Jul. 3, 2009 - CLINICS FAST-TRACK BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSIS
VANCOUVER – Women across the Lower Mainland are now able to visit one of four rapid-access breast cancer diagnosis pilot clinics to quickly catch potential cases of breast cancer, thanks to a $5-million investment from the Province’s Lower Mainland Innovation and Integration Fund (LMIIF), announced Health Services Minister Kevin Falcon today. [News Release]
Jul. 3, 2009 - H1N1 FLU VIRUS (HUMAN SWINE FLU) UNDER SURVEILLANCE
VICTORIA – British Columbia continues to monitor and respond to the recent spread of the novel H1N1 flu virus (human swine flu). 28 new cases have been confirmed since June 26 – 18 in Fraser Health, two in Vancouver Coastal Health, one in Interior Health, six in Vancouver Island and one health authority case identification still pending – for a total of 298 cases in the province, the vast majority of which have been mild cases with patients either recovered or currently recovering. [Information Bulletin]
Jul. 2, 2009 - DOCTOR TRAINING SUPPORTED AT LIONS GATE HOSPITAL
NORTH VANCOUVER – The Province will invest more than $225,000 for renovations at Lions Gate Hospital to support medical education. [News Release]
Jul. 2, 2009 - DOCTOR TRAINING SUPPORTED AT RICHMOND HOSPITAL
RICHMOND – The Province will invest more than $350,000 for renovations at Richmond Hospital to support medical school education. [News Release]
Jun. 17, 2009 - SURREY OUTPATIENT HOSPITAL PROJECT REPORT RELEASED
SURREY – Partnerships BC and Fraser Health have released the Project Report: Achieving Value for Money for the Surrey Outpatient Hospital project. [News Release]
Jun. 11, 2009 - WAISTLINE MANAGEMENT ADDS TO STROKE PREVENTION
VICTORIA – Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight can significantly reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke and helps control other conditions such as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and diabetes. [News Release]
Jun. 11, 2009 - PANDEMIC IN PERSPECTIVE
VICTORIA – Provincial health officer Perry Kendall is reassuring British Columbians that, just because the World Health Organization has raised its alert level to phase 6 (the pandemic phase), it doesn’t currently appear the H1N1 flu virus will pose any more of a risk to people in the province today than it did yesterday. [News Release]
Jun. 1, 2009 - B.C. MODERNIZES REGULATION OF MEDICAL PROFESSION
VICTORIA – Starting June 1, the medical profession will come under the Health Professions Act to
further increase accountability and transparency, said Health Services Minister George Abbott. [News Release]
Apr. 30, 2009 - PARENTS AND SCHOOLS REASSURED ABOUT SWINE FLU
VICTORIA – Provincial Health Officer Perry Kendall is encouraging parents and schools to continue
taking practical steps to prevent the spread of illness, but not to be too alarmed about the spread of the
swine flu. [News Release]
Apr. 9, 2009 - ROLE EXPANDS FOR MIDWIVES, NATUROPATHIC DOCTORS, NURSES
VICTORIA – B.C. is supporting health professionals and creating more choice for patients by
enhancing the scope of practice for midwives, naturopathic physicians and registered nurses, Health
Services Minister George Abbott announced today. [News Release]
Apr. 9, 2009 - $15.3-MILLION RENOVATION FOR KOOTENAY LAKE HOSPITAL
NELSON – A $15.3-million redevelopment plan for the first floor of Kootenay Lake Hospital to triple
the size of the existing emergency department and establish a new CT scanner suite, creating almost
100 construction jobs, was announced today by East Kootenay MLA Bill Bennett. [News Release]
Apr. 9, 2009 - B.C. NURSES RATIFY CONTRACT EXTENSION
VICTORIA – Members of the British Columbia Nurses’ Union (BCNU) have voted 96 per cent in
favour of a two-year extension of their current collective agreement designed to ensure B.C. patients
continue to enjoy access to quality frontline health-care services. [News Release]
Apr. 9, 2009 - NEW CT SCANNER AND RENOS FOR LANGLEY MEMORIAL
LANGLEY – Funding of more than $2.9 million to expand and renovate the medical imaging
department and $1.5 million to acquire a new 64-slice CT scanner at Langley Memorial Hospital was
announced today by Langley MLA Mary Polak and Fort Langley-Aldergrove MLA Rich Coleman, on
behalf of Health Services Minister George Abbott. [News Release]
Apr. 9, 2009 - CORNERSTONE PLAQUE COMMEMORATES 120 YEARS AT RJH
VICTORIA - Health care history past, present and future on southern Vancouver Island was marked today with celebrations on the 120th anniversary of the Royal Jubilee Hospital and the unveiling of a cornerstone for the new patient care centre. [News Release] [Backgrounder]
