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FEBRUARY 4,
2010 |
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New CSRT
Newsletter |
The CSRT has created a new on-line
Newsletter to circulate information
on CSRT activities, achievements and
information of interest to the
membership. This newsletter will be
available on a monthly basis.
This initiative is part of a mandate
by the Board of Directors to
transition the Canadian Journal of
Respiratory Therapy from an
information-based tool to a
knowledge-dissemination vehicle. The
CJRT will be distributed separately
to all members.
The CSRT Newsletter can be viewed
at:
http://www.csrt.com/en/publications/newsletter.asp
Paper copies of the newsletter will
be sent to individuals who do not
have an email address. For those
wishing a paper copy mailed to them,
please contact Rita Hansen,
rhansen@csrt.com,
800-267-3422 ex. 223. Please forward
any announcements or items of
interest to
rhansen@csrt.com
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SEPTEMBER 3,
2009 |
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H1N1 Bulletin
Issue 3 |
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SEPTEMBER 2,
2009 |
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Announcement |
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JULY 13,
2009 |
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Announcement |
Respiratory therapists - an
important resource for the management of
H1N1 flu pandemic
The CSRT issued a press
release this morning in response to an
article on the front page of the Globe and
Mail yesterday on the need to increase the
number of ventilators. You can view the
press release on the CSRT web site at the
following link:
http://www.csrt.com/en/media/index.asp
A letter to the editor was
also sent. We have had some media response
already and are arranging interviews. This
will help raise the public profile of the RT
profession.
La STRC a diffusé un
communiqué aux média ce matin suite à un
article qui a fait la une du Globe and Mail
hier. Vous pouvez visionner la version
anglaise sur le site web :
http://www.csrt.com/en/media/index.asp.
La version française sera disponible sous
peu. Nous avons aussi fait parvenir une
lettre au rédacteur en chef du Globe and
Mail. Nous avons eu une réponse de
certains média et ces entrevues nous
aideront à augmenter la visibilité de la
profession auprès du grand public.
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JULY 13,
2009 |
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Announcement |
Respiratory therapists - an
important resource for the management of
H1N1 flu pandemic
The CSRT issued a press
release this morning in response to an
article on the front page of the Globe and
Mail yesterday on the need to increase the
number of ventilators. You can view the
press release on the CSRT web site at the
following link:
http://www.csrt.com/en/media/index.asp
A letter to the editor was
also sent. We have had some media response
already and are arranging interviews. This
will help raise the public profile of the RT
profession.
La STRC a diffusé un
communiqué aux média ce matin suite à un
article qui a fait la une du Globe and Mail
hier. Vous pouvez visionner la version
anglaise sur le site web :
http://www.csrt.com/en/media/index.asp.
La version française sera disponible sous
peu. Nous avons aussi fait parvenir une
lettre au rédacteur en chef du Globe and
Mail. Nous avons eu une réponse de
certains média et ces entrevues nous
aideront à augmenter la visibilité de la
profession auprès du grand public.
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JUNE 15,
2009 |
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H1N1 Update to
Stakeholders |
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June 11, 2009
Dear Stakeholder:
As you may know, the World
Health Organization today declared a Level 6
H1N1 (human swine influenza) pandemic, based on
the transmission patterns of this new influenza
virus around the world. This simply means the
virus has spread to more locations; it does not
mean the virus is more severe.
This was not a surprise. We were
aware that this might happen, and we are
prepared for it.
In Nova Scotia, we have had 79
cases of H1N1 (human swine influenza) to date.
In most situations, the cases we’ve seen here in
Nova Scotia have been typical flu-like illness,
which patients can treat at home. We have had
one case, in Capital District Health Authority,
which required hospitalization. That patient had
a pre-existing medical condition, and is now
improving.
We continue, however, to take
the virus seriously. We are preparing for the
possibility that Nova Scotia might see more
cases of H1N1 (human swine influenza), and with
greater severity, with more people requiring
hospitalization.
In Manitoba and in Nunavut,
where numbers of cases continue to increase, a
significant number of people from remote
communities who’ve been infected with the virus
have required hospitalization for severe
illness. It is not clear why that’s the case.
Regardless, together we need to prepare Nova
Scotia’s healthcare system for the possibility
that we may see more cases of this virus, and
more severe cases. We must also be prepared for
the strain that could place on the system.
I would encourage you and your
organization(s) to also prepare for the
potential that this virus could return with
increased frequency and severity. You can do
this by ensuring your own business continuity
plans are in place and by keeping up-to-date on
the most current information.
Please remember that prevention
is always the best way to prevent flu-like
illness. Please take note of, and share, the
following key tips to staying well:
• Cough or sneeze into
your sleeve or arm;
• Frequently clean and
disinfect common surfaces and items such
doorknobs and counters;
• Stay away from public
places if you are sick.
Visit www.gov.ns.ca/hpp/cdpc/h1n1-influenza-posters.asp
for general handwashing hygiene posters you can
post in your office or facility.
