Faith and First Responders: How Believing in a Higher Power Can Promote Healing
Antioch, CA, September 23, 2022 — If he were given a chance to travel back in time, make different choices and avoid a prison sentence, Norm Wielsch says he would decline the offer. In 2013, the former undercover narcotic agent was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison after he pled guilty to corruption charges, and it was there, behind prison walls, where he finally found healing through faith.
“If you don’t believe in a higher power, there’s no rhyme or reason to life,” Wielsch said in a recent interview. “Life is just a series of incidents that happen. But if you truly believe that there is a higher power, and there’s a reason for things that happen, I believe that you can adjust to it, and cope with it a little bit better.”
As a police officer for 25 years, Wielsch witnessed his share of trauma and would later fall into a downward spiral following his own diagnosis of PTSD. He served 8 years of his 14-year sentence and emerged from federal prison determined to help others — particularly first responders — heal from trauma.
Wielsch’s new book, Christ Centered Healing of Trauma: Healing a Broken Heart (and companion small group study guide), teaches foundational principles and tools for resolving issues related to traumatic life events.
Readers will learn how trauma affects the heart, body and soul; how to manage emotions; how to identify the root cause of emotional pain; and how to begin the healing process.
Through a bible study portion, readers will learn God's plan for salvation and healing. Included are numerous sample prayers to guide readers through the healing process.
Wielsch’s Christ-Centered healing method was originally designed to minister to first responders and combat veterans but is also appropriate for counselors, pastors, chaplains and anyone whose lives are impacted by trauma.
“This book is not only for the victims of trauma, but for their husbands, wives, daughters, sons and parents who suffer right along with them,” Wielsch said. “They are wounded people as well. Hurt people, hurt people. Since our families are the closest to us, we tend to hurt them more than we intend.”
About the Author
Norm Wielsch was a law enforcement officer for over 25 years — 16 of those as an undercover narcotic agent. In 1998, he was diagnosed with an incurable neuro-muscular disease, and after more than 30 surgeries, he became addicted to opioids. Wielsch was diagnosed with PTSD, and then his daughter was diagnosed with a serious illness and given a poor prognosis. In a downward spiral, Wielsch made a series of bad decisions that landed him in federal prison.
While incarcerated, he obtained a master’s degree in Theology and Counseling, a Doctorate in Christian Counseling, and a Drug and Alcohol Counseling Degree. He currently works at a men's residential treatment facility as a registered alcohol and drug counselor and pastoral care provider. He is a working credentialed chaplain who hopes to one day launch a first responder ministry.
Wielsch also has a master’s degree in Law Enforcement Management and is an expert in law enforcement tactics, criminal investigations, pursuit driving, high risk search warrant service, PTSD and the police culture.
Celebrating 10 Years of Pharmacist Enabled Clinical Care in Alberta
EDMONTON, AB, Sept. 23, 2022 /CNW/ - On September 25, 2022, we celebrate World Pharmacists Day and this year's theme of "Pharmacy United in Action for a Healthier World." Alberta has been and continues to be a leader in the profession of pharmacist practice, with a practice model that offers pharmacists as an additional access point for patients seeking primary care in their local community. Services like Comprehensive Annual Care Planning, Prescribing of Medications, and Administering Drugs and Vaccines by Injection are all part of the unique model that has helped to improve patient health outcomes in Alberta over this past decade. The Alberta Pharmacists' Association (RxA) acknowledges Alberta Health for working with our association towards establishing the model back in 2012, supporting pharmacist-led care as an integral part of the healthcare budget. The "Alberta Model" for pharmacist practice, as it has come to be known around the world, supports Albertans to be able to access the care they need from their community pharmacist.
Most recently, when the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, many primary care providers closed their doors to the public, but not Alberta's community pharmacists. Instead, as a result of the Alberta Model, pharmacists were able to do what they do best in Alberta, which is remaining open and accessible to the public, adapting to public health measures, and using their advanced scope of practice to renew patients' prescriptions, administer medications by injection, provide laboratory requisitions to patients in need, and offering information and resources about how to stay safe during the pandemic. Without this model for pharmacist led services established 10 years ago, much of this might not have been possible, and the strain on the healthcare system could have been so much greater as a result.
