The Report

The Report: December 2010 vol.31 num.6 DELEGATES TO THE 2010 HSA CONVENTION in Vancouver asked a number of questions about WorksafeBC. What are the most common injuries for HSA members and are we reducing the number of time loss incidents? The most common injuries are repetitive strain and injuries related to lifting or positing patients and clients. In most work...

The Report: December 2010 vol.31 num.6 HSA NEGOTIATES AGREEMENT ALLOWING SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WITHOUT LAYOFFS EARLIER THIS YEAR, when Lower Mainland health authorities announced their intentions to consolidate medical imaging services, the potential for signficant layoffs and disruption in patient services was a major concern. -We wanted to protect our members and maintain quality services for our patients," said HSA President...

The Report: December 2010 vol.31 num.6 How are HSA members jobs being affected by the amalgamation? In total, approximately 80 positions throughout the Lower Mainland have been affected. The restructuring will result in an overall reduction of 40 supervisory positions. In addition, the opening of the Surrey Outpatient Centre will result in 30 new positions. The Employer is pursuing the...

The Report: October 2010 vol.31 num.5 THIS PAST SEPTEMBER 16 marked a sad anniversary for children with special needs in this province. Last year on this date, BCs Children and Family Development Minister Mary Polak announced funding cuts of more than $3 million for autism services for children under age six. As a result of this decision, Victorias Queen Alexandra...

The Report: October 2010 vol.31 num.5 MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGIST Kylah Sorenson has got her career off to an excellent start by attaining a perfect GPA of 4.33, the highest mark in her graduating class at the College of New Caledonia in Prince George. Even more gratifying, she has been awarded a prestigious Governor General's bronze medal for academic achievement. Sorenson...

The Report: October 2010 vol.31 num.5 DELEGATES TO THE 2010 HSA CONVENTION in Vancouver asked a number of questions about last year's outbreak of novel H1N1 influenza strain; why certain decisions were made, and what we've learned to help us prepare for the next outbreak. Why weren't cardiology technologists considered frontline workers and immunized along with nurses and doctors? Early...

The Report: August 2010 vol.31 num.4 AS DIETITIAN SANDRA HOMENUK heads into retirement, shes pleased to see that the profession shes leaving looks very, very different than the one she entered 40 years ago. -I started working in the fall of 1970," says Homenuk, who retired from her position as Dietetics Practice Leader at BC Womens and Childrens Hospital on...

The Report: August 2010 vol.31 num.4 DELEGATES TO THE RECENT HSA CONVENTION in Vancouver asked a number of questions about the role and responsibility of workplace occupational health and safety committees: When should worksite inspections occur, who organizes them and how are members freed up to do them? The Workers Compensation Act (Divsion 4 Item 130) addresses this, and while...

The Report: August 2010 vol.31 num.4 SUMMER IS FINALLY HERE, and while I hope that all of you have an opportunity to slow things down and spend time with family, here at HSA were moving forward on several fronts. Our ad campaign on waitlists, featured on the cover of this edition, wound down in June after reaching countless British Columbians...

The Report: August 2010 vol.31 num.4THE TINY BEADED FIGURE HSA member JoanneSchwartz wears on her lanyard every day at workcould be dismissed as just a colourful trinket.However, for Schwartz and for over 100 SouthAfrican women infected with HIV, along withtheir families, this ornament has more valuethan the most luxurious of necklaces. In fact, it represents survival, health, financial security, human...