The Report

The Report: December 2009 vol.30 num.5 THE BC GOVERNMENT SAYS TIMES ARE TOUGH; savings must be found and wages must be frozen so that every penny can be used to protect health care services for patients. Sounds nice, but it doesnt make any sense. The fact is that this government is cutting deeply into the health services they promised to...

The Report: December 2009 vol.30 num.5 INFANT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SUPERVISOR MICHAELA WOOLDRIDGE'S JOB JUST GOT HARDER AFTER 20 YEARS working in infant development, first as a Consultant dealing directly with families and then as a Clinical Supervisor, Michaela Wooldridge knows her field very well. She knows what constitutes best practices, and how these have evolved, and keep evolving, over the...

The Report: October / November 2009 vol.30 num.3 SEPTEMBER WAS A DEVASTATING month for parents of children with special needs. First, the Ministry for Children and Family Development announced a dramatic cut in funding for children with autism. But, not to worry, the minister said, the $3-million cut would be replaced with a $1-million referral centre. Programs would be cut...

user The Report: October / November 2009 vol.30 num.3 SAVING LIVES THROUGH RESPIRATORY THERAPY by LAURA BUSHEIKIN From the first inspiration of a newborn baby, to the last exhalation of a person at the end of life, breathing defines our existence. Accordingly, respiratory therapists can be an integral part of every step of this journey. It is no wonder, then...

The Report: October / November 2009 vol.30 num.3 FIGHTING INEQUALITY, WORKING FOR CHANGE by LAURA BUSHEIKIN Like many HSA members, Anne Davis is actively engaged in the fight for social justice. But even the unions most passionate activists might be surprised by how hard Davis is working to advance social justice, human rights, labour, and gender equality. First of all...

The Report: October / November 2009 vol.30 num.3 by JULIO TRUJILLO I work as a lab tech in a hospital, and Im pregnant. So is my colleague ... shes a registered psychiatric nurse at the same facility. Do we have the same maternity leave benefits? Yes you do. But, depending on your contract, different groups of HSA members have different...

The Report: October / November 2009 vol.30 num.4 LIKE THE PATIENTS AND CLIENTS we serve all across British Columbia, HSA members are facing some big challenges this fall. Travelling to meet with members at this years round of regional meetings, Ive had a chance to hear about these first hand. Its clear to all that after years of wasteful spending...

The Report: October / November 2009 vol.30 num.4 CYTOGENETIC TECHNOLOGIST CHRISTINE HAESSIG by LAURA BUSHEIKIN -THE VERY FIRST TIME I looked down a microscope I was immediately very interested," says HSA member Christine Haessig. -From an early age, I always knew I was going to go to university and have a career in the scientific field." If that microscope could...

0 The Report: October / November 2009 vol.30 num.4 LABORATORY TECHNOLOGIST KELLY LEWIS STOOD UP FOR PATIENT CARE IN ALBERTA by LAURA BUSHEIKIN HSA MEMBER KELLY LEWIS has no hesitation about describing herself as a -squawker." In fact, shes proud to be someone who speaks out when she sees an injustice. -If I think somethings not right, Ill stand up...

VACCINATION. As The Report goes to press, H1N1 vaccination is expected to begin mid to late November, but this could change so please look for updates on the hsabc.org web site. HSA encourages all members to get the vaccine unless there is a medical concern. If that\s the case, employees need to get appropriate documentation to present to employers, because...