This Sunday, September 25, join us in celebration of your community pharmacist and pharmacists around the world. People in all walks of life all over the world deserve access to quality care, and we are proud that our Alberta Model has supported pharmacists' providing patient focused care these past ten years. The next time you need more of your medication, ask your pharmacist to prescribe it for you. Need to update your vaccination status for your upcoming holiday? Your pharmacist will be happy to help. No matter where you are in the province, your local community pharmacist is ready and available to meet your care needs.
The pharmacist will see you now.
For over two decades, the Alberta Pharmacists' Association (RxA) has been a champion for pharmacists in Alberta. We play an integral role in expanding pharmacists' practice, and we continue to advocate on their behalf towards excellence in patient care.
Health Canada approves Takeda's LIVTENCITY™ (maribavir) the First and Only Treatment for Adults with Post-Transplant Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection
TORONTO, Sept. 20, 2022 /CNW/ - Takeda Canada Inc. ("Takeda") is pleased to announce that Health Canada has authorized (Notice of Compliance) LIVTENCITY™ (maribavir) for the treatment of adults with post-transplant cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection/disease who are refractory (with or without genotypic resistance) to one or more prior antiviral therapies.1 Compared to conventionally used antivirals to treat post-transplant CMV, LIVTENCITY offers twice the efficacy1 and more than 10 times less toxicity.1*
LIVTENCITY was evaluated using the Health Canada priority review process which recognizes the significant unmet need for this patient population. The Canadian approval of LIVTENCITY represents the second market globally to receive authorization for this important CMV treatment.
"Health Canada's authorization of LIVTENCITY represents a much-needed treatment option for post-transplant patients with refractory/resistant CMV infection or disease," said Dr. Shariq Haider, Professor of Medicine McMaster University Division of Infectious Disease and General Medicine and Research Lead Transplant Malignant ID Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Center, Hamilton ON. "Until now, physicians have relied upon conventional non-indicated antiviral therapies as the only option to treat post-transplant CMV which can be difficult to manage post-transplant. The addition of an effective oral treatment for CMV, with a better safety profile, is welcome news for Canadian patients, physicians and the transplant community."
The approval of LIVTENCITY is based on the SOLSTICE Study which assessed the efficacy and safety of LIVTENCITY treatment compared to Investigator Assigned Treatment (IAT) in 350 Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) and Solid Organ Transplant (SOT) recipients with CMV infections that were refractory to treatment with ganciclovir, valganciclovir, foscarnet, or cidofovir, including CMV infections with or without confirmed resistance to 1 or more anti-CMV agents.1 Beneficial treatment effect was consistent regardless of transplant type, baseline CMV DNA viral load, genotypic resistance, CMV syndrome at baseline and age.1
"A diagnosis of CMV infection can be particularly unsettling for patients given the complex challenges associated with receiving a life-saving transplant," said Rute Fernandes, General Manager, Takeda, Canada. "Providing patients with the first indicated post-transplant CMV treatment underscores Takeda's commitment to finding solutions for patients where there is an unmet need, and we look forward to working with the appropriate agencies to bring LIVTENCITY to Canadians."
