New research shows chronic stress taking toll on individuals and organizations
TORONTO, March 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Far from feeling the pandemic is over, most people in Canada are stressed about what’s next, with 64% worried about new variants and 57% worried about COVID-19 circulating in the population for years to come. Two years of pandemic-related stressors, including grief and trauma, are likely to lead to significant long-term mental health effects on both our population and the frontline mental health providers caring for them. This according to Round 4 of the Assessing the Impacts of COVID-19 on Mental Health national monitoring survey by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) in partnership with UBC researchers, and CMHA’s Running on empty: how community mental health organizations have fared on the frontlines of COVID-19, both released today.
“We’re seeing the signs of chronic stress on the population,” says Margaret Eaton, National CEO of CMHA. “Unfortunately, community mental health organizations have drawn on shallow reserves to meet people’s mental health needs during COVID, and now they’re running on empty. It’s time to check the engine light on our mental health system.”
The chronic stress of dealing with the pandemic is taking its toll, making basic decisions harder, sapping our energy and leaving people plain tired or burnt out. Nearly half (46%) of Canadians are stressed or worried about coping with uncertainty.
“We’re seeing big differences—or inequities—in how different groups of people are affected by the pandemic. This is dividing our society into haves and have-nots when it comes to mental health and illness,” says lead researcher Emily Jenkins, a professor of nursing at UBC who studies mental health and substance use. “The pandemic has made it impossible to ignore the longstanding service gaps and systemic barriers in our systems.”
Over a third (37%) say their mental health has declined since the onset of the pandemic and this spikes in vulnerable groups such as those who are unemployed due to COVID-19 (57%), had a pre-existing mental health condition (54%), identify as LGBTQ2+ (49%), are students (47%) have a disability (44%) or are Indigenous (42%). Over a third (36%) of Canadians are worried about the compounding effects of climate change on top of COVID-19 and eight per cent have had recent thoughts or feelings of suicide.
Millions of Canadians who cannot get the mental health help they need due to long wait lists or high costs, rely on free mental health and addictions services and supports provided by the not-for-profit sector, but these organizations are strained to breaking.
“The community mental health and addictions sector cannot meet these growing needs with the current funding model,” says Eaton. “Between chronic underfunding, patchwork services and people not knowing where to go, Canadians are not getting the help they need when they need it.”
Almost one in five (17%) Canadians felt they needed help with their mental health during the pandemic but didn’t receive it because: they didn’t know how or where to get it (36%), couldn’t afford to pay (36%), couldn’t get access (29%) or because insurance didn’t cover it (19%).
“Improving Canadians’ mental health is about more than just increasing access to care,” says Anne Gadermann, co-lead researcher and professor at the School of Population and Public Health, UBC. “We need to address the root causes of mental health inequities through promotion and prevention, in addition to treatment.”
In Running on Empty, CMHA calls on the federal government to better fund, support and integrate community mental health services within the healthcare system and: establish long-term and stable federal funding for key programs, services and supports in the community mental health sector; invest in mental health promotion and mental illness prevention programs and strategies; publicly fund community-based counseling and psychotherapy; and invest in housing, income supports and food security.
“We’re so grateful for all our community mental health providers who have been creative and compassionate in meeting people’s needs, but this ‘emergency mode’ isn’t sustainable for staff or clients who need stable, long-term help,” says Eaton. “It’s time to overhaul our mental health system and invest in social supports that are proven to improve well-being.”
Getting help If you or someone you love is struggling, please contact your local CMHA or visit the Government of Canada’s Wellness Together portal. If you are in crisis, please call 1-833-456-4566 toll free in Canada (1-866-277-3553 in Quebec) or dial 911.
About the survey The survey was dispatched by Maru/Matchbox from Nov. 29 – Dec. 7, 2021, to a representative sample of 3,030 people ages 18 and up living in Canada. The fourth round of this national monitoring survey was made possible by generous support from Co-operators. To access a complete summary of the findings, please click here.
