The Report

If you walk through the bustling halls of St. Paul’s Hospital in downtown Vancouver, you might find Emily Murtagh, an Electrophysiology (EP) Technologist, making use of a complex array of monitors and equipment that help her understand and manage each patient’s heart rhythms with precision and compassion. Now in her 8 th year at St. Paul’s and as an EP...

Kathleen Potter’s journey in social work has been a path defined by compassion, advocacy, and a commitment to supporting people through their most vulnerable moments. As one of many Health Sciences Association (HSA) members who provide vital services in BC’s health care system, her career has taken her from Eastern Canada to Asia to the heart of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside...

The Core Member Engagement Team (CMET) is a hands-on union program that allows members to engage other members. During the six week program the members connected with different sites and helped with building chapters to help give people their voice in the union. Here is what the 2023 team worked on, in their own words. "We are eight members from...

The series of atmospheric rivers that hit southwestern British Columbia in late November caused flooding and mudslides that affected the lives of many HSA members, with those living in Merritt and Princeton among the worst hit. HSA’s Board of Directors created a flood relief fund to assist members with immediate expenses caused by evacuations. We spoke to a few members...

By Lisa Daechsel, HSA member “I don’t want to be strapped to the bed” “I’m scared of loud noises” “I hate needles” “There is no way my child can lay still for that long” These are just some of the things that I hear from children and families regarding MRI imaging. For many children and families, the MRI experience can...

By Karl Riley Here at HSA, we know how committed our members are to their communities. Whether it’s in acute care, community health, or social services, our members are on the front lines every day making life better for people and ensuring they have access to the services they count on. So it’s not surprising that two of our very...

Every year, the HSA Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Committee awards the David Bland Award to an HSA member who has demonstrated leadership to improve occupational health and safety at their worksite and beyond. The award was established in 2007 and honours the memory of David Bland, a vocational counsellor and HSA member from Richmond Mental Health who was killed...

A message from the President It’s hard to believe that 2020 is soon coming to close. It’s no secret that it’s been a challenging year. I am so proud of our members’ commitment to delivering quality public healthcare and social services in the midst of a pandemic that has taken a heavy physical and emotional toll on the communities we...

Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer makes the case for paid sick leave In October 2020, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam released an in-depth report analyzing the state of public health in Canada, sharing important information about the impacts of COVID-19 on people across the country. The report, entitled, “From risk to resilience: An equity approach to COVID-19,”...

If you are feeling anxious, depressed, or are struggling with another mental health issue, you are not alone. The good news is there are resources available to HSA members who are looking for mental health support. The following is a list of resources that are available to you. Virtual mental health services through your benefits plan If you receive benefits...