Latest news with #LifeLabs
CBC
2 days ago
- Health
- CBC
Staffing shortages prompt closure of LifeLabs location in Thunder Bay, Ont., until October
One of three LifeLabs clinics in Thunder Bay, Ont., is closed until October due to staffing shortages. The Port Arthur Health Centre posted on Facebook Aug. 9 that the LifeLabs Medical Laboratory Services facility within its building would be closed through the end of September. "Like many health-care providers across the country, we are experiencing staffing challenges. As a result, we have made the decision to temporarily close this location to ensure we can resume operations safely and effectively," a spokesperson for LifeLabs wrote in an email to CBC News on Friday. "Our priority is to maintain the highest standards of care and safety for our patients." The Port Arthur location is expected to reopen on Oct. 1, LifeLabs says. The two remaining LifeLabs in the northwestern Ontario city are located at 1040 Oliver Rd., near Lakehead University, and 1265 Arthur St E., on the city's south side. Dr. Sarah Newbery is a rural generalist family physician based in Marathon, as well as the associate dean of physician workforce strategy at Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) University. In smaller communities in the region where there are no private lab clinics, such as Marathon, Manitouwadge and Terrace Bay, all lab testing is done through hospitals, she said. "One of the challenges is that options can be limited, hours can sometimes be limited," Newbery said. "On the plus side, because lab services are so crucial to the way in which hospitals function, keeping those lab services open is really important and I think provides a really helpful service for community-based lab access as well." For those who are used to going to private clinics, having to go elsewhere may lead them to postpone their testing, she said. "As soon as we ask people to travel for something, even if it's across town, even if it's just a simple taxi ride away, that puts up a small barrier for some people to being able to get those services," Newbery said. "Any time we put up a barrier to accessing services, we run the risk that people won't actually be able to follow through on that and that their health and their health outcomes may be impacted by that." Having as many medical services as possible under the same roof helps to eliminate those barriers, she said, and means people will be more likely to get testing done. Any time we put up a barrier to accessing services, we run the risk that people won't actually be able to follow through on that and that their health and their health outcomes may be impacted by that. While LifeLabs did not specify the nature of the staffing shortages in Thunder Bay, Newbery said there's been ongoing challenges with a lack of medical lab technicians across the region. "I think the more that we can support the health human resources that we need to ensure the sustainability of services, the better off access to services in the north will be," she said. "Looking at how we might incent people to be able to stay — particularly working in our hospital environments but in all of the lab facility environments in northern Ontario — feels important to those health human resources." Her advice for those left scrambling is to consult with their physician or nurse practitioner about the urgency of their testing. "Being clear about the expectation of timing, getting those tests done, is important — and then trying to work out where the nearest place that you can get that done in as convenient a way as possible is important," Newbery said.
Hamilton Spectator
29-07-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
LifeLabs Deepens Support to Communities Impacted by Saskatchewan Wildfires with an Additional $5,000 Donation
Toronto, ON, July 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As wildfires continue to impact communities across Saskatchewan, LifeLabs is pleased to deepen its commitment to relief efforts, contributing an additional $5,000. This latest contribution brings the company's total support for wildfire relief efforts to $20,000 in 2025. The safety and well-being of our customers, employees, and communities remain LifeLabs' top priority. Earlier this summer, LifeLabs donated a $5,000 donation to both the Canadian Red Cross and the Central Urban Métis Federation Inc. (CUMFI), recognizing their vital roles in providing emergency assistance. Building upon this support, LifeLabs is now making an additional $5,000 contribution to the Saskatoon Community Foundation Emergency Response Fund, which is coordinating funds and collecting donations to provide relief for individuals evacuated due to the wildfires, and St. John Ambulance for Saskatchewan, which is providing First Aid, Therapy Dog comfort visits, and essential care to those displaced by the fires. Further amplifying its impact, LifeLabs' Employee Giving Program, which matches employee donations dollar-for-dollar to the registered charity of their choice, has committed to contributing up to an additional $5,000 to wildlife relief efforts. 'At LifeLabs, our hearts go out to everyone affected by these devastating wildfires,' says Charles Brown, President and CEO, LifeLabs. 'We are deeply committed to supporting the health and safety of our communities, during times of crisis. We are truly grateful to the first responders and organizations across the country who are coming together to provide care, comfort, and relief when it's needed most.' To stay informed about LifeLabs' operational status of its Patient Service Centres, please visit: Together, we can make a meaningful difference. By standing with our fellow Canadians, we are showing unwavering care, compassion, and commitment to helping those who need it most. About LifeLabs LifeLabs is Canada's leading provider of laboratory diagnostic information and digital health connectivity systems, enabling patients and healthcare practitioners to diagnose, treat, monitor and prevent disease. 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 8 million Canadians receiving their results online. LifeLabs has been named one of Canada's Best Employers (2021, 2022 and 2023) and Best Employers for Diversity (2022, 2023 and 2024) by Forbes, named by BrandSpark as the Most Trusted Brand in medical diagnostic services voted by Canadians (2023 and 2024) and recognized for having an award-winning Mental Health Program from Benefits Canada. Learn more at .
