Latest news with #Whitehorse
CBC
9 hours ago
- Business
- CBC
Yukon launches its 1st-ever family medicine residency program
Social Sharing The Yukon is launching its first-ever medical residency program. Starting in July, a recent medical graduate who grew up in the Yukon will become the program's first participant. The government said the new doctor was not available for an interview as she was busy preparing to start. A family medicine residency lasts two years in Canada. The pilot program is a partnership between the Yukon Government, Yukon Medical Association, and the University of Alberta where the new doctor will also be doing a portion of their training during their residency. The program has been championed by Whitehorse physician Dr. Julie Warren. She says the program is long overdue. "We've certainly had, I think, a big gap for a long time in how we transition people into practice," said Warren. She said the pilot program will help keep family doctors in the territory long term. "Having a pathway to residency just makes it so much easier for them to be ready to work here when they're finished their training," said Warren. Dr. Martin Tieu is the assistant program director of the family medicine residency program at the University of Alberta. He spent a few days in Whitehorse touring facilities. He says the new resident will have access to a lot of hands-on training including "seeing patients independently with supervision, doing procedures in hospital, on oncology wards, and in delivery wards." The resident will also take part in community-based rotations. Warren says working all over the territory is important to ensure "we develop culturally safe physicians". She says that means incorporating a patient's culture into the way physicians care for them, so they feel heard, supported, and respected. She says this applies to all Yukoners, and in particular Indigenous patients. "We want them to be able to look after all the people who live here, no matter where they live," said Warren. The residency program in Yukon is modeled after a similar program started in 2020 at the Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife. Dr. Tieu says that program has been a big success. In a statement from the Yukon's Health and Social Services, the organization estimates the territory needs 20 to 25 new family physicians over the next five years to keep up with growing demand, and to replace retiring physicians. As of January, there were 4,154 people waiting to be matched with a family doctor, which represents approximately 11 per cent Whitehorse's population.
CBC
2 days ago
- General
- CBC
Nobody hurt in Whitehorse house fire, 1 cat receiving medical care
A house fire in Whitehorse's McIntyre subdivision has destroyed one home and damaged another. The fire on Hanna Crescent was reported around 1 p.m. Tuesday by neighbours who were on their back porch having a barbecue. They said they ran over to the house with fire extinguishers, but were unable to tame the flames. One bystander said someone told him there were animals still trapped inside. He tried to enter the home to save them, but it was too hot. When fire crews arrived, the home was already fully engulfed in flames. "Fire was coming out the sides," said fire chief Travis Whiting. He said the cause of the fire is not yet known. All occupants were able to escape the home without injury, but some of their pets weren't so lucky. Six cats lived at the property. Whiting said medical services were being provided to one of the animals. He said it's possible other pets were killed, but was not able to confirm. Whiting said there was damage to one of the neighbouring homes that removed a significant chunk of the siding.
CBC
2 days ago
- Health
- CBC
Faulty alarm distracted pilot in 2023 RCMP plane crash in Whitehorse, investigators find
An equipment failure led to a crash involving an RCMP plane at the Whitehorse airport two years ago that seriously injured one person, investigators have found. In a report released on Tuesday, the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) says a failed sensor in the Pilatus PC-12 aircraft triggered a false stall signal and alarm, distracting the pilot and likely resulting in a failed landing attempt. The plane was completely wrecked in the crash and the pilot — the only person on board, and identified earlier by RCMP as a special constable with the force — was seriously injured. The incident happened on April 17, 2023, as the pilot attempted to take off from the Whitehorse airport en route to Yellowknife. The plane had just delivered two other RCMP members to Whitehorse and the pilot was departing to return to Yellowknife. The report describes how soon after lift-off, the "continuous aural 'STALL' warning" was activated, prompting the pilot to turn around and attempt to land back at the airport. Investigators found that the warning was triggered in error, due to a faulty sensor — something the pilot was unaware of at the time. The report says the pilot's first attempt to land was unsuccessful and so they turned the plane to try again from a different angle. "At the same time, the pilot was also becoming increasingly concerned by the continuous aural stall warning and started to believe that there may be something seriously wrong with the aircraft," the report reads. The crash happened as the pilot attempted to line up with the runway. The aircraft made a sudden "descending right turn," and its wing hit the ground. The other wing then also hit a millings pile alongside the runway and was torn off. The plane rolled over and slid about 40 metres before stopping on an airport service road. The pilot suffered a head injury but managed to escape the wreckage with help from emergency responders. They were admitted to hospital and released the next day, the report says. Investigators found that the stall system's aural warning stayed on until the crash, and "thus it created a distraction and increased pilot workload" as the pilot tried to focus on flying the plane. "While attempting to align the aircraft for landing, the pilot experienced attentional narrowing due to an intense stress reaction in response to the continuous stall warning. As a result, the pilot's attention was focused outside the aircraft," it reads. The stress and distraction meant the pilot then "unknowingly placed the aircraft in a flight regime that likely resulted in an aerodynamic stall at a very low height above ground," leading to the crash. The TSB found that the pilot was unaware the aircraft had an inhibit switch to temporarily mute the audible warning signal. It could have been used, "to quickly eliminate the false aural stall warning that was a distraction for the duration of the flight." It says the PC-12 pilot operating handbook provided "limited guidance" about the use of that inhibit switch. The board says RCMP have since enhanced emergency training and procedures for pilots of PC-12 aircraft and also reviewed its fleet and consulted the aircraft manufacturer about new sensors.
