The Report

The Report: August 2006 vol.27 num.4 by LAURA BUSHEIKIN e all know that physiotherapists help heal peoples bodies. But forthis to happen effectively, the medical decision-making bodies needsome rehab as well, says Scott Brolin, Professional Practice Chief ofPhysiotherapy at Royal Columbian Hospital. Brolins focus is on the big picture; on looking athow hospital administrations work, how decisionsare made, and how...

The Report: August 2006 vol.27 num.4 by LAURA BUSHEIKIN he water calls to Marianne Hansen ... and the aquatic therapist at Queens Park Care Centre in New Westminster answers it every day. -This is the thing that I am so passionate about: when you free the body in that way, in semi-weightlessness and warmth, theres this huge letting-go process. Ive...

The Report: August 2006 vol.27 num.4 by CAROL RIVIÈRE xposure to potentially infectious blood and other body fluids is a serious occupational hazard for many health care workers. HSA and other health care unions have beenworking with frontline workers, employers, BCs Occupational Health andSafety Agency for Health Care (OHSAH) and WorkSafeBC (formerly WCB), tofind and implement effective measures to minimize...

The Report: June / July 2006 vol.27 num.3 by SARAH OLEARY Even though it hurts, Ive been working with a job-related injury. Recently, its been getting worse. When should I file a WCB claim? How do I decide whether to take time off work? Our department is short-staffed, and there will be no one to replace me if I stop...

The Report: June / July 2006 vol.27 num.3 by LAURA BUSHEIKIN No meetings. No budget. No long-term plan. Just a deeply felt desire to honour three colleagues whod been injured in a violent workplace altercation. Thats how Shannon Breeze, a registered psychiatric nurse in Victoria, describes the origin of the Purple Ribbon Campaign she helped initiate at her workplace in...

The Report: June / July 2006 vol.27 num.3 by LAURA BUSHEIKIN The basic job description for Biomedical Engineering Technologists (BMET) sounds undeniably dry: they take care of medical equipment. But in reality the job is varied and interesting, involving a multitude of skills and demanding, occasionally, miracles, says Ron Fyffe, a BMET at Vancouver General Hospital, where he is also...

The Report: June / July 2006 vol.27 num.3 by CINDY STEWART n the past month, Ihave been fortunate to spend some time with Dr. Michael Rachlis, ahealth policy analyst who has done extensive research on the state ofCanadas public health care system. Dr. Rachliss work generates a great deal of thought and comes at a time when Canadians are embroiled...

The Report: April / May 2006 vol.27 num.2 by CINDY STEWART his year at our annual convention we will be marking HSAs 35th year as a union. In 1971, a handful of health professionals formed an association and gained bargaining rights for health science professionals in hospitals. Now, 35 years later, 14,000 HSA members are concluding a complex set of...

The Report: April / May 2006 vol.27 num.2 by RITU MAHIL I am in a Grade I position under the Health Science Professionals Collective Agreement, and have been off work for the last nine months due to a disability. I am now ready to return to work, but will require some accommodation due to the ongoing nature of my disability...

The Report: April / May 2006 vol.27 num.2 by LAURA BUSHEIKIN lthough Ernie Hilland says he has learned an immense amount during 25 years of involvement with HSA, back before he joined he already had one thing figured out: he knew how to speak up for his rights. In fact, it was this ability that opened the way for him...