BY LAURA BUSHEIKIN
When Vancouver General Hospital Respiratory Therapist Ingrid Hakanson heard that a film crew would be coming into her workplace to make a documentary about the emergency ward, she had no idea she'd end up as a 'star' in a high-quality TV show that put health science professionals like herself at centre stage.
As a member of HSA, you're practicing smart investment strategies every day.
Every two weeks, you invest in your future through your pension plan. You're not spending that money on another latte.
You do not have all your eggs in one basket. In fact, you have a diversified real estate portfolio – and it's a great example of responsible investing.
My name is Mike Pond. I'm five years sober this week and your union helped save my life.
When I received my Masters in Social Work in 1995, I thought my days as a psychiatric nurse were behind me. But life has a way of throwing us curve balls. After two decades of successfully helping clients battle addictions, I succumbed to one myself. In a catastrophic free-fall, I lost everything: my practice, my home and my family. What made it worse: as a therapist I was ably positioned to watch myself fall and powerless to prevent it.
Did you know that some health authority staff like youth counsellors are not allowed to text their patients? Is there any other way to communicate with a young person?
HSA will hold information meetings for Biomedical Engineering Technonologists (BMETs) this week and next to update members on the implementation of the 37.5 hour work-week and the introduction of evening shifts.
The meetings are scheduled as follows. Members are invited to attend any of the three meetings.
VANCOUVER:
SURREY:
Employers who failed to follow a fair and negotiated process for a transition to the 37.5 hour work week will have to start over, thanks to a decision by arbitrators Vince Ready and Corinn Bell.
Members are advised that Pacific Blue Cross will suspend its pay direct and online claim services for one week to allow for a major transition to an upgraded health and dental system.
The services will be suspended from March 27 to April 3, 2014.
Bill 7, the Laboratory Services Act was introduced in the BC Legislature by the Liberal government on February 17, 2014, and is currently at the stage of first reading.
The proposed legislation makes significant changes in several areas, including the legislative framework, governance and funding models for medical laboratory services. A general overview of these changes is available here on the HSA website.
HSA members are increasingly looking to get their information in a digital format. Whether it's email, web sites or social media, members are using desktop computers, tablets and smartphones to keep informed.
Several HSA members are working with their professional associations to encourage the provincial government to regulate their professions under the Health Professions Act, and to create a joint regulatory college to oversee the practice of these health science professions. Approximately 6,000 HSA members would be regulated by this joint college.