About the report The report uses in-depth interviews across all provinces and the Yukon territory to outline how community mental health organizations have been impacted by and responded to the pandemic. The research was made possible by generous support from Co-operators. To access the complete report, please click here.
About the Canadian Mental Health Association Founded in 1918, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is the most established, most extensive community mental health organization in Canada. Through a presence in more than 330 communities across every province and one territory, CMHA provides advocacy, programs and resources that help to prevent mental health problems and illnesses, support recovery and resilience, and enable all Canadians to flourish and thrive. For more information, please visit www.cmha.ca
New project examines mentally healthy living after social distancing
Toronto, Feb. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- How has the pandemic impacted the mental health of older adults in Canada? Which evidence-informed strategies are most effective in helping older adults reduce anxiety and cope with fear and loneliness? These questions and more will be answered through a new research study called Mentally Healthy Living After Social Distancing - A Study of Older Canadians funded by the RTOERO Foundation.
The study is led by the Living well research team, an interdisciplinary group from the University of Alberta, Simon Fraser University and Memorial University. The team will analyze existing research on mental health support strategies and conduct a nationwide survey with older Canadians, including RTOERO members, about older Canadians' strategies to reduce stress, fear, anxiety, and loneliness.
“Canadians over 60 have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic,” explains Gail Low, associate professor of nursing at the University of Alberta and principal investigator. “For many, it’s meant living alone at home in isolation, with moderate to severe anxiety, fear, and loneliness. We want to understand more about the impacts of this experience and what folks found effective to help them manage their mental health during this time—what can we learn that will help us all moving forward?”
Research results will be summarized into a recipe book for RTOERO members and the general public that outlines what older adults can do to support their wellbeing, drawing on the advice from older Canadians involved in the study. The cookbook will feature anxiety-lessening strategies, sage advice and simple, healthy comfort food recipes. A research chef from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology will develop the recipes.
“The recipe book and the focus on good mental health information tailored for older adults are what drew us to this project,” says Mike Prentice, executive director of the RTOERO Foundation. “When we evaluate possible projects, we like to see that our donors, RTOERO members and older Canadians can experience short and long-term benefits through tangible takeaways.”
The research study will undergo an ethics review later this spring. Ethics review is a standard step with any research project. It’s expected the survey will launch in summer 2022. Literature reviews will take place during the same timeframe. Initial findings are expected to be available late 2022. Watch for updates on this project as it gets underway. RTOERO members will receive an email inviting them to participate in the research.
Learn more about the various projects funded by the RTOERO Foundation. If you’re interested in supporting critical research and innovative programs to improve the quality of life for aging Canadians, please consider becoming a donor.
The RTOERO Foundation is one of the only charitable foundations in Canada focused on the health and well-being of older adults. The Foundation envisions a society in which all seniors live with dignity and respect. To learn more about our mandate and projects, visit www.rtoerofoundation.ca.
RTOERO is a bilingual trusted voice on healthy, active living in the retirement journey for the broader education community. With 82,000+ members in 51 districts across Canada, we are the largest national provider of non-profit group health benefits for education retirees.
Stealth Sports Partners with Zybek Sports, a trusted NFL-combine operator, and Route Analytics, to Launch Football Combines, dedicated to providing NFL-Caliber Testing Integrated with the Only AI-Driven NCAA D1 Approved Platform to High School and Middle School Athletes
Talented team includes industry veterans and strategists who join forces to provide an all-encompassing, holistic approach that provides student-athletes with tools that can educate and enable success on their journey to the next level.
AUSTIN (February 25, 2022) -- Stealth Sports is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit that creates opportunities for young people to grow and learn athletically and academically through sports events, 7on7, and youth mentoring programs. The group kicks off their Stealth Sports Combine Series of six events scheduled to take place 4 states (TX, NC, IN, PA), starting in March of 2022. Registration is now open – please click here to view the official combine series announcement and schedule.