CBC
2 days ago
- General
- CBC
Whitehorse hospital opens $33M mental health unit
The Whitehorse hospital says its new mental health unit is going to transform in-patient mental-health care. The grand opening of the Fireweed mental health unit was on Monday. The new unit will provide in-patient care for a maximum of 30 days to people with a mental health diagnosis. The renovation at the hospital took two years and cost nearly $33 million. The new unit replaces the secure medical unit, which was widely criticized for lacking basic safety features and failing to provide staff with violence prevention training. In her remarks at Monday's opening, health minister Tracy-Anne McPhee acknowledged that the secure medical unit — which was essentially eight rooms and a hallway — was not equipped to provide adequate care. "This new unit changes that," McPhee said. The new wing is shaped like a horseshoe, spanning 10,000 square feet with a communal kitchen, private outdoor smoking area, and healing room. There are eight private bedrooms, with capacity to expand to 12 beds later. There are also three seclusion rooms, which contain only a toilet and bed, adjacent to an observation room. "We know this unit won't solve every challenge, but it's a start," said Tiffany Boyd, Yukon Hospital Corporation CEO, at the grand opening. The new unit will be fully operational by July. The eight beds in the former secure medical unit will go back to general in-patient medical and surgical use. Mental health programming completely 'redesigned' The Fireweed unit has new security features lacking in the secure medical unit, said Kirsten Wilson, clinical care manager at the hospital. There are "code white" buttons on several walls for staff to signal when a patient is aggressive. Staff will also wear personal alarm systems. Most of the rooms have two exits and other lock-down features. Wilson said staff have also taken some additional online and in-person training in safety and de-escalation. The unit will be staffed by three nurses, a team lead and consultant psychiatrists. Stephanie Ralph, executive director of patient care, said an overhaul of mental health care is on the way as well.
CBC
6 days ago
- General
- CBC
Whitehorse officials stumped by rogue lumberjack who leaves logs, but no leads
Whitehorse city officials are asking for the public's help to figure out who is chopping down trees along the Millennium Trail. "It's a bit of a mystery at this point," said Nicole Tattam, the city's parks supervisor. Tattam said they assume it's not for firewood, because in one instance, whoever did it left the wood stacked neatly in place. The felled trees are also aspen, which she said is not a very popular firewood because it burns quickly, produces a lot of smoke and doesn't produce a lot of heat. Another hypothesis is vigilante FireSmarting — an effort to reduce the risk of fires spreading, should any start up in the area. "Possibly looks like they were [dead] leaning trees, so that was one thing that came to mind, but we're just not sure," Tattam said. Tattam said bylaw officers don't have any leads at the moment. She said her team is focusing on education. She said only city employees can cut down standing trees. Homeowners can submit a "tree removal request" to have a tree removed — for example, if it's threatening to fall through their roof. Residents can also apply for a "cutting authorization" to take up to one cord of wood from logs on the forest floor. She said the city usually responds to applications within a day or two. Tattam said instances like this are rare. "This was just a lot of trees, and as far as we can tell, live trees, in a very, very public area."