Current antiviral treatment options for post-transplant cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections have unfavorable toxicities, such as neutropenia or nephrotoxicity, that may impact patient care and transplant outcomes.2
About LIVITENCITY
LIVTENCITY, is a selective orally bioavailable benzimidazole riboside antiviral drug with a novel mechanism of action against human CMV (HCMV). LIVTENCITY attaches to the UL97 encoded kinase at the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) binding site, abolishing phosphotransferase needed in processes such as DNA replication, encapsidation, and nuclear egress of viral capsids.1
The recommended dose of LIVTENCITY is 400 mg (two 200 mg tablets) twice daily resulting in a daily dose of 800 mg.1 LIVTENCITY is intended for oral use only and can be taken with or without food.1
The primary efficacy endpoint was confirmed CMV viremia clearance (plasma CMV DNA concentration below the lower limit of quantification (<LLOQ; i.e., <137 IU/mL)) at Week 8. The key secondary endpoint was CMV viremia clearance and CMV infection symptom control at the end of Study Week 8 with maintaining this treatment effect through Study Week 16.1
For the primary endpoint, LIVTENCITY was superior to IAT (56% vs. 24%, respectively, p<0.001). For the key secondary endpoint, 19% vs. 10% achieved both CMV viremia clearance and CMV infection symptom control in the LIVTENCITY and IAT group, respectively (p=0.013).1
Most common adverse reactions with LIVTENCITY were: taste disturbance (44.8%), nausea (8.5%), vomiting (7.7%), immunosuppressant drug concentration level increased (6.4%), diarrhea (3.8%), abdominal pain (2.1%), neutropenia (1.7%), acute kidney injury (1.7%), anemia (1.3%), and decreased appetite (1.3%).1
Serious adverse events (SAEs) occurred less frequently in the LIVTENCITY group than in the IAT group (5.1% and 14.7%, respectively).1
No patients in the LIVTENCITY group experienced serious, drug-related neutropenia or febrile neutropenia.1
About CMV
CMV is a beta herpesvirus that commonly infects humans; serologic evidence of prior infection can be found in 40%-100% of various adult populations.3 CMV typically resides latent and asymptomatic in the body but may reactivate during periods of immunosuppression. Serious disease may occur in individuals with compromised immune systems, which includes patients who receive immunosuppressants associated with various types of transplants including hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) or solid organ transplant (SOT).4,5 Out of the estimated 200,000 adult transplants per year globally, CMV is one of the most common viral infections experienced by transplant recipients, with an estimated incidence rate between 16-56% in SOT recipients and 30-70% in HSCT recipients.6,7,8,9
In transplant recipients, reactivation of CMV can lead to serious consequences including loss of the transplanted organ and, in extreme cases, can be fatal.10,11 Existing therapies to treat post-transplant CMV infections may demonstrate serious side effects that require dose adjustments or may fail to adequately suppress viral replication.12,13,14,15,16 Additionally, existing therapies may require or prolong hospitalization due to intravenous administration, side effect management and monitoring for adequate hydration.10
About Takeda Canada Inc.
Takeda Canada Inc. is the Canadian organization of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE: 4502) (NYSE: TAK), a global, values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical leader headquartered in Japan, committed to discovering and delivering life-transforming treatments, guided by our commitment to patients, our people and the planet. Takeda focuses its R&D efforts on four therapeutic areas: Oncology, Rare Genetics and Hematology, Neuroscience, and Gastroenterology (GI). We also make targeted R&D investments in Plasma-Derived Therapies and Vaccines. We are focusing on developing highly innovative medicines that contribute to making a difference in people's lives by advancing the frontier of new treatment options and leveraging our enhanced collaborative R&D engine and capabilities to create a robust, modality-diverse pipeline. Our employees are committed to improving quality of life for patients and to working with our partners in health care in approximately 80 countries and regions. For more information, visit: takeda.com/en-ca
References
_________________________________________
1
LIVTENCITY™ Product Monograph. September 15, 2022
2
Maffini E, et al. Expert Rev Hematol. 2016;9:585-96; Stevens DR, et al. Transpl Infect Dis. 2015;17:163–73
3
de la Hoz R. Diagnosis and treatment approaches to CMV infections in adult patients. J Clin Virol. 2002;25:S1-S12.
4
Azevedo L, Pierrotti L, Abdala E, et al. Cytomegalovirus infection in transplant recipients. Clinics. 2015;70(7):515-523. doi:10.6061/clinics/2015(07)09.
5
Razonable RR, Eid AJ. A Viral infections in transplant recipients. Minerva Med. 2009;100(6):23.
6
Shannon-Lowe & Emery. The effects of maribavir on the autophosphorylation of ganciclovir resistant mutants of the cytomegalovirus UL97 protein. Herpesviridae 2010, 1:4.
7
Styczynski J. Who Is the Patient at Risk of CMV Recurrence: A Review of the Current Scientific Evidence with a Focus on Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation. Infect Ther. 2018;7:1-16.
8
Azevedo L, Pierrotti L, Abdala E, et al. Cytomegalovirus infection in transplant recipients. Clinics. 2015;70(7):515-523. doi:10.6061/clinics/2015(07)09.
de la Hoz R. Diagnosis and treatment approaches to CMV infections in adult patients. J Clin Virol. 2002;25:S1-S12.