At the end of each combine, Stealth Sports will be announcing the top athletes at each camp/city geography based on Zybek Sports’ industry-leading combine measurement, the SAT® (Standardized Athlete Test). Results will be posted online for bragging rights to the area’s best performing athletes.
“Student-athletes who show a tendency to perform at a high level deserve access to the same tools that are used to measure amateur and elite professional athletes. Stealth Sports exists to provide experiences that help bring out their best performance and help provide feedback and possibly open doors.” Says Stealth Sports Co-Founder and Executive Director Dr. Ernest Cutler.
“We want to help bring the incredibly trusted combine measurement capabilities and operations of Zybek Sports, coupled with Route Analytics AI-driven platform for student-athletes and college coaches, to athletes around the country. There’s power and validity in athletes getting something tangible from a combine other than just times, and we think this partnership provides real value to young athletes. Yes, they show up and get tested by technology, but they also get a detailed report that helps them really understand how they compare to athletes their age and higher, what they need to do in order to progress, and where opportunities lie for performance optimization. This, coupled with a direct connection via Route Analytics’ platform to collegiate coaches, these athletes have verified data accepted at the highest level of worldwide sports organizations” added Rocky Brown, another Co-Founder and Executive Director.
What Stealth Sports combines provide and what sets them apart from the competition
● Each player is provided with a free Route Analytics profile before the combine
● Players are tested and measured using Zybek Sports NFL-Combine trusted technology in the 40, 5-10-5, L-Drill, Vertical, and broad jump.
● Athletes receive their Standardized Athlete Test (SAT®) report containing their combine scores, comparisons and suggested yearly performance targets.
● Results are automatically uploaded to their profile on the Route Analytics platform for review by NCAA coaches
● Athletes can always attend other events and instantly have updated combine data tied to their profiles as they progress through high school
About the Stealth Sports Team
Dr. Ernest Cutler
Dr. Ernest E. Cutler Jr. has been involved within all aspects of football for over 28 years. His background covers leading over 300+ student athletes in national camp settings since 2016. He currently is an Executive Director of Stealth Sports, Co-owner of Pressure Sports Group, Camp Director for US SPORTS CAMPS/NIKE, and the Co-Founder of the South Texas Elite Football Academy. Dr. Cutler served 20 years within the US Navy as a Chief Petty Officer.
Rocky Brown
Rocky Brown serves as an Executive Director for Stealth Sports. With a 20+ year career in marketing, business and IT (and currently with IBM as a Global Digital Strategist), he helps drive the mission of Stealth Sports. He has served as a US SPORTS CAMP/Nike director, has coached at the youth level in football and baseball, and is a perpetual mentor to young athletes.
Eddie Welling
Eddie Welling, Executive Director, has been involved in baseball operations at the collegiate and professional level for over 22 years. Having been on the field for most of his career as a college and professional baseball coach, he recently made the switch to the business side of multiple sports. For the last few seasons, he has spent time as a performance and strategy consultant with various MLB teams, most recently with the Padres, providing direct feedback to players, coaches and front office staff alike on how best to apply analytics to performance and team business decisions.
Jason Belser
Jason Belser is an NFL Veteran having played 11 seasons for the Indianapolis Colts & Kansas City Chiefs. He was a finalist for the Walter Payton NFL Man of The Year. He spent 11 years in the NFLPA serving players in his Role as the Sr. Director of Player Affairs. He was a USA Football Board Member during his time with the NFLPA and worked on numerous Competition & Health and Safety initiatives. Jason serves as the trusted Senior Advisor to the Stealth Sports Board of Directors.
Dee Jenkins
Dee Jenkins, Vice President of Player Development Division, brings years of football experience at the youth through high school levels as a coach, recruiting coordinator and scout. Dee is the former Southwest Region Player Development Director for All-American Games, LLC and assisted with the recruitment of athletes for the US Army All-American Bowl and All-American Bowl on NBC for Texas and Louisiana territories as well as the tournament director for Texas bracket of the subsidiary brand, FBU National Championship, for a period of eight years. He also has served over 20 years in the United States Army and continues to do so to date and utilizes his experiences through this and football to help guide athletes in a positive direction.
