Have gear, you travel: Tech shortage forces patients to hit road
29.07.2008 20:00
Health
- Source: cbc.ca
Neurology patients in central Newfoundland have no choice but to travel for treatment this summer, even though high-tech equipment designed to help them is sitting in a local hospital. Electroencephalography (EEG) equipment in the hospital in Grand Falls-Windsor has been idle because the facility has been unable to recruit a skilled technologist. That means patients — including those who have had strokes, seizures, brain tumours and other illnesses — have had to travel to have the tests done. "Since last year, we have lost the only EEG technologist we had," neurologist Dr. Mohammed Boodhun said. "We have state-of-the-art equipment for electroencephalogram, but we don't have somebody to do the test." A tele-EEG service is available in Gander, although there are limitations. The service, in which a test is read in St. John's, can only be used in certain cases, and is only available on an emergency basis during the summer. The problem has meant that patients have had to be sent to St. John's and Corner Brook for diagnostic testing. "We have sent out correspondence to all physicians giving them several options," said Valerie Pritchett, director of cardiopulmonary services with Central Health. Central Health has been trying to recruit another technologist, but even with a $10,000 signing bonus, the authority has had no luck. Pritchett said Central Health has been in contact with Canadian and U.S. associations representing EEG technologists. She said there is a shortage of certified technologists. For the long term, Central Health will be offering two $5,000 bursaries to students. Story Tools: E-MAIL | PRINT | Text Size: SMLXL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACKHealth Headlines55 minutes of daily activity the ticket to weight loss: studyA new study has found that for overweight and obese women seeking to lose weight, fifty-five minutes of exercise a day, five days a week is needed to lose 10 per cent of overall body weight over two years. Fluoride levels should be lowered, panel tells Health CanadaA panel of experts convened by Health Canada is recommending new optimal concentrations of fluoride in drinking water and suggesting the levels of fluoride ingested via a variety of sources by children and infants be lowered.'Massive dysfunctionality' led to isotope crisis: ClementA "massive dysfunctionality" of communication between parties led to the closing of the Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. reactor in Chalk River, Ont., and subsequent shortage of medical isotopes, federal Health Minister Tony Clement said.Fatal medication errors at home surge in U.S.Deaths from medication mistakes at home, like actor Heath Ledger's accidental overdose, rose dramatically during the past two decades, an analysis of U.S. death certificates finds. 3 cancer MDs submit resignationsThree cancer specialists in St. John's have decided to resign, their employer confirmed Tuesday. Health FeaturesIN DEPTHNanotechnologyReally, really small stuff that's really big. But is it safe?VIDEONutritionFeeding your bones (4:27)ANOTHER VIEWDrugs and drivingNew law a 'positive step', analyst saysIN DEPTHTrans fatsMoving away from bad fatsHEALTH & FITNESSPeter HadzipetrosBreaking up's not that hard to doPeople who read this also read …
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