11
Kenyon M, Babic A, eds. The European Blood and Marrow Transplantation Textbook for Nurses. Springer International Publishing; 2018. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-50026-3.
12
El Chaer et al. How I treat resistant cytomegalovirus infection in hematopoietic cell transplantation recipients. Blood, 2016
13
Chemaly RF, Chou S, Einsele H, et al. Definitions of Resistant and Refractory Cytomegalovirus Infection and Disease in Transplant Recipients for Use in Clinical Trials. Clin Infect Dis. 2019;68(8):1420-1426. doi:10.1093/cid/ciy696.
14
Razonable RR, Eid AJ. A Viral infections in transplant recipients. Minerva Med. 2009;100(6):23.
15
Ljungman et al. Guidelines for the management of cytomegalovirus infection in patients with haematological malignancies and after stem cell transplantation from the 2017 European Conference on Infections in Leukaemia (ECIL7).Lancet Vol.19, Aug 2019.
16
Razonable & Humar. Cytomegalovirus in solid organ transplant recipients— Guidelines of the American Society of Transplantation Infectious Diseases Community of Practice. Clinical Transplantation, Feb 2019.
*
Refers to acute kidney injury related to foscarnet and neutropenia related to valganciclovir/ganciclovir
SOURCE Takeda Canada Inc.
QEII Foundation to announce transformational gift for cancer care innovation
HALIFAX, NS, Sept. 20, 2022 /CNW/ - On Thursday, September 22, the QEII Foundation will announce its largest donation ever received to-date – a multimillion-dollar transformational gift that will impact cancer care in Atlantic Canada for generations to come.
One local family's incredible generosity will have a lasting effect on the way that cancer care is delivered at the QEII Health Sciences Centre, from supporting the development of groundbreaking cancer-fighting technologies, to fast-tracking upcoming innovation and discovery opportunities.
The family, with deep healthcare roots, are inspired to honour their late parents' legacy and have their multimillion-dollar gift help improve top-of-mind areas in cancer care – like improving patient outcomes, reducing wait times, attracting and retaining top medical professionals, and delivering the best patient care experience possible.
Together, with the QEII Foundation, the family is thrilled to help transform cancer care for Atlantic Canadians – through integrated, advanced, and compassionate care at the QEII Health Sciences Centre.
Announcement Details
WHAT
Members of the media are invited to attend a formal, milestone announcement revealing the identity of the donor family and their transformational gift in support of cancer care at the QEII Health Sciences Centre.
WHEN
Thursday, September 22, 2022 11 a.m. to noon.
WHERE
The Discovery Centre 1215 Lower Water St, Halifax, NS B3J 3S8
*Call Tanya MacLean (902 489 5664) upon arrival to set-up and for on-site interviews with donor family, QEII Foundation representatives and cancer care leadership.
SOURCE QEII FOUNDATION
Musk’s SpaceX could ignite private securities revolution
Petition for $10million private investment in Elon
Musk’s SpaceX could ignite private securities revolution
One of the world’s pioneering private companies, Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has been petitioned to accept nearly $10 million in private investors, as more individuals join the US crowdfunding revolution.
If SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corp) did agree to a public equity crowdfunding raise or opened its shares to a secondary market for private securities, it would be a significant milestone for equity crowdfunding since it was enabled by the JOBS Act of 2012.
Caption: Petition for $10million private investment in Elon Musk’s SpaceX could ignite private securities revolution
And if companies like SpaceX opened their doors to public investment, there is greater potential for securities sold to retail as well as accredited investors to be traded on secondary market Alternative Trading Systems (ATSs).
A handful of these ATSs were recently granted operational permission by financial regulators to trade private securities and digital assets.
Equity crowdfunding is rocketing, raising $113.52 billion last year according to Pitchbook data, a year-on-year increase of 1,021%, while Forbes reported that the private securities market hit a record $7 trillion last year and is set to soar to $30 trillion by 2030.
The enormous potential is highlighted by the fact that the USA has 27 million private companies, yet only 1% are currently traded on an ATS.
