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CBC
9 hours ago
- Business
- CBC
Doctors at rural hospital say new payment model hurts inpatient care
Musquodoboit Harbour residents are raising concerns about inpatient care at Twin Oaks Memorial Hospital amid a pay dispute between the province and five doctors at the hospital. However both the province and the MLA for the area are seeking to reassure the community that hospital services will continue as usual. In a letter to the province dated May 9, the doctors said they would resign on June 14 in protest over a change to how they are paid for inpatient care. However the doctors rescinded their resignations on May 24 and will now stay on the job for at least another six months as they continue discussions with the province. "We rescinded our resignations despite the lack of flexibility from [the health department] basically to keep the hospital open," one of the doctors, Dr. David Brandon, told CBC News in an interview. The local MLA, Kent Smith, said he was contacted by several constituents about the status of inpatient care. "The doctors are in ongoing discussions with respect to their coverage of inpatients. I am cautiously optimistic for a favourable outcome," he wrote in a Facebook post on May 22. "The most important thing to understand is that this issue of inpatient coverage has absolutely no impact on any other services offered at Twin Oaks. We are all working hard to ensure continued excellent care for our community." The payment model the five doctors have criticized is part of the most recent contract between physicians and the provincial government. The previous payment model paid doctors for each service. Longitudinal Family Medicine (LFM) is a payment model that offers physicians higher compensation if they take on more responsibility, such as taking on more patients or providing additional services or working longer hours. The five doctors say the change will negatively impact how they are paid for inpatient care at Twin Oaks. They say the model doesn't fit the unique needs of small communities. The rural hospital has 15 inpatient beds in addition to an emergency department that is open 12 hours per day. Dr. Gehad Gobran is the president of Doctors Nova Scotia, which negotiated the contract on behalf of the province's 3,300 physicians. "We're educating physicians about the new model and trying to support any necessary solution-minded service delivery changes, within the existing remuneration structure, that will sustain services, while not disadvantaging the physicians financially or increasing practice burden," he said in a statement to CBC News. CBC News requested an interview with the Nova Scotia Health Authority but received a statement instead. The statement says steps are being taken to ensure patients continue to receive medical care and the emergency services will operate normally. "The emergency department will remain fully operational, with no changes to its services," it says. "Virtual urgent care, which is already available at the hospital and underutilized, will continue to support patient needs." Brandon says the hospital should have six physicians on staff, but they currently only have five. As part of a temporary agreement, the province has allowed them to hire an additional physician. "The one thing that [health department] has made possible is that they've allowed us to bring in another doctor if we can find one using locum funding until a new doctor can be hired." For now, Brandon says, the doctors remain, but they will submit their resignations again if the conflict persists and communication with the province does not improve. "The hospital is going to stay open. The hospital is not going to close. We are going to do our best to provide the best care that we can within the limitations of the system, which is what we always do."
The Herald
13 hours ago
- General
- The Herald
Light at the end of the tunnel for brave little girl
News Approval finally granted for Courtney Ashia, 7, to receive stem cell transplant in Cape Town Premium By Brandon Nel - 30 May 2025 All it took was a signature — one signature on a dotted line — to potentially save a little girl's life. After four agonising months filled with uncertainty, and relentless media advocacy over the past two days, the health department has finally approved the transfer of seven-year-old Courtney Ashia to Cape Town for a stem cell transplant...
Bloomberg
3 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Skittles Removes Controversial Additive Targeted by RFK Jr.