Apr. 8, 2009 - PROVINCE INCREASING ACCESS TO ALZHEIMER’S DRUGS
VICTORIA – Individuals with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease living in extended care hospitals
are among those who will benefit from increased access to drug treatments due to expansion of the
Alzheimer‘s Drug Therapy Initiative, announced Health Services Minister George Abbott today. [News Release]
Apr. 8, 2009 - RICHMOND HOSPITAL TO RECEIVE $10M UPGRADES
RICHMOND – Richmond Hospital will receive more than $10 million to expand and upgrade its
emergency department, outpatient services, including a new minor operating room suite and endoscopy
suite, and sterile processing department, announced Linda Reid, MLA for Richmond East. [News Release]
Apr. 8, 2009 - PATIENTS TO BENEFIT FROM NEW VISION TREATMENTS
VICTORIA – As of June 1, 2009, British Columbians suffering from the wet form of age-related
macular degeneration (AMD) will have new options as the government expands available drug
therapies for the disease, announced Health Services Minister George Abbott today. [News Release]
Apr. 7, 2009 - RENOVATION APPROVED FOR CDH PHARMACY
COWICHAN – Health Services Minister George Abbott today announced funding of about $2 million
for construction of a new pharmacy at Cowichan District Hospital (CDH) that will double space and
improve patient and staff safety. [News Release]
Apr. 7, 2009 - B.C. TO INVEST $46.3M IN PATIENT CARE IN NANAIMO
NANAIMO - Health Services Minister George Abbott and Nanaimo-Parksville MLA Ron Cantelon announced $46.3 million to double the size of the emergency department, build more treatment rooms and add a renal dialysis centre at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, creating over 270 jobs. [News Release]
Apr. 4, 2009 - NEW ER FOR INVERMERE GETS GREEN LIGHT
INVERMERE – East Kootenay MLA Bill Bennett today announced the green light for a $4.3-million redevelopment project at Invermere and District Hospital that includes a new emergency department to improve access to high-quality emergency medical care. [News Release]
Apr. 3, 2009 - NORTHERN CANCER CONTROL STRATEGY MOVES FORWARD
PRINCE GEORGE - The implementation of the Northern Cancer Control Strategy took a major step forward today with the release of the request for proposals for the BC Cancer Agency Centre for the North in Prince George. [News Release]
Apr. 3, 2009 - NANAIMO CHILDREN GET PEDIATRIC HEALTH CLINIC
NANAIMO – Central and northern Vancouver Island children can now access specialized pediatric
care closer to home with the opening of the new Paediatric Ambulatory Health Clinic at Nanaimo
Regional General Hospital (NRGH). [News Release] [Backgrounder]
Apr. 1, 2009 - AMBULANCE SERVICE DECLARED ESSENTIAL DURING STRIKE
VICTORIA - The BC Ambulance Service (BCAS) is reassuring the public that ambulance services affecting patients are considered essential services by law following job action initiated today by paramedics and dispatchers. [News Release]
Apr. 1, 2009 - REGULATION OF TWO MORE HEALTH PROFESSIONS STREAMLINED
VICTORIA – B.C. is set to increase accountability for two more health professions with the inclusion of pharmacists and dentists under the Health Professions Act, Health Services Minister George Abbott announced today. [News Release]
Mar. 31, 2009 - FORT ST. JOHN HOSPITAL PROJECT MOVES FORWARD
FORT ST. JOHN – A preferred proponent has been named to work with Northern Health and the
Provincial government in negotiations as part of the next steps needed toward building the new Fort St.
John Hospital and Residential Care Facility project. [News Release]
Mar. 30, 2009 - GENERAL PRACTITIONERS RECEIVE LEADERSHIP AWARDS
VICTORIA - More than 92 per cent of B.C. doctors who voted, accepted a two-year agreement designed to increase access to patient care and improve recruitment and retention of specialists as well as of family physicians in rural and remote communities. [News Release]
Mar. 30, 2009 - GENERAL PRACTITIONERS RECEIVE LEADERSHIP AWARDS
VICTORIA – Sixty-two physicians from across the province are receiving acknowledgement for their dedication and commitment to improving primary health care for the benefit of British Columbians, Health Services Minister George Abbott announced today. [News Release] [Backgrounder]
Mar. 27, 2009 - FAMILY DOCTOR PROGRAM REACHES MILESTONE, ADDS SPACES
VICTORIA – Seventy-two family physicians have been hired to work in communities identified as
being in need of their services, marking a 75 per cent milestone in the Family Physicians for B.C.