Thank you for your support and
your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Robert Strang MD, MHSc., FRCPC
Chief Public Health Officer
Department of Health Promotion
and Protection |
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MAY 27,
2009 |
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H1N1 Update to
Stakeholders |
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May 22, 2009
Dear Stakeholder:
As you know, District Health
Authorities, the IWK, government and public
health and health system partners across the
province have been working closely together to
manage the H1N1 (human swine influenza)
situation in the province.
As of May 21, 2009, the total
number of cases reported in Nova Scotia since
the outbreak began on April 26 is 69. All cases
were mild and have not required hospitalization.
In the last week, we’ve seen a significant
decline in the number of new cases.
When H1N1 first appeared in Nova
Scotia, our goal was to slow the spread of the
virus. This approach was based on the fact that
H1N1 was a new virus and we weren’t sure how
severe it would be. Over the last few weeks,
we’ve learned that H1N1 acts very much like
seasonal influenza. As a result, we are shifting
our approach to manage the virus the same way we
would manage seasonal influenza. Other provinces
are also moving, or will soon be moving, in this
direction. As part of the transition in Nova
Scotia, and due to a reduced volume of calls,
the toll-free, general information line that was
established will now be a voice recording only.
It is very possible that H1N1
will reappear in the fall and it could
potentially be much more severe. Government,
District Health Authorities, the IWK and health
care workers are actively preparing and planning
for that possibility. I would encourage you, as
a stakeholder, to also prepare for the potential
that this virus could return with increased
severity in the fall. You can do this by
ensuring your own business continuity plans are
in place and by keeping up-to-date on the most
current information. The H1N1 situation should
be a valuable learning experience for everyone
in Nova Scotia – government, public health,
business, communities and citizens.
I’d like to stress that
prevention is always the best way to prevent
influenza-like illness. Wash your hands
frequently, cough or sneeze into your sleeve or
arm, frequently clean and disinfect common
surfaces and items such doorknobs and counters,
and stay away from public places if you are
sick. Visit www.gov.ns.ca/hpp/cdpc/h1n1-influenza-posters.asp
for general handwashing hygiene posters you can
post in your office or facility.
Thank you for your support and
assistance in sharing information about H1N1 the
last few weeks. I will likely call on you again
in the fall as we prepare for influenza season.
Regards,
Robert Strang, MD, MHSc, FRCP(C)
Chief Public Health Officer
Department of Health Promotion & Protection
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APRIL 29,
2009 |
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NSCRT Position
Statement - Human Swine Influenza |
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MARCH 29, 2007 |
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ANNOUNCEMENT |
Bill 141 was unanimously approved at Law
Amendments on March 28th 2007!
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MARCH 26, 2007 |
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ANNOUNCEMENT |
Bill 141 went through the second reading on
March 26th without any problems. The Law
Amendments committee is scheduled for
Wednesday, March 28th @ 4:30.
Click here to view the bill
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MARCH 21, 2007 |
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ANNOUNCEMENT |
Today, Tuesday March 20th
2007, The Respiratory Therapists Act was
introduced in the legislature for the first
reading as Bill 141 by the Honourable Chris
A D'Entremont, Minister of Health!!
This is a milestone for all RRTs in Nova
Scotia and represents approximately eleven
years of work by dedicated members of the
NSCRT Executive. The 'Bill Briefing' took
place prior to the scheduled sitting of the
House. Both the Minister of Health (please
read the MOH speech) and Phil Richardson
(please read the NSCRT legislation briefing)
spoke to members of the Press and
entertained questions from the floor.
Following the 'Bill Briefing' Phil
Richardson, Barb MacDonald, Patricia
Moriarty, Jennifer MacKinnon, Shannon
McDonald, Marjorie Hickey (Lawyer) and
Dennis Holland (Senior Policy Analyst, DOH)
were escorted to the gallery for the first
reading and to be formally introduced by the
MOH. The next step is the second reading
which could be as early as Thursday;
following the second reading Bill 141 must
go through Law Amendments prior to a third
reading. After that Bill 141 will be
proclaimed!
Stay tuned for
more...
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JANUARY 10,
2007 |
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ANNOUNCEMENT:
Great news for
Respiratory Therapists of Nova Scotia! |
Members of the
NSCRT Executive ( Patricia Moriarty, Phil
Richardson and Barb MacDonald) along with our
lawyer (Marjorie Hickey) met with Dennis
Holland, Senior Director Legislative Policy and
Robert Fitzner, Senior Policy Analyst with the
Department of Health (DOH) this morning, January
10th, at the request of the DOH!! We
were informed that the DOH is preparing a
request for legislation for Respiratory
Therapists to be put forward to the Government
for introduction at the Spring sitting of the
legislature.
This is exciting
news for all Respiratory Therapists in Nova
Scotia. Stay tuned for more information!
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OCTOBER 26,
2006 |
| ANNOUNCEMENT |
At the NSCRT Special Meeting on September 25th,
2006 members voted unanimously for
acceptance of the proposed
Respiratory Therapists Act!! This
is a monumental achievement in the history of
the NSCRT and for all Respiratory Therapists in
Nova Scotia. The executive members ( both past
and present) and volunteers have spent countless
hours over the past ten years in making this
happen and should be congratulated for their
efforts.
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