Chris Lustrino, Founder and CEO of crowdfunding investor site Kingscrowd wrote to his 475,000 subscribers this week and highlighted the petition to Elon Musk’s space company:
“Perhaps one of the most exciting start-ups in existence right now is SpaceX. I know that I would love the opportunity to invest in SpaceX - but that opportunity has never happened.
“That's why the folks at Spaced Ventures (a public investment platform for the space industry) have opened a petition asking SpaceX to raise capital online. The petition went live on Wednesday. And investors have already indicated more than $8 million (now $10 million) in potential interest for it.
“There's no guarantee that SpaceX will respond. But with that strong a response (via the petition), I think that if SpaceX ever did raise capital online, the raise would sell out in a matter of hours.”
Spaced Ventures’ website says of the organization: “We are passionate about entrepreneurship, finance, and all things space, and are deeply committed to the Spaced Ventures mission of making the industry accessible to companies and investors of all sizes.”
The commercial growth potential from the Spaced Ventures petition opening a door is not lost on Rialto Markets, an equity crowdfunding broker-dealer and operator of a secondary market ATS for private securities, whose award-winning visionary CEO and Co-Founder Shari Noonan told me:
“If exciting privately held tech companies in frontier markets, such as SpaceX, were to accept retail and accredited investors in their growth stages this would signal a massive and symbolic change in investment for private securities.
“Where previously accredited or institutional investors had greater access to private companies, we could now see everyday people finding their way into that investment space and simultaneously expanding their investment portfolio and growth opportunities. while potentially delivering greater liquidity for this market.”
Soldiers’ Blood and Bloodied Money Delivers Hard-Hitting History Lesson
Dallas, TX, September 20, 2022 — Allen B. Clark returned from the Vietnam War a double-leg amputee. It took 15 months of rehabilitation, 20 surgeries, eight years of psychotherapy and his faith in God to help him heal.
Through the years, Clark became involved in politics and was eventually appointed as an assistant secretary at the National Department of Veterans Affairs. It was through that appointment where Clark met and mentored hundreds of veterans and listened to their stories. The blood lost — the lives lost — haunted him, and he began to study the history of wars intensely. The undertaking consumed him, and he didn’t stop until he uncovered what he calls “the story behind the story” of why the United States gets involved in wars.
“In Latin, it’s cui bono? — who profits?” Clark said.
In his revealing new book, Soldiers’ Blood and Bloodied Money: Wars and the Ruling Elites, Clark shares the results of his extensive and concentrated research. His findings, drawn from sources published as far back as 150 years ago, point to individuals and institutions throughout history who have fostered and fomented horrendous wars, including arms merchants; religious entities and their leaders; politicians; international bankers; media titans; and lawyers.
With a special focus on the American Revolution, Civil War, Spanish-American War and the “Banana, Banker and Oil” wars in the Americas, Soldiers’ Blood and Bloodied Money aims to reveal the political, financial, business, religious, social and propaganda truths behind the initiation of wars.
“These truths illustrate that we young patriots, who have gone off to fight in wars, are merely pawns in a much larger chess game of life — a game where the captains and kings and knights and bishops are the ones who often profit immeasurably in terms of financial gain or increases in power,” Clark wrote in his book. “Meanwhile, we perish or suffer immense physical and emotional wounds from which many of us never heal.”
About the Author
The Honorable Allen B. Clark is a 1963 West Point graduate and PTSD survivor who lost both legs below the knees in 1967 following an enemy mortar barrage while serving in Vietnam. He is a recipient of a Silver Star, America’s third-highest decoration for Gallantry in Action, a Purple Heart, and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge.
He has served as a special assistant to the governor of Texas and as the Assistant Secretary for Veterans Liaison and Program Coordination, and Director of the National Cemetery System in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. In 1993, he was recognized by the Military Chaplains Association with its National Citizenship Award. He is a frequent motivational speaker. In early 2018, Allen received the Patriot Award from the Greater Dallas Military Foundation, and later that year, he received the Sons of the Flag Legacy Award.