About Zybek Sports
Zybek Sports was founded in Boulder, Colorado in 2008. Since its inception into the sports performance market, Zybek has secured its place among the elite providers of talent identification and performance analysis equipment. To accomplish the goal of standardized athletic testing (SAT), everyone must be taking the same test and have it administered and graded the same way by a disinterested third party. In the world of athletic testing this means that all athletes will take the same core tests, measured on the same equipment, given by a person who is not their parent, coach or personally connected to them in any way. Since 2011, Zybek Sports has provided the only fully automated timing system used at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Learn more at zybeksports.com
About Route Analytics
ROUTE Analytics is the fastest growing and only real-time, AI-powered end-to-end, recruiting, and scouting platform approved for use by the NCAA. As a leader in data science and advanced analytics, ROUTE helps high school football players choose the best path to play college football. Using artificial intelligence and machine learning, the ROUTE College Football Recruit web and mobile app provides student-athletes their best-fit probability by college division, school, and position along with program insights via a powerful set of product tools for research and analysis. For college institutions and university clients, the patent pending ROUTE decision-support platform assists football programs with identifying best-fit student-athletes using its proprietary algorithms and predictive analytics to help evaluate more talent faster, quicker, and easier while building sustained recruiting success. Created by athletes, parents, and coaches – you can learn more about ROUTE Analytics at route-analytics.com
How to Recover Quicker When You Injure Yourself During Training
Getting an injury while working out is frustrating. You’re worried that if you can’t train, you will lose all of the gains you’ve made. You want to get back to your training as soon as possible. If you start to train again too soon after an injury, you could set yourself back even further or cause a worse injury. There are ways to recover quickly to help you get back to your training.
Ice and Heat
Ice should be used immediately after an injury, not heat, especially if there is swelling. Ice will help reduce the pain and the swelling. Use a cold pack on the injured area for 10 to 20 minutes at a time, four times a day.
You can use heat after 72 hours, but it depends on where the injury is. For joint or bone injuries, ice is better to continue to use. Heat works best with soft tissue injuries and for the back. Apply heat to the injured area for 15 to 20 minutes per day. Heat will increase the blood flow in the area of the injury and help the healing process. Unlike ice, do not apply heat directly to the skin. A hot bath will work just as well.
Accidents and Injuries
If you slip and fall and get injured, you might also have to discontinue training for a time. The first thing you should do is make sure you haven’t broken a bone. If you’re not sure, a quick trip to your doctor’s office will let you know. If the injury isn’t too bad, you can treat it as a workout-related injury.
Resting the injured area will help, as will ice to reduce any swelling. If you’ve hurt your wrist, wrapping the wrist with an elastic medical bandage compression will help keep the injury immobile.
Active Recovery
Injuries to an arm, like the bicep, forearm or shoulder, should be treated like other injuries. But you can still exercise while you heal if the injury is not too bad. Instead of using barbells, you can use dumbbells.
For example, if you’ve injured your left arm, you can still do curls. Just use a lighter weight with your left arm, even if it is only a five-pound dumbbell. Even though it is a lighter weight, you shouldn't lose too much muscle in the injured arm.
Passive Recovery
How you recover from an injury will depend on the severity of the injury and where it occurs. When you get injured, your immune system will try to heal it. Sometimes it is best to let your body rest and allow it to heal on its own.
Don’t exert the injured area and get good sleep. Sleep is very important to allow your body to heal. Passive recovery doesn't mean sitting around and doing nothing. Movement is also important because it creates healthy blood flow to the area, which helps the healing process. Do some stretching to increase blood flow.
Scholarship Opportunity for Canadian Residents to the Bachelor of Disability Management
PORT ALBERNI, BC, Feb. 24, 2022 /CNW/ - Funding provided by the Government of Canada's Sectoral Initiatives Program provides Canadian Residents (with the exception of BC which developed its own similar initiative) with a Scholarship to enter the Bachelor of Disability Management program offered through the Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS) delivered through an online learning platform.