Business Upturn
29-07-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
LifeLabs Deepens Support to Communities Impacted by Saskatchewan Wildfires with an Additional $5,000 Donation
Toronto, ON, July 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As wildfires continue to impact communities across Saskatchewan, LifeLabs is pleased to deepen its commitment to relief efforts, contributing an additional $5,000. This latest contribution brings the company's total support for wildfire relief efforts to $20,000 in 2025. The safety and well-being of our customers, employees, and communities remain LifeLabs' top priority. Earlier this summer, LifeLabs donated a $5,000 donation to both the Canadian Red Cross and the Central Urban Métis Federation Inc. (CUMFI), recognizing their vital roles in providing emergency assistance. Building upon this support, LifeLabs is now making an additional $5,000 contribution to the Saskatoon Community Foundation Emergency Response Fund, which is coordinating funds and collecting donations to provide relief for individuals evacuated due to the wildfires, and St. John Ambulance for Saskatchewan, which is providing First Aid, Therapy Dog comfort visits, and essential care to those displaced by the fires. Further amplifying its impact, LifeLabs' Employee Giving Program, which matches employee donations dollar-for-dollar to the registered charity of their choice, has committed to contributing up to an additional $5,000 to wildlife relief efforts. 'At LifeLabs, our hearts go out to everyone affected by these devastating wildfires,' says Charles Brown, President and CEO, LifeLabs. 'We are deeply committed to supporting the health and safety of our communities, during times of crisis. We are truly grateful to the first responders and organizations across the country who are coming together to provide care, comfort, and relief when it's needed most.' To stay informed about LifeLabs' operational status of its Patient Service Centres, please visit: Together, we can make a meaningful difference. By standing with our fellow Canadians, we are showing unwavering care, compassion, and commitment to helping those who need it most. About LifeLabs LifeLabs is Canada's leading provider of laboratory diagnostic information and digital health connectivity systems, enabling patients and healthcare practitioners to diagnose, treat, monitor and prevent disease. 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 8 million Canadians receiving their results online. LifeLabs has been named one of Canada's Best Employers (2021, 2022 and 2023) and Best Employers for Diversity (2022, 2023 and 2024) by Forbes, named by BrandSpark as the Most Trusted Brand in medical diagnostic services voted by Canadians (2023 and 2024) and recognized for having an award-winning Mental Health Program from Benefits Canada. Learn more at Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Interior Health's plans to close lab in Trail, B.C. leaves mayor and residents blindsided
Interior Health plans to close its Trail medical lab on July 28, moving those employees to the hospital and the lab's services to LifeLabs, a private company, but the mayor and some residents are calling for the health authority to reconsider. The move, announced in a press release on June 13, would mean people in need of lab services such as blood tests and electrocardiograms (ECGs) will have to go to LifeLabs in Waneta Plaza, about 6 kilometres east of the Interior Health lab, which is downtown in the Trail Health Centre. Interior Health said the lab is being closed to make the best use of staffing resources and to improve testing for patients at Trail's Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital, which serves a large area including communities from Grand Forks to Nelson. Since the announcement, CBC News has heard from the mayor and a handful of Trail residents who say they were shocked by the decision and that there was little consultation on the matter. The mayor is hoping that Interior Health will reconsider, or at least meet with the community to hear their concerns. "There was no consultation, we had no idea it was happening," Mayor Colleen Jones told CBC News, adding that staff also had little notice. Joanne Isbur, Interior Health's program director for pathology and lab medicine services, said staff will shift to the hospital to improve acute care and emergency department response. She said there are "staffing deficits" across the region, and the extra staff at the hospital will also improve services for urgent and critical patients, like cancer care and those with pre-surgical requirements. "Interior Health recognizes that this is a significant change for patients and care providers, and employees. We've provided some time for patients to transition over to the LifeLabs location," Isbur said. She pointed out that LifeLabs is working in partnership with the Provincial Health Services Authority and the Ministry of Health, so services offered through LifeLabs will still be covered under the Medical Services Plan. Resident Helen Bobbitt has antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, an autoimmune condition which can cause blood clots. She relies on the clinic for regular testing and said the move is a mistake. "I have a blood clot disorder, and if it weren't for the staff in the location of this lab, where I have to sometimes go and get last-minute lab work and have been doing so for the last 22 years, I wouldn't be able to stay on top of things," Bobbitt said. "If they (Interior Health) can do this, with no – zero – consultation, what else can they do?" She also voiced frustration about no longer having a lab located downtown, adding that the lab has been a staple in the community for more than 20 years. Mayor Jones said the infrequent bus service to the Waneta Plaza will make the location more difficult for seniors and people with mobility issues to access. On Thursday, Jones said she hopes Interior Health will reconsider the closure. She has requested a meeting with the health authority. CBC News reached out to Interior Health for comment and they said they are working on a response. Bobbit said she's also concerned about the influx of patients at LifeLabs creating long wait-times and reducing their staffing resources. She said people from