(FPs4BC) recruitment program, announced Health Services Minister George Abbott. [News Release] [Backgrounder]
Mar. 26, 2009 - PATIENTS TO BENEFIT FROM DEAL WITH OPTOMETRISTS
VICTORIA – A six-year agreement has been reached between government and the BC Association of
Optometrists designed to increase collaboration and improve primary eye care and treatment across
British Columbia. [News Release]
Mar. 25, 2009 - MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING FOR DOCTORS TO BENEFIT PATIENTS
VICTORIA - Patients with a wide range of mental health conditions will benefit from the introduction of a new mental health training program for physicians that will provide doctors with education on the latest mental health-care supports and information on local resources, Health Services Minister George Abbott announced today. [News Release]
Mar. 25, 2009 - INNOVATION FAST-TRACKS SPECIALTY SURGICAL CARE
VANCOUVER - Thanks to a recent investment of $5.6 million in surgical innovation at St. Paul's Hospital, referral wait times are down, surgeries are up, and recovery times are shorter than ever for Lower Mainland patients in need of lower extremity (foot and ankle) and upper extremity (hand and wrist) surgeries (also known as distal extremity surgeries). [News Release]
Mar. 24, 2009 - HEALTH PROFESSIONS REVIEW BOARD IN EFFECT
VICTORIA - British Columbians now have a new greater degree of accountability in dealing with health professions colleges, with the newly created Health Professions Review Board now accepting applications for review, Health Services Minister George Abbott announced today. [News Release]
Mar. 20, 2009 - $15-MILLION DONATION LAUNCHES RESEARCH CENTRE AT VGH
VANCOUVER - A new, state-of-the-art research pavilion will be established at Vancouver General Hospital, housing three internationally-recognized research programs and named after Robert H.N. Ho in honour of his $15-million donation, Premier Gordon Campbell announced today. [News Release] [Backgrounder]
Mar. 17, 2009 - MRI TECHNOLOGY COMES TO BURNABY HOSPITAL
BURNABY – Burnaby Hospital will now be able to offer Burnaby and area residents magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) services, thanks to the fundraising efforts of the Burnaby Hospital Foundation’s $4.85-million “Because Life Can’t Wait” MRI campaign. [News Release]
Mar. 13, 2009 - CARDIAC PROGRAM AT KELOWNA MOVES FORWARD
KELOWNA - Health Services Minister George Abbott today outlined the Province's plan to implement cardiac services at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) by 2012 and laid out the next steps. [News Release]
Mar. 13, 2009 - CAMPUS OF CARE IN SURREY IMPROVES SENIOR CARE NEEDS
SURREY - Provincial and community partners gathered today to celebrate the official opening of The Harrison at Elim Village, a new 118-unit, $30-million residential care facility, which completes a campus of care dedicated to serving the changing care needs of Surrey seniors. [News Release]
Mar. 4, 2009 - MEDICAL SERVICES COMMISSION BECOMES MORE TRANSPARENT
VICTORIA - Following the introduction of new regulations, the Medical Services Commission and the Ministry of Health Services have power to disclose information on complaints received and investigations underway by the Medical Services Commission. [News Release]
Mar. 3, 2009 - CARE TEAMS IMPROVE PATIENTS' HOSPITAL EXPERIENCE
BURNABY - The success of an innovative, team-based approach to hospital care is being expanded in hospitals across the Lower Mainland as a way to improve patient flow and maximize the use of inpatient beds, ultimately resulting in more effective patient care, said Health Services Minister George Abbott. [News Release] [Backgrounder]
Mar. 2, 2009 - INNOVATION REDUCES ER CONGESTION IN LOWER MAINLAND
NEW WESTMINSTER - Patients visiting the emergency departments of the busiest hospitals in the Lower Mainland will benefit from shorter waits through $20 million in program funding aimed at providing financial incentives for delivering more timely care. [News Release] [Backgrounder] [Backgrounder]
Mar. 2, 2009 - B.C. CELEBRATES PHARMACIST AWARENESS WEEK
VICTORIA – March 1 through March 7 is Pharmacist Awareness Week in Canada and pharmacists across British Columbia will be using the designated week as an opportunity to raise awareness about their contribution to the day-to-day health of British Columbians. This year’s theme in British Columbia is “Your Pharmacist – the more they know, the more they can help.” [News Release]
Mar. 1, 2009 - NEW REGULATION ENHANCES PATIENT CHOICE FOR EYE HEALTH
VICTORIA – British Columbians now have more choice in accessing eye health services under a new Optometrists Regulation that enhances the scope of practice for optometrists and creates new requirements for eye wear prescriptions, announced Health Services Minister George Abbott today. [News Release] [Backgrounder]
Mar. 1, 2009 - BC INCREASES ACCOUNTABILITY FOR CHIROPRACTIC PROFESSION
VICTORIA - The Province continues to streamline the regulation of health professions in B.C. with the transition of the chiropractic profession under the Health Professions Act, Health Services Minister George Abbott announced today. [News Release]
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