By and Will Kubzansky Save Mars Inc. 's Skittles candies are no longer being made with titanium dioxide, a chemical that whitens foods, brightens colors and makes candy appear shiny, the company confirmed to Bloomberg News. The additive was banned in the European Union in 2022 over concerns that nanoparticles of the substance might accumulate in the body and damage DNA. It has also come under scrutiny by the Department of Health and Human Services in recent months under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Hepatitis A outbreak strikes elite enclave known as playground for the rich
A historic Cape Cod restaurant has been struck by an outbreak of the highly contagious hepatitis A virus, health officials warn. State health authorities warned this week that anyone who ate at The Red Inn in wealthy Provincetown, Massachusetts, may have been exposed to the liver infection that is spread through contaminated food and water. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health said anyone who ate at the restaurant between April 30 and May 15 should seek medical attention immediately. An food service employee working during that time period tested positive for the disease. The department said customers who think they were exposed within the last two weeks and have no symptoms may be able to get treated with antibodies and a vaccine, which is 94 percent effective for several years. The Red Inn is currently 'open and safe to dine at,' and the restaurant is 'cooperating fully' with health authorities, Provincetown officials said in a statement. No additional illnesses have been reported, and it's unclear how many customers were exposed during that timeframe. The infected employee is 'recovering well' and 'remaining out of work' for the time being. Lezli Rowell, Provincetown Health Department Director, said: 'From my experience inspecting The Red Inn through the years, this is not a facilities issue. 'The staff is knowledgeable, trained in food safety and committed to best management practices, and the back of the house is top-notch. 'This is just an unfortunate illness that happened to an individual who is reported to be recovering well and remaining out of work until medically cleared to resume food handling employment.' The Red Inn is a 200-year-old restaurant and hotel serving tourists to the wealthy Cape Cod destination, many of whom make $200,000 per year, more than twice the national average, according to research firm The CDC estimates 180,000 Americans are struck by hepatitis A every year, many of whom have no symptoms, which include fever, nausea, abdominal pain, jaundice, dark urine and hives. The disease spreads when infected stool enters a person's mouth, often by eating or drinking contaminated food or water. It also may spread through kissing, hugging, sharing utensils or having sex with an infected person. Once the virus enters the body, it infects liver cells and causes inflammation. Most cases go away on their own with no permanent damage, but it could take up to six months for symptoms to disappear entirely. There is no treatment for the condition other than antibody therapy and vaccines within two weeks of exposure. Dr Paul Sax, clinical director of infectious diseases at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, told local news: 'It's not the kind of illness like a typical food poisoning where you're sick for one or two days, then you're back to normal within a week. 'Usually, people with hepatitis A, at least the people who get diagnosed, are out for two to three weeks, sometimes longer.' In extremely rare cases - one in 5million people - the infection can be fatal due to severe liver failure. Massachusetts health officials urged people who may have been exposed to get vaccinated within two weeks, as the first dose is only effective for that period. A second dose six months later provides protection for several years and is 94 percent effective. Dr Sax said: 'It makes sense for people to get vaccinated for hepatitis A. Our hepatitis A vaccine is one of the safest and most effective vaccines that we have.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Blue buildup' on doughnuts, duct-taped sink: Kansas City area restaurant inspections
From wandering cats to grimy floors, health inspectors in Missouri and Kansas found numerous violations at Kansas City area restaurants in May. Dining establishments like sit-down restaurants, drive-thrus, gas stations and cafeterias are required to get food inspections, and governments have to release those inspections to the public. In Kansas City, the city's health department enforces the food code while in Kansas, the state's Department of Agriculture handles inspections. The lower the number of violations, the better. Most restaurants often correct violations at the time of the original inspection or shortly thereafter. The full inspections show how each establishment has corrected or is working to correct any remaining are available for Kansas City at and Here are the restaurants in Kansas City that received seven or more critical violations from May 4 to 17. During that time, no restaurants in Johnson or Wyandotte counties reached the threshold of seven priority violations. 7 critical violations for a May 13 routine inspection 4020 St. John Ave. An inspector found 'blue buildup' inside of a package of Chinese doughnut for sale at the Northeast Kansas City grocery store. The refrigerator was not cold enough and two cats roamed the shop, violating state food code. The restaurant corrected all the violations, according to a follow-up inspection May 21. Read the full report for Family Grocery and Kitchen. 7 critical violations for a May 15 routine inspection 8678 NE Flintlock Road At Moonlight Sushi and Grill, the inside of the oven contained 'heavy buildup,' an inspector wrote about the Shoal Creek restaurant. In the sushi area, the sink plumbing was wrapped with duct tape and there was buildup on the floor. The required follow-up inspection for the Northland eatery has not yet occurred. Read Moonlight Sushi's full report. Shut down May 14 after a routine inspection 1323 W. 13th St. Java Garage temporarily closed after an inspector found wastewater backed up in the West Bottoms cafe's dish-washing sink. The staff unclogged the sink and reopened the next day, according to a follow-up inspection. Read the full report for Java Garage.