several other outlying communities, like Fruitvale, about 16 kilometres east of Trail, rely on the Interior Health lab. "You're giving no choice but to drive everybody to one location that's only open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., with no transportation to rely on to get there safely," Bobbit said. Capacity not an issue, says Interior Health The Trail Health Centre lab saw approximately 80 to 85 patients per day over the past six months, Interior Health said, adding LifeLabs has the ability to take on these new patients. "LifeLabs developed that location to accommodate the Trail community population. They do have the capacity to meet patient volumes," Isbur said. In an emailed statement to CBC News, LifeLabs confirmed it is prepared to take on the large number of new patients, adding that the location in Trail has been open since 2023. LISTEN | Interior Health CEO speaks about staffing concerns: "We will be working closely with Interior Health to ensure a smooth transition for patients and health-care providers. We look forward to continuing to provide reliable, efficient, and trustworthy services for the community of Trail," the lab said in the statement. It added that all patients who visit LifeLabs will have access to a portal that can be used to manage appointments and view results through MyCareCompass. This is separate from the MyHealthPortal with Interior Health. LifeLabs said outpatient services will be available at Waneta Plaza, Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
CBC
21-06-2025
- Health
- CBC
Interior Health's plans to close lab in Trail, B.C. leaves mayor and residents blindsided
Interior Health plans to close its Trail medical lab on July 28, moving those employees to the hospital and the lab's services to LifeLabs, a private company, but the mayor and some residents are calling for the health authority to reconsider. The move, announced in a press release on June 13, would mean people in need of lab services such as blood tests and electrocardiograms (ECGs) will have to go to LifeLabs in Waneta Plaza, about 6 kilometres east of the Interior Health lab, which is downtown in the Trail Health Centre. Interior Health said the lab is being closed to make the best use of staffing resources and to improve testing for patients at Trail's Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital, which serves a large area including communities from Grand Forks to Nelson. Since the announcement, CBC News has heard from the mayor and a handful of Trail residents who say they were shocked by the decision and that there was little consultation on the matter. The mayor is hoping that Interior Health will reconsider, or at least meet with the community to hear their concerns. "There was no consultation, we had no idea it was happening," Mayor Colleen Jones told CBC News, adding that staff also had little notice. Joanne Isbur, Interior Health's program director for pathology and lab medicine services, said staff will shift to the hospital to improve acute care and emergency department response. She said there are "staffing deficits" across the region, and the extra staff at the hospital will also improve services for urgent and critical patients, like cancer care and those with pre-surgical requirements. "Interior Health recognizes that this is a significant change for patients and care providers, and employees. We've provided some time for patients to transition over to the LifeLabs location," Isbur said. She pointed out that LifeLabs is working in partnership with the Provincial Health Services Authority and the Ministry of Health, so services offered through LifeLabs will still be covered under the Medical Services Plan. Resident Helen Bobbitt has antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, an autoimmune condition which can cause blood clots. She relies on the clinic for regular testing and said the move is a mistake. "I have a blood clot disorder, and if it weren't for the staff in the location of this lab, where I have to sometimes go and get last-minute lab work and have been doing so for the last 22 years, I wouldn't be able to stay on top of things," Bobbitt said. "If they (Interior Health) can do this, with no – zero – consultation, what else can they do?" She also voiced frustration about no longer having a lab located downtown, adding that the lab has been a staple in the community for more than 20 years. Mayor Jones said the infrequent bus service to the Waneta Plaza will make the location more difficult for seniors and people with mobility issues to access. On Thursday, Jones said she hopes Interior Health will reconsider the closure. She has requested a meeting with the health authority. CBC News reached out to Interior Health for comment and they said they are working on a response. Bobbit said she's also concerned about the influx of patients at LifeLabs creating long wait-times and reducing their staffing resources. She said people from several other outlying communities, like Fruitvale, about 16 kilometres east of Trail, rely on the Interior Health lab. "You're giving no choice but to drive everybody to one location that's only open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., with no transportation to rely on to get there safely," Bobbit said. Capacity not an issue, says Interior Health The Trail Health Centre lab saw approximately 80 to 85 patients per day over the past six months, Interior Health said, adding LifeLabs has the ability to take on these new patients. "LifeLabs developed that location to accommodate the Trail community population. They do have the capacity to meet patient volumes," Isbur said. In an emailed statement to CBC News, LifeLabs confirmed it is prepared to take on the large number of new patients, adding that the location in Trail has been open since 2023. "We will be working closely with Interior Health to ensure a smooth transition for patients and health-care providers. We look forward to continuing to provide reliable, efficient, and trustworthy services for the community of Trail," the lab said in the statement. It added that all patients who visit LifeLabs will have access to a portal that can be used to manage appointments and view results through MyCareCompass. This is separate from the MyHealthPortal with Interior Health.
