles des infirmières cliniciennes spécialisées dans la promotion des résultats optimaux pour les patients]]></title>
					<link>http://shiftportal.com/nbhealth/redirection/index.cfm?id=17175</link>
					<description><![CDATA[La Fondation canadienne de la recherche sur les services de sant&eacute; a publi&eacute; un rapport sur le r&ocirc;le des infirmi&egrave;res cliniciennes sp&eacute;cialis&eacute;es (ICS) dans la s&eacute;lection et l'utilisation des connaissances afin d'am&eacute;liorer la pratique et d'&eacute;laborer des politiques fond&eacute;es sur la pratique, visant &agrave; promouvoir des r&eacute;sultats optimaux pour les patients. L'&eacute;tude avait pour objectif de comprendre les m&eacute;thodes adopt&eacute;es par les ICS pour s&eacute;lectionner les connaissances issues de la recherche et les appliquer dans le but &agrave; long terme d&rsquo;&eacute;laborer des strat&eacute;gies au-del&agrave; de la collecte et de la diffusion des donn&eacute;es probantes. Les r&eacute;sultats pr&eacute;liminaires laissent entendre que les ICS utilisent invariablement les donn&eacute;es de recherche pour &eacute;clairer leur pratique. Les ICS semblent bien plac&eacute;es pour aider les services d&rsquo;am&eacute;lioration et d&rsquo;assurance de la qualit&eacute; relativement aux besoins cliniques ou aux besoins des patients, explique l'&eacute;tude.]]></description>
					<category><![CDATA[Care Experience]]></category>
					<pubDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2012 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>		
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					<title><![CDATA[Updated hypertension guidelines released by Canadian Hypertension Education Program]]></title>
					<link>http://shiftportal.com/nbhealth/redirection/index.cfm?id=17165</link>
					<description><![CDATA[The Canadian Hypertension Education Program has introduced 2012 hypertension guidelines, updating last year's guidelines to put greater emphasis on the importance of out-of-office blood pressure measurement in both the diagnosis and management of hypertension. Also updated is the target blood pressure of ]]></description>
					<category><![CDATA[Care Experience]]></category>
					<pubDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2012 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>		
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