For more insights into his book, visit the reviews at
Lawyers Behaving Badly Face Consequences of Their Corruption in Wise-Cracking Satire
Philadelphia/New York, September 20, 2022 ― Naïve young attorney Ryan Coleman jumps feet first into the hedonist world of wealth and power at the core of class-action law and finds himself in way over his head in Filthy Rich Lawyers, Book One:The Education of Ryan Coleman.
From author and attorney Brian Felgoise, who has been practicing class-action law for more than 25 years, and co-author David Tabatsky, Filthy Rich Lawyers is a satirical legal thriller filled with scenarios loosely based on real-world interactions that Felgoise had with lawyers, judges and plaintiffs.
“I laughed out loud at the salty wise cracks on most every page,” said Matt Flynn, author ofMilwaukee Jihad. “But underneath the lightning paced humor is a serious message about corruption in class action litigation. Filthy Rich Lawyers is a hilarious satire about a very real problem.”
The story begins in a Texas courtroom, where Ryan Coleman, a young, ambitious lawyer from Philadelphia, is chasing his share of a class-action lawsuit involving a multi-national defense contractor. After getting reprimanded by the judge for speaking out of turn, Coleman meets Robert Smalley, a brilliant attorney and borderline criminal who boasts that, “I have the greatest practice of law in the world because I have no clients.”
Included in the cast of colorful characters is Eugenia “Gene” Cauley, a female shark in the male-dominated legal world whose life spirals tragically out of control, and Randy Hollis, an insanely successful lawyer turned multi-billionaire, who is pursuing his ultimate American dream: buying a professional football team. Coleman becomes Hollis’ “errand boy,” but as Hollis is investigated by journalists, law associations and government agents, Coleman must decide if he wants to remain in this sordid circle.
Federal prosecutor Patrick Coyle wants to take Hollis down because of an old grudge. He aligns with Dick Dickey, former Secretary of Defense and CEO of a military contractor, to ruin Hollis and Coleman. When an escort mysteriously dies in Hollis’ penthouse, Coleman becomes an unwitting accomplice and must choose between protecting his boss and saving his marriage, or telling the truth and risk going to prison.
Filthy Rich Lawyers reveals the surprising ways in which our system of class-action law enables (mostly) men to get ridiculously wealthy and behave like sophomoric frat boys.
“How they use their money and power will shock, amuse and entertain readers,” Felgoise said. “As media billionaire Mortimer Zuckerman once said, referring to some lawyer’s self-indulgence and unbridled hubris, ‘Practicing law is the exact opposite of sex. Even when it’s good, it’s bad.’”
About the Authors
Brian M. Felgoise, Esq.,is a graduate of Temple University Law School and has been practicing class-action law for more than 25 years, including cases where billions of dollars have been recovered for class members who lost a significant amount of money.
David Tabatsky has authored, co-authored and edited many novels, including The Boy Behind the Door, Friends Like These, The Marijuana Project, The Battle of Zig Zag Pass and Drunk Log. His memoir, American Misfit, was published in 2017. Tabatsky was consulting editor for Marlo Thomas and her New York Times bestseller, The Right Words at the Right Time, Volume 2. To learn more, please visit: www.tabatsky.com.
Filthy Rich Lawyers, Book One:The Education of Ryan Coleman
Publisher: Speaking Volumes Inc.
Release Date: October 2022
ISBN: 978-1645407829 (paperback)
ISBN: 978-1645407812 (eBook)
LUNG HEALTH FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, JESSICA BUCKLEY
TORONTO, Sept. 20, 2022 /CNW/ - In a move designed to build on its long-standing history of impact and success, the Board of Directors of the Lung Health Foundation announces the appointment of Jessica Buckley, former Senior Vice President of Woodbine Entertainment, as the organization's new President & Chief Executive Officer.
She succeeds George Habib, who held the title of CEO for 15 years. Under Habib's successful leadership, the Lung Health Foundation established itself as an innovative and patient-centric organization that brought much-needed attention to the issue of lung disease, elevating its importance to policy-makers and the public alike. Constantly evolving the organization to better serve its patient community, he most recently led the transition of the Lung Health Foundation into a national organization amidst the challenges and uncertainty of the pandemic.