Applicants for the Scholarship must have completed a 2-year diploma or other relevant educational prerequisites, which provide 60 credits in a range of disciplines but preferably human resources, business, occupational health and safety, nursing or social work from a recognized post-secondary educational institution.
Scholarships will be awarded on a first come, first qualified basis. Deadlines for applications is: June 15, 2022
This limited, one-time intake only for Fall 2022 provides the following options:
completion of the BDM program in a two-year time frame as a full-time student, or
completion of the BDM program in a four-year part-time format (scholarship applies to the first two years)
Full details re the Scholarship can be found on the PCU-WHS website or through the following QR Code: www.pcu-whs.ca
In recognition of the key role which early intervention and successful job retention efforts can have in reducing the socio-economic impact of disabling health impairments for disabled workers, employers and our society at large, many employers, unions, WCBs and other relevant stakeholders are expanding their efforts through various DM programs, policies and practices to build knowledge and capacity designed to improve successful accommodation of disabled workers.
With an ever increasing number of available employment opportunities in the RTW/DM space across Canada and internationally, from front line Return to Work coordination to senior management positions working as a Disability Management Professional is in many instances not only a financially rewarding career, but allows you to make a positive difference in someone's life.
Detailed information regarding these opportunities can be found at: www.nidmar.ca
SOURCE National Institute of Disability Management and Research
Tips for Treating Soreness After Your First Workout Whether you are working out to lose weight, strengthen your physical health, boost your mental and emotional well-being, or are following your doctor’s orders, it is a good activity that can improve your quality of life. However, your body may be sore after the first workout due to the new activities. The good news is that you can take steps to reduce the soreness without giving up and stopping future exercises.
Stay Hydrated Healthy fluids are necessary when flushing out damaged muscles. Therefore, it is essential to stay hydrated before your first workout. Before the physical activity, try to determine how long you plan to work out, and drink at least eight ounces of water per fifteen- or twenty-minute interval. Although you can consume other healthy beverages, it is best to drink water for the first workout to ensure your body stays hydrated and prevents severe muscle damage. If you fail to stay hydrated while working out, your soreness could feel more intense and last longer.
Consider a Warm-Up Period One of the biggest mistakes people make is jumping into a workout routine without stretching their muscles out before the activities. Loosening up the body allows a good amount of blood to flow to muscles and reduce soreness. Warming up can also lower the odds of accidents and injuries caused by a workout routine. Remember that cooling down after physical activity is just as important because it stops fluids from accumulating in the joints and body. Cooling down could also improve your heart functioning and return your breathing to normal following the workout.
Seek Pain Relief After completing your first physical routine, the oils and gels you put on your body could ease pain by soothing your muscles. Pain relief oxygen ointment can help reduce inflammation and allow the sore muscles to heal properly. As a result, blood will flow to the muscles and help reduce pain in the joints. If your first workout leads to an injury, the ointments could also relieve some of the aches and throbbing. Rest
Your body will need to rest and regroup, especially your muscles. Therefore, it is vital that you take a moment to lie down in bed or relax in a comfortable chair after the workout. Some people skip this rest because they feel like their activity will go to waste. However, this is inaccurate; rest can boost your energy levels while strengthening your muscles, leading to better workouts. The tips above can help you avoid soreness after your first workout, as well as future routines. The objective is to keep your body strong and continue with activities that help you achieve your physical and mental health goals.
How to Create a Workout Space for Yourself at Home
Got a spare bedroom? Use it to transform your at-home workouts from super frustrating to super fun. It’s no secret that having a designated workout space can make getting on the treadmill or bench press easier. But how do you create the perfect home for your workouts without breaking the bank, using up precious square footage of your apartment, or giving up on the idea of an at-home workout? Don’t let home get in your way of healthy living. Here are some quick tips that will help you turn any unused area into a personal workout space that is just right for you.
