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spring 2009 |
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E
X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R ' S M E S S A G
E
Cameron report provides
blueprint for correcting system
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By Rob Ritter
Commissioner Margaret
Cameron wrote “The whole of the health system, to varying degrees
can be said to have failed the ER/PR patients. There was a failure
of accountability and oversight at all levels.” Despite Justice
Cameron’s admonitions, this is a good news story. Here’s why. |
H
E A L T H P O L I C Y
Where you can find the
Cameron Commission report online
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by NLMA Staff
The
Commission of Inquiry on Hormone Receptor Testing report is
available online on the provincial government website. |
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F
I N A N C I A L
Budget tax
break means big IT savings for MDs
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By CMA Staff
A CMA taxation
proposal has paid off in a provision in the Jan. 27 federal budget
means that physicians can now deduct the entire cost of computer
hardware during the year of purchase instead of making reduced
deductions over several years. |
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h
E A L T H P R O M O T I O N
Arthritis
Society calls for chronic disease management strategy
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By Jonathan Carpenter
During the December 6th Board
of Directors meeting, NLMA President Dr. Elizabeth Callahan presented
the NLMA Honorary Life Membership to Dr. James Hopkins, who was unable
to attend the annual general meeting in June. |
P
E R S P E C T I V E S
Sinus
infections, new dementia tool, Type 1 diabetes
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By Dr. Susan King
It’s safe to say that although
we are into spring, the respiratory tract viruses are certainly not yet
ready for a vacation. |
M
E M B E R S H I P
Bridging the
electronic divide: NLMA urges physicians to get connected
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By Jonathan Carpenter
As the NLMA prepares for the next round of
negotiations, it is urging all members who receive updates by mail to
submit their e-mail address as their primary means of receiving NLMA
communications. |
C
L I N I C A L P R A C T I C E
New utilization
rules for vitamin D testing
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By Dr. Edward Randell
Enforcement of strict
utilization rules are necessary to control costs and ensure that 25
hydroxy-vitamin D remains available to patients for whom there is good
evidence for a benefit. |
C
L I N I C A L P R A C T I C E
My patient has
cancer... How can I help?
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Submitted Article
Your patient has cancer — surgery is
complete, appointments with the oncologist made, treatment is booked.
But there are other issues. The Canadian Cancer Society can help you.
Our organization supports the very best cancer research in the country
and we help those living with cancer, too. |
H
E A L T H P R O M O T I O N
Helping
immigrants navigate the health care system
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Submitted Article
Medical students at Memorial are helping
to improve access to medical care for the refugee population of St.
John’s through the Gateway project, pairing first and second-year
medical student volunteers with a newly-arrived refugee. |
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F I N A N C I A L
Lessons from
history
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By Keith Butler
As the spectre of a financial
crisis not seen in several decades stalks the markets and the financial
media promotes a largely pessimistic view, some investors may begin to
lose faith in their equity investments. |
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H
E A L T H P R O M O T I O N
New central
intake number for child/adolescent mental health
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Submitted Article
Eastern Health has begun a
central intake pilot project to better facilitate referrals to its child
and adolescent mental health and addictions services. |
M E M B E R S H I P
Medical
professional corporation may now own OMA group life insurance
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Submitted Article
In 2009, PDCS will offer
onsite and online courses, covering the topics of asthma, feeding
difficulties in young children, and an inter-professional skin cancer
program, as well as a new online support tool for preceptors and a new
osteoporosis course. |
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Online Only H
E A L T H T E C H N O L O G Y
Newer May Not
Be Better in Colorectal Cancer Screening
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Submitted Article
In Canada, there are
several screening strategies recommended for the detection of colorectal
cancer. The use of computed tomographic colonography (CTC) is one
potential alternative strategy. |
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Online Only E
D U C A T I O N
Teaching
physicians to lead the PMI way
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By Steve Wharry
When CMA launched its
Physician Manager Institute program almost three decades ago, the goal
was simple: to give physicians the knowledge and skills to effectively
manage issues traditionally dealt with by health care managers and
administrators. |
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Online Only
H E A L T H
P
R O M O T I O N
Conference
addresses pandemic planning
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Submitted Article
The Canadian Red Cross is
holding its 3rd Atlantic Conference on Disaster Management in St. John’s
on April 29-30th. The theme of this year’s conference is “No Need to Bug
Out: Effective Planning for Pandemics and Other Emergencies.” |
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Online Only
F I N A N C I A L
Long-term care
financial assessment service
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By Gerry Stowe, CMA
The need for detailed
financial information awareness in the community concerning the
financial assessment process for individuals accessing the province’s
long-term care programs is extremely important. |
Online Only
H E A L T H
A
D M I N I S T R A T I O N
Eastern Health
begins needs assessment in Northeast Avalon
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Submitted Article
People who live in the
Northeast Avalon area of the province will soon have the opportunity to
make their views known about their community’s health needs. |
Online Only
D
O C T O R S I N T H E N E W S
Research paper
identifies psoriasis genes
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Submitted Article
The first genome wide
association scan on psoriasis was published Jan. 25, 2009, in Nature
Genetics online. Dr. Proton Rahman, Faculty of Medicine, is one of
the authors of the study which genotyped over 438,000 markers scattered
across the entire genome. |
Online Only
D O C T O R S I N
T H E N E W S
Obesity genes identified
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Submitted Article
A professor of genetics in
the Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University has discovered 45 genes
involved in gaining weight. Dr. Guang Sun’s research was published in
the Jan. 5 electronic version of the American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition. |
Online Only
E D U C A T I O N
Attracting
Aboriginal students to medicine
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Submitted Article
The Canadian Red Cross is
holding its 3rd Atlantic Conference on Disaster Management in St. John’s
on April 29-30th. The theme of this year’s conference is “No Need to Bug
Out: Effective Planning for Pandemics and Other Emergencies.” |
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Online Only
D
O C T O R S I N T H E N E W S
Order of
Canada for Dr. John Lewis
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Submitted Article
John F. Lewis, C.M., M.D.
C.M., was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada on October 23, 2008
for his contributions to health care and health education at the local
and provincial levels and for his role in estab-lishing many essential
community-based medical services at home and abroad. |
Online Only
D
O C T O R S I N T H E N E W S
St. John’s
physician named Specialist of the Year
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By NLMA Staff
The Royal College of
Physicians and Surgeons of Canada has awarded Dr. S. Bharati Reddy the
2008 Specialist of the Year Award for Atlantic Canada. |
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Online Only
H E A L T H
A
D M I N I S T R A T I O N
Planning for
the future
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Submitted Article
An intensive year-long
planning effort will begin in April 2009 when Eastern Health starts work
on a master program and master plan for its acute care facilities in St.
John’s. |
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Online Only
E D U C A T I O N
Practice-based
preceptor portal
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Submitted Article
The role of the
preceptor in our medical community is of vital importance to the future
of the profession. The Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University has
developed an online learning portal designed specifically for busy
preceptors. |
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