Providence In the News

New Chairs Appointed for Vancouver Coastal Health and Providence Health Care

Vancouver, April 12, 2010 — The provincial government today announced the appointment of Kip Woodward as the new chair of
Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH).
Woodward is replacing David Thompson, who is leaving VCH to take on the role of chair of the new British Columbia Health Services Purchasing Organization, as announced by Health Services Minister Kevin Falcon earlier today. The changes are effective immediately.

New Report Finds Drug Prohibition, Stricter Law Enforcement Key Sources of Violence and Gun Crime

Vancouver, March 23,  2010 — Canada’s war on drugs has failed to curb the illicit drug trade, and proposed legal interventions to disrupt the drug market will have no effect on drug supply and may actually boost rates of drug-related violence, according to a new scientific review.

Vancouver Research Team Identifies a Key Predictor of Cardiovascular Death

Vancouver, March 15, 2010 — Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) hospitalizes more than 160,000 Canadians every year, and almost one quarter of those patients die from this common form of heart disease. But now a team of Vancouver based researchers has identified a key predictor of mortality in CAD patients, which means that specialists can better determine how to treat and improve outcomes for patients with CAD.

BMJ Group Honours Dr. Evan Wood with a Doctor of the Year Award for Insite Evaluation

Vancouver, March 11, 2010 — One of the world’s leading providers of trusted medical information and services, BMJ Group, today recognized Dr. Evan Wood, a lead researcher at the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE), for his groundbreaking research in HIV, public health, illicit drug policy and addiction.

World Leaders in HIV/AIDS to Convene in Vancouver During 2010 Olympic Games

Vancouver, February 23, 2010 — LifeSciences British Columbia, the BC Centre of Excellence in HIV/AIDS, and the University of British Columbia (UBC) will host a global summit on HIV/AIDS on Feb. 26th, 2010, against the backdrop of the 2010 Olympic Games.

Increased HAART Coverage Associated With 50% Drop in New HIV Diagnoses Among Injection Drug Users

Vancouver, February 18, 2010 — A comprehensive population-based study, conducted by the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) and presented at the 17th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in San Francisco, shows that expanded highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) coverage was associated with a 50% decrease in new yearly HIV infections among injection drug users.

Riverview Redevelopment Continues to Move Ahead

Vancouver, February 11, 2010 — Nine projects to build further capacity for intensive and highly specialized mental health services in the Lower Mainland got underway today with the release of Requests for Proposal (RFP) for design and renovation work to accommodate the transfer of patients from Riverview Hospital.

B.C To Seek and Treat Most Vulnerable HIV Patients

Vancouver, February 4, 2010 — A unique pilot program will get underway shortly in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and Prince George to seek and treat vulnerable populations who are either undiagnosed or untreated for HIV.

Discovery Points Way for New Treatment for Aneurysms

Vancouver, January 27, 2010 — New research findings from a team at the Providence Heart + Lung Institute at St. Paul’s Hospital and the University of British Columbia (UBC) may lead to new treatment options for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) – a potentially fatal disease that currently has no pharmacological treatments.

New Cases of HIV Drug Resistance Dramatically Decreasing in British Columbia

Vancouver, January 7, 2010 — Fewer and fewer British Columbians are developing resistance to antiretroviral drugs used to treat HIV infection, according to a new study published this week in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Local Researchers Awarded Funds for Canada-Wide Rollout of Revolutionary Biomedical IT Resources

Vancouver, November 19, 2009 — Biomedical researchers face many problems as they try to understand and develop new interventions and treatments for disease. One of the major challenges is the length of time it takes to find the right data and the right way to analyze it. But researchers across Canada got a boost last week when Canada's Advanced Research and Innovation Network (CANARIE) awarded $927,000 for the C-BRASS (Canadian Bioinformatics Resources As Semantic Services) project.

"It's Good to Ask" Program Promotes Patient Safety

Victoria, November 2, 2009 — Canadian Patient Safety Week kicks off across the country this week, from Nov. 2 to 6, and to raise awareness here in British Columbia, patients are being told that “It's Good to Ask” questions of their health-care providers. “Patient Safety Week is a great opportunity to promote effective communication between patients and their doctors and other health providers,” said Health Services Minister Kevin Falcon. “It”s important that we each take control of our own health by educating ourselves and asking questions when we don”t understand.”

PHC Named One of BC's Top 55 Employers For the Second Year in a Row

Vancouver, October 23, 2009 — Providence Health Care has once again been selected from hundreds of organizations in the province as one of BC's Top 55 Employers for 2010. PHC was selected on the basis of information contained in this year's application to the Canada's Top 100 Employers competition.

Providence in the Park: Providence Health Care Helps Downtown Eastside Residents Prepare for Winter

Vancouver, October 23, 2009 — On Saturday, October 24, Providence Health Care (PHC) will be providing blankets, warm clothes and healthy lunches to hundreds of residents of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
Despite the temporary closure of the park, which is currently under construction, the twice-annual event will continue to cater to the Oppenheimer Park neighbourhood. Staff, physicians and volunteers from across PHC will gather in front of Oppenheimer Park, on Dunlevy Avenue, which will be closed between Cordova and Powell Street, to distribute the provisions.

Outstanding Contributions to Patient Care Recognized

Victoria, October 5, 2009 — Seven teams from each of B.C.'s health authorities and one individual from Vancouver received BC Patient Safety and Quality Council awards for advancing patient safety and quality of care, announced Health Services Minister Kevin Falcon.
“Kudos to all of the health professionals who treat thousands of patients every single day,” said Falcon. “These awards recognize the efforts of teams throughout the province ensuring that patients receive safe, high-quality care.”

Excellence in Quality and Patient Safety recipients:

BMO Donates $100,000 to Innovative "STOP-HIV/AIDS" Program

Vancouver, October 2, 2009 — A $100,000 gift from BMO Financial Group to St. Paul's Hospital Foundation will provide important support to the STOP-HIV/AIDS program operated by the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS.
St. Paul's Hospital and Providence Health Care's BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) are actively seeking to improve the health of people with HIV and related diseases through the development of comprehensive treatment programs and providing access to them.

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