Assuming the role of CEO, Ms. Buckley brings with her over two decades of progressive entrepreneurial experience in the sports and entertainment industry, most recently as Senior Vice President of Standardbred and Thoroughbred Racing for Woodbine Entertainment Group. With notable success in leading organizational transformation and growth, engaging stakeholders, and building government relationships at all levels, Buckley is well-positioned to step into the leadership role at the Lung Health Foundation.
"With an exciting new strategic plan in place, the Lung Health Foundation promises to make big, bold changes in our approach to closing the gaps in the prevention, diagnosis, and care of lung disease in Canada," says Dan Markovich, Chair, Lung Health Foundation. "We are thrilled that Ms. Buckley will be guiding us in our work, given her demonstrated ability as a leader throughout her 20+ year entrepreneurial career. She has proven herself to be able to respond nimbly to constantly evolving markets and environments which is exactly what our organization needs as we move swiftly and urgently in our mission to help Canadians breathe better."
Each year in Canada, hundreds will needlessly lose their lives to asthma; tens of thousands with COPD will end up in hospital; more than 20,000 people will die from lung cancer; thousands will fail to get the vaccines they need to prevent hospitalization and even death; and thousands of young Canadians will continue to smoke and vape, putting their health severely at risk. The Lung Health Foundation aims to change that.
"This is an important time for the Lung Health Foundation as we make strides in becoming better and more impactful – in becoming the industry leader," promises Buckley. "I'm incredibly excited and honoured to be leading the Lung Health Foundation team. The mission of this organization -- improving the lung health of all Canadians -- is critically important to each and every one of us, and it's absolutely what attracted me to this opportunity. I'm looking forward to getting to know this amazing team and using my experience to help expand our reach to all patients and their families across the country."
About the Lung Health Foundation
The Lung Health Foundation is national organization dedicated to ending gaps in the prevention, diagnosis, and care of lung disease in Canada. We invest in the future by driving ground-breaking research, and we give patients and their families the programs and support they need today. Lung health starts now!
SOURCE Lung Health Foundation
Walmart Canada Launches Canada's e-Prescribing Service
TORONTO, Sept. 20, 2022 /CNW/ - Canada Health Infoway (Infoway) and Walmart Canada are pleased to announce Infoway's PrescribeIT® electronic prescribing service is now available in 14 Walmart Canada pharmacies in Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick, with plans to expand to more stores by year-end.
PrescribeIT® allows prescribers to send prescriptions and renewals electronically to a patient's pharmacy of choice, resulting in more efficient patient care, enhanced safety and improved communication between clinicians.
"Walmart Canada is one of Canada's largest retailers and pharmacy chains and we are thrilled to partner with them," said Jamie Bruce, Executive Vice President, Infoway. "PrescribeIT® will make it easier and more convenient for thousands of Walmart pharmacy patients to get their prescriptions filled, and it will improve the workflow of Walmart pharmacists and their communication with prescribers. We look forward to working with Walmart Canada as we continue to expand PrescribeIT®across the country."
"We are very excited about the new partnership with Infoway to offer PrescribeIT® in our stores," said Alex Hurd, Vice President, Health Services, Walmart Canada. "PrescribeIT® supports our mission of enhancing access to health services for Canadians by offering a frictionless health experience."
"PrescribeIT® has been a great addition to our pharmacy system, enabling the digitization of prescription-related services and making a positive impact on how we work," said Chris Lee, Vaughan, ON, Pharmacist Manager. "Having prescriptions directly sent to us has reduced the work needed to process prescriptions. Electronic communications with prescribers are effortless and reduces paperwork. More importantly, our patients do not have to worry about bringing physical prescriptions to fill, and can receive their prescriptions even quicker from our pharmacies."
PrescribeIT® is now live in more than 550 communities in six provinces (Ontario, Alberta, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Manitoba), and Infoway is working with other provinces and territories to develop roll-out plans. More than 10,000 prescribers and 6,000 pharmacy sites are enrolled in the service. See the interactive locator map.
