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Specialty care
Celebrating and helping caregivers
Public
Dr Z. Essak, MD - Vancouver BC - February 16, 2018
According to Statistics Canada there are eight million caregivers in Canada. Most are unpaid, regular people who are taking care of aging and ailing parents, children with disabilities, and friends who need them. Caregivers get little or no attention, despite their massive numbers.
Some caregivers find inspiration and friendship from those they care for and some find themselves with personal challenges through caring for others. Healthcare providers may experience the same themselves and see this in those they serve.
Sharing caregivers' stories may help others find inspiration or recognize the impact on themselves and what they might be able to do.
Federal Government seeks intervenor status in B.C. health care court case
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Z. Essak, MD - Vancouver - April 26, 2016.
Below is a link to the Globe and Mail article from April 13, 2016.
Hopefully, the debate around the court case, involving Dr. Brian Day's private Cambie Surgery Centre and the BC Provincial Government with a trial scheduled to begin June 6, will not become polarized with views of exclusivity between public and private health care but instead what we could and should do to make public health care more effective so that escape valves, like private care, are less needed without eradicating access to private care by individuals should they need it.
How far do individuals have to go? If the public system delivers the needed service great. If not, is there private care here at home in Canada or do people have to go to other countries?
Do doctors need legislation to assist patients end of life?
Public
Since the Supreme Court of Canada February 6, 2015 decision on physician assisted suicide the question on people's minds is, "Do physicians need legislation to help them with this ruling?"
The BC Civil Liberties Association ( BCCLA) was quick to allay any fears of a void occurring should new legislation not be enacted by Federal or Provincial Governments reminding that if no action is taken, physician-assisted dying will be regulated in the same manner as other health care matters.
Is the CPSBC requirement for drivers licence information really necessary?
Public
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC (CPSBC) licence renewal for 2014 includes a new requirement that doctors provide their drivers licence information to the College.
Many doctors have contacted the College with concern about this further intrusion into their personal privacy rights. The College has responded that it is required as part of the criminal records check that all practitioners must consent to.
This was explored further through conversations with the CPSBC staff and with staff at the Ministry of Justice.
Is it really necessary for doctors to provide their drivers licence information for a criminal records check? The short answer is no. For more details read on.
eHealth series in the Province newspaper
Public
Vancouver, BC - Sep 24, 2013
Beginning at the end of last week and continuing this week the Province newspaper is publishing a series of articles on eHealth.
Topics so far include:
Video link saves time all around.
Website brings help to chronic disease sufferers.
New Electronic tools are making patients active partners in their own health care.
Isn't there a medical app for that?
A doctor, a patient and an iPad: Innovation on the front lines.
Burnout and Resilience
Public
Vancouver BC - Oct 19, 2011.
A talk on burnout in doctors at a recent conference in Vancouver provided good information and stimulated further exploration.
During questions the speaker said the prevalence of burnout in doctors is 20 percent and tends to occur in pockets or clusters.
The talk focused on burnout resulting from lack of recognition while caring for others. Although burnout can also result from lack of recognition from colleagues and co-workers, lack of resources, and degree of bureaucracy.
Burnout can also occur in other aspects of our lives besides our work.
Good news from the talk is research shows that when individuals examined their level of burnout and attended to the risk of burnout they were not only able to reduce their current risk but their future risk of burnout continued to remain less and even improved further over time.