Find the Perfect Space to Work Out
It’s important to find the right location for your at-home workout space. You can either create a designated space in an unused room or you can use the space you already have. Is there a spare bedroom that doesn’t get used very often? Clear it out and turn it into your personal gym. Or, if your living room is small, set up your at-home workout space in front of the TV so you can watch movies while you work out.
No matter how big or small the area is, make sure to pick an area with enough light. A window is best but any natural light will do. If there isn’t any natural light, try installing some track lighting for better visibility. Once you’ve found the perfect spot for your at-home workout zone, it's time to start getting creative.
Choose Your Equipment
First, choose your equipment. Does your chosen workout require a bench press? Or maybe you need that mat for yoga. Once you have chosen the items that are important to your routine, it’s time to find a space.
Safety Tips for At-Home Workouts
Safety is always a priority. When you are working out at home, it's important to make sure that your space is safe and secure. This means making sure there are no tripping hazards, sharp edges, or other potential dangers.
Here is a list of items to consider when creating the perfect personal workout space:
- Make sure there is enough room for whatever activity you want to perform.
- Include amenities such as water and towels/showering supplies.
- Consider putting down home gym rubber flooring to provide a skid-proof surface that’s softer if you take a spill or drop a heavy weight.
- Make sure the space is well lit and free of clutter so it feels spacious.
Achieving your fitness goals is a journey, but it’s one that you can take with the right information and support.
With these tips and tricks, you can create a workout space for yourself at home and start on the right track to achieving your goals.
Mithra and Searchlight Pharma Announce Launch of Haloette® in Canada
First available alternative in the Canadian contraceptive ring market
LIEGE, Belgium and MONTREAL, Feb. 16, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ - Mithra and Searchlight Pharma are pleased to announce the commercial launch of Mithra's vaginal contraceptive ring Myring® under the brandname Haloette® in Canada.
Following the successful launch of Mithra's innovative contraceptive pill Nextstellis® last year, Searchlight Pharma is pleased to further expand its growing footprint in Women's Health with the commercialization of Haloette®. Currently, the Canadian vaginal contraceptive ring market is worth approximately CAD $11.5 million (EUR 8 million) a year1, represented exclusively by the originator Nuvaring® 2. Haloette® is a new affordable option for women that was approved by Health Canada in September 2021 and is now available in pharmacies across Canada.
Developed and manufactured by European women's health expert and innovator Mithra, Haloette® eliminates the need for refrigerated conditions prior to being dispensed to patients. This provides a competitive advantage for both wholesalers and pharmacies, by reducing transport, storage costs, and the need for cold chain storage. Furthermore, it provides a more convenient option for distributors, pharmacists and patients.
"We are delighted to partner with Mithra once again in order to offer Canadian women an additional choice in addressing their contraception needs," said Mark Nawacki, President & CEO of Searchlight Pharma. "Since making Haloette® available across Canada this past December, interest has been very high, as evidenced by rapid product uptake at major wholesalers and pharmacy banners throughout Canada, as well as the many formulary listings with private and public payers, including the Public Prescription Drug Insurance Plan (RAMQ) in Quebec."
"It's thrilling to team up once again with Searchlight Pharma to bring innovative contraceptive alternatives to Canadian women," said Leon Van Rompay, CEO Mithra. "Just a few months after the Canadian launch of Nextstellis®, we are now also providing women with access to the first generic product of a contraceptive ring in this first region in North America. Our Mithra CDMO pursues the production of all Myring® commercial batches orders for a range of new commercial launches planned for 2022."
About Haloette®
Haloette® (etonogestrel/ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring) is a non-biodegradable, flexible, transparent, combination contraceptive vaginal ring, with an outer diameter of 54 mm and a cross-sectional diameter of 4 mm. It is made of ethylene vinylacetate copolymers, and contains 11.7 mg etonogestrel and 2.7 mg ethinyl estradiol. When placed in the vagina, each ring releases on average 0.120 mg/day of etonogestrel and 0.015 mg/day of ethinyl estradiol over a three-week period of use. The ring is to remain in place continuously for three weeks. It is removed for a one-week break, during which a withdrawal bleed usually occurs. A new ring is inserted one week after the last ring was removed.