About Walmart Canada
Walmart Canada operates a chain of more than 400 stores nationwide serving 1.5 million customers each day. Walmart Canada's flagship online store, Walmart.ca is visited by 1.5 million customers daily. With more than 100,000 associates, Walmart Canada is one of Canada's largest employers and is ranked one of the country's top 10 most influential brands. Walmart Canada was recently recognized as a LinkedIn Top Company of 2022 and was also named one of Canada's most popular brands (based on Google searches). Walmart Canada's extensive philanthropy program is focused on supporting Canadian families in need, and since 1994 Walmart Canada has raised and donated more than $500 million to Canadian charities. Additional information can be found at walmartcanada.ca and on Walmart Canada's social media pages -– Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
About Canada Health Infoway
At Canada Health Infoway (Infoway) we believe a more connected and collaborative system is a healthier system, and we work with governments, health care organizations, clinicians and patients to make health care more digital. We're working to ensure that everyone is able to access their personal health information, book appointments, get prescriptions, view lab test results and access other health services, online. We're working with our partners to transform the health system because we know that digital in health can be as transformative as digital has been in other aspects of our lives. We're an independent, not-for-profit organization funded by the federal government. Visit us online at www.infoway-inforoute.ca.
About PrescribeIT®
Canada Health Infoway is working with Health Canada, the provinces and territories, and industry stakeholders to develop, operate and maintain the national e-prescribing service known as PrescribeIT®. PrescribeIT® will serve all Canadians, pharmacies and prescribers and provide safer and more effective medication management by enabling prescribers to transmit a prescription electronically between a prescriber's electronic medical record (EMR) and the pharmacy management system (PMS) of a patient's pharmacy of choice. PrescribeIT® will protect Canadians' personal health information from being sold or used for commercial activities. Visit www.PrescribeIT.ca.
Faith and First Responders: How Believing in a Higher Power Can Promote Healing
Antioch, CA, September 20, 2022 — If he were given a chance to travel back in time, make different choices and avoid a prison sentence, Norm Wielsch says he would decline the offer. In 2013, the former undercover narcotic agent was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison after he pled guilty to corruption charges, and it was there, behind prison walls, where he finally found healing through faith.
“If you don’t believe in a higher power, there’s no rhyme or reason to life,” Wielsch said in a recent interview. “Life is just a series of incidents that happen. But if you truly believe that there is a higher power, and there’s a reason for things that happen, I believe that you can adjust to it, and cope with it a little bit better.”
As a police officer for 25 years, Wielsch witnessed his share of trauma and would later fall into a downward spiral following his own diagnosis of PTSD. He served 8 years of his 14-year sentence and emerged from federal prison determined to help others — particularly first responders — heal from trauma.
Wielsch’s new book, Christ Centered Healing of Trauma: Healing a Broken Heart (and companion small group study guide), teaches foundational principles and tools for resolving issues related to traumatic life events.
Readers will learn how trauma affects the heart, body and soul; how to manage emotions; how to identify the root cause of emotional pain; and how to begin the healing process.
Through a bible study portion, readers will learn God's plan for salvation and healing. Included are numerous sample prayers to guide readers through the healing process.
Wielsch’s Christ-Centered healing method was originally designed to minister to first responders and combat veterans but is also appropriate for counselors, pastors, chaplains and anyone whose lives are impacted by trauma.
“This book is not only for the victims of trauma, but for their husbands, wives, daughters, sons and parents who suffer right along with them,” Wielsch said. “They are wounded people as well. Hurt people, hurt people. Since our families are the closest to us, we tend to hurt them more than we intend.”
About the Author
Norm Wielsch was a law enforcement officer for over 25 years — 16 of those as an undercover narcotic agent. In 1998, he was diagnosed with an incurable neuro-muscular disease, and after more than 30 surgeries, he became addicted to opioids. Wielsch was diagnosed with PTSD, and then his daughter was diagnosed with a serious illness and given a poor prognosis. In a downward spiral, Wielsch made a series of bad decisions that landed him in federal prison.
While incarcerated, he obtained a master’s degree in Theology and Counseling, a Doctorate in Christian Counseling, and a Drug and Alcohol Counseling Degree. He currently works at a men's residential treatment facility as a registered alcohol and drug counselor and pastoral care provider. He is a working credentialed chaplain who hopes to one day launch a first responder ministry.
Wielsch also has a master’s degree in Law Enforcement Management and is an expert in law enforcement tactics, criminal investigations, pursuit driving, high risk search warrant service, PTSD and the police culture.
