The Report

PROVIDING GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE Improving access to health services for trans and gender diverse communities The Report, Dec. 2018 Trans people have been historically underserved by the province’s health system, according to HSA member Lucas Wilson, who works as a health navigator for Trans Care B.C. There are numerous barriers that trans people and gender diverse communities face when accessing health...

Strengthening health services for Indigenous peoples An interview with Charlene Hellson, Aboriginal Wellness Program Coordinator, Vancouver Coastal Health The Report, September 2018 Charlene Hellson began her work with Vancouver Coastal Health’s (VCH) Aboriginal Health Department in October, 2017. As coordina tor of the Aboriginal Wellness Program, she is integral to the work of her team. She coordinates and chairs team...

Proportional representation: a more democratic way to do politics The Report, September 2018 If a party gets 40 per cent of the votes, it should receive 40 per cent of the seats. This is the central feature of a proportional representation (PR) electoral system. While there are different models of PR that achieve this, all variations of PR seek to...

“IT’S OFTEN THE BUY-IN TO STAY IN RECOVERY” MUSIC THERAPY AS A TOOL FOR REHABILITATION The Report , September 2018 Most people assume music therapy is either a sing-along or relaxation, according to HSA member and music therapist Kevin Kirkland. “That is part of what you do, but just a small part.” When Kirkland first graduated with a bachelor’s degree...

President’s Report Val Avery The Report, Sept 2018 Issue When this month's issue of The Report goes to print, it will be just over a month before referendum ballots are mailed out to British Columbians asking us if we would like to see our provincial elections determined through a first-past-the-post system, or through proportional representation (PR). The second ballot question...

­­­­ HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2018 How privately-funded health care hurts us On May 1, the B.C. Health Coalition (BCHC) presented two B.C. private surgical clinics with an invoice for $15.9 million. It was a symbolic gesture seeking to highlight how unlawful extra-billing by private clinics across the province is costing the public health care system. Supporters gathered with placards...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2018 President's Report, Val Avery HSA members have known for a quite some time what works and what doesn’t when it comes to the delivery of quality health care, and our work in promoting policy recommendations has been grounded in this expertise. We are pleased to see that many of our recommendations are now coming to...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2018 National Nursing Week was celebrated from May 7-13, marking the important contribution nurses make to our health care system. Registered psychiatric nurses work on interdisciplinary teams in a variety of health care settings, including psychiatric units in hospitals, community mental health centres, and on community outreach teams. “Learning is continuous,” says Kiran Rama, an HSA...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2018 Linda Bessant of Victoria, B.C. is the recipient of this 2018 David Bland Award. “I am humbled by the award,” said Bessant, but she is sobered by the tragic workplace accident that killed HSA member David Bland. “The award is given out unfortunately because someone lost their life, and as appreciative as I am to...

HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2018 It’s be en nearly on e ye ar since the Cam pbell Riv er Sobering and Assessment Centre, operated by the Vancouver Island Mental Health Society, opened its doors to the public in July 2017. “We’ve been in continuous operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week since that time,” said HSA member and...