About Mithra
Mithra (Euronext: MITRA) is a Belgian biotech company dedicated to transforming Women's Health by offering new choices through innovation, with a particular focus on contraception and menopause. Mithra's goal is to develop products offering better efficacy, safety and convenience, meeting women's needs throughout their life span. Mithra explores the potential of the unique native estrogen estetrol in a wide range of applications in women health and beyond. After having successfully launched the first estetrol-based product in 2021, the contraceptive pill Estelle®, Mithra is now focusing on its second product Donesta®, the next-generation hormone therapy. Mithra also develops and manufactures complex therapeutics in the areas of contraception, menopause and hormone-dependent cancers. It offers partners a complete spectrum of research, development and specialist manufacturing at its technological platform Mithra CDMO. Active in more than 100 countries around the world, Mithra has an approximate headcount of 300 staff members and is headquartered in Liège, Belgium. www.mithra.com
About Searchlight Pharma Inc.
Searchlight Pharma Inc., headquartered in Montreal, that executes best-in class search, acquisition, commercialization, and focused development of innovative and unique specialty healthcare products. Our core products focus on women's health, urogynecology, and urology, and our team is committed to improving people's lives by bringing the right products to market.Follow us, learn more about what we do, and get to know our product portfolio at www.searchlightpharma.com.
Important information
The contents of this announcement include statements that are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words "believes", "estimates," "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "may", "will", "plans", "continue", "ongoing", "potential", "predict", "project", "target", "seek" or "should", and include statements the Company makes concerning the intended results of its strategy. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. The Company's actual results may differ materially from those predicted by the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.
______________________________
1 IQVIA 2021
2 Nuvaring® is registered trademark of N.V. Organon
SOURCE Searchlight Pharma Inc.
Ontario's doctors offer solution for wait times
TORONTO, Feb. 16, 2022 /CNW/ - Ontario's doctors are proposing an innovative new model of care that would reduce wait times by shifting many non-emergency, less complex surgeries to outpatient centres.
The Ontario Medical Association released a comprehensive report today recommending creation of publicly funded Integrated Ambulatory Centres. These free-standing centres would work with local hospitals to provide OHIP-insured medical services, including surgeries and procedures, on an outpatient basis.
This would free up hospital beds and operating rooms, allowing them to focus on more complex, acute and emergency patients and procedures and reduce wait times.
"Ambulatory centres in other jurisdictions have shown to deliver a more satisfying patient experience," said OMA President Dr. Adam Kassam. "In addition to shorter wait times, patients spend less time in ambulatory facilities than they do in hospitals and can safely return home the same day. This is combined with an improved physician and provider experience, while being able to realize efficiencies in both acute and community care."
Wait times were an issue in Ontario before the COVID-19 pandemic put the spotlight on the cracks in the health-care system, with waits for many procedures longer than recommended.
A new analysis released by the OMA today found that on top of those existing problems, the pandemic has created a backlog of more than 21 million patient services that will take months and in some cases years to clear. This includes a backlog of more than 1 million surgeries as of the end of 2021, but also preventative care, cancer screenings such as mammograms and colonoscopies and diagnostic tests such as MRIs and CT scans.
The numbers will grow when we learn how many surgeries and procedures were cancelled during the pause on non-emergency procedures due to the Omicron variant and when the unknown number of "missing patients" who did not engage with the health-care system during the pandemic are included.
Dr. Kassam said the health-care system must now clear the backlog while implementing the new Integrated Ambulatory Centre model, which could take five to eight years.
