Avian flu has spread to numerous dairy farms across the U.S., prompting Canadian experts to advocate for enhanced surveillance. Dr. Isaac Bogoch and Matthew Miller highlight the virus's ability to jump between mammals, including livestock, potentially posing profound risks to human health. While pasteurization neutralizes the virus in milk, active monitoring of dairy operations is urged to prevent human cases.
The U.S. has introduced a federal rule setting minimum staffing ratios for nursing homes, as announced by Vice President Kamala Harris. This mandate requires sufficient staffing levels to address resident care and safety, highlighted by over 200,000 COVID-19 deaths in such facilities during the pandemic's first two years. The regulation stipulates nearly 3.5 hours of care per resident daily and continuous registered nurse coverage.
Historically, health care has revered doctors' opinions, sidelining nurses despite their crucial insights, especially visible during the pandemic. Nurses, mostly women, face stereotypes limiting their roles and voices. A movement is emerging to elevate nurses as essential decision-makers and innovators in health care, challenging longstanding power dynamics.
The Ottawa Hospital is piloting DAX Copilot, a Microsoft AI tool, to generate draft clinical notes, aiming to cut down on administrative tasks for physicians. With doctors spending around 10 hours weekly on paperwork, this initiative seeks to enhance patient care by reducing administrative burdens.
Around 65,000 unionized hospital workers in Ontario will see a six percent pay increase over two years, as decided by arbitration. The workers, represented by OCHU-CUPE and SEIU Healthcare, will receive a three percent yearly raise, alongside improved health and dental benefits. Additionally, they'll receive retroactive pay increases due to past wage restraint legislation.
On April 20, known as "Weed Day," people worldwide celebrate by using marijuana, now legal for recreational use in 24 U.S. states, DC, and two territories. However, some scientists express concerns about the health risks associated with smoking or vaping cannabis, particularly for the lungs.
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