With the growing sophistication of surgical tools and techniques and new pain management and anesthesia options, many less-complex surgeries and procedures could be moved from hospitals to Integrated Ambulatory Centres. Examples include cataract surgeries, hernia repairs, hysterectomies, hip and knee surgeries, endoscopies, ear, nose and throat surgeries and breast reconstruction after breast cancer.
The OMA proposal fully complies with the Canada Health Act and there would be no user fees or queue jumping. The centres would be fully integrated within the publicly funded, publicly administered health system.
Experience in other provinces and countries, as well as the Kensington Eye Institute in Ontario, shows that ambulatory centres can work under this model. They also have faster recovery times, lower infection rates and efficiency gains ranging from 20 to 30 per cent compared with inpatient hospital care.
Ontario's doctors believe this new model of care, the most significant change in ambulatory care in 30 years, would have widespread public support.
A recent Ipsos survey conducted for the OMA found that Ontarians want the government to prioritize clearing the backlog of health-care services built up during the pandemic, even if it means a short-term impact on economic recovery. In that same poll, 96 per cent of respondents said they supported the five pillars of the OMA roadmap to improve the health-care system over the next four years, Prescription for Ontario: Doctors' 5-Point Plan for Better Health Care. The first of the five pillars is reducing backlog and wait times.
"Wait times for surgical procedures are a major problem for patients in Ontario," said OMA CEO Allan O'Dette. "Ambulatory centres provide an opportunity for government to help reduce them and get patients the high-quality care that they need sooner."
The Ontario Medical Association represents Ontario's 43,000-plus physicians, medical students and retired physicians, advocating for and supporting doctors while strengthening the leadership role of doctors in caring for patients. Our vision is to be the trusted voice in transforming Ontario's health-care system.
SOURCE Ontario Medical Association
LifeLabs’ President and CEO named one of the “Top 25 Biotech CEOs” for the second consecutive year
Toronto, Ontario, Feb. 16, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- We are pleased to share that LifeLabs’ President and CEO, Charles Brown, has been named one of the “Top 25 Biotech CEOs of 2022” by The Healthcare Technology Report. This is Charles’ second consecutive year for receiving this recognition.
Hundreds of nominations were submitted this year to The Healthcare Technology Report and winners were selected based on leaders’ dedication to customer care and their contributions to the advancement of medicine.
“I am truly honoured to be selected for the second consecutive year for this award amongst such a distinguished list of leaders,” says Charles. It’s a testament of hard work and dedication from our entire team at LifeLabs. I’m extremely proud of our team’s perseverance through times of uncertainty and disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I graciously accept this award on behalf of the LifeLabs Team, and I look forward to what we will achieve together to advance healthcare this year and beyond.”
Charles was ranked #2 amongst awardees for his impressive efforts in guiding LifeLabs through organizational transformation in the past year. Since joining LifeLabs in 2018, Charles has worked to evolve LifeLabs into a commercially driven organization that brings customer-centred value to market. By showcasing the possibility of delivering value-based outcomes, Charles empowers his employees to make a difference and facilitate innovative change. During COVID-19, Charles’ leadership guided the team to quickly pivot and adapt to respond to the pandemic by providing essential COVID-19 testing, while maintaining full operation of lab testing and diagnostic work.
The Healthcare Technology Report provides market research and insights, business news, investment activity updates and important corporate developments related to the healthcare technology sector.
To learn more about the award and the other individuals included in the list, please click here.
About LifeLabs
LifeLabs is Canada’s leading provider of laboratory diagnostic information and digital health connectivity systems, enabling patients and health care practitioners to diagnose, treat, monitor, and prevent disease. We support 20 million patient visits annually and conduct over 100 million laboratory tests through leading edge technologies and our 6,000 talented and dedicated employees. We are a committed innovator in supporting Canadians to live healthier lives, operating Canada’s first commercial genetics lab, and the country’s largest online patient portal, with more than 5 million Canadians receiving their results online. LifeLabs is 100% Canadian owned by OMERS Infrastructure, the infrastructure investment manager of one of Canada’s largest defined benefit pension plans. Learn more at lifelabs.com.
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