globeandmail.com : Dying man denied free drug

globeandmail.com : Dying man denied free drug: "Toronto-based hematologist Donna Reece, who specializes in multiple myeloma, said the decision to stop releasing Thalomid and Ontario's refusal to fund Velcade has turned the treatment clock back a decade.
'We are back in the dark ages,' Dr. Reece said in a telephone interview. '. . . This is a patient-care crisis for cancer-care delivery in this province.'
Thalomid works by helping starve tumours. It also helps stimulate cells of the immune system to attack cancer cells.
'. . . This will be an absolute catastrophe for our patients because Velcade isn't funded,' Dr. Reece said. 'This is a crisis right now for multiple myeloma because we cannot deliver anything close to the standard of care for our patients.' "

Without a transplant, he'll die

Great - how do we help this man ? QJ
Without a transplant, he'll die: "Pamela Cowan, Leader-Post
Published: Monday, March 20, 2006
When Joshua MacPhee died, many people benefited from the teen's organs because he signed an organ donation card.
Now his 44-year-old father is running out of time as he waits for a liver donor.
About two years ago, Terry MacPhee was diagnosed with liver cancer.
He was assessed and he qualified for a liver transplant at Edmonton's University of Alberta Hospital in September 2004, but no liver was available so he was put on a transplant waiting list."

Advisor.ca - Daily News

Advisor.ca - Daily News: "New tax strategies for medical professionals
February 28, 2006 | Kate McCaffery



Doctors and dentists in Ontario have a relatively new option at their disposal for income splitting and other tax planning strategies.
At the end of 2005, the Government of Ontario expanded ownership rules for doctor and dentists' professional corporations that give those clients the right to issue non-voting shares of the corporation to family members. Although this kind of income splitting is one of the main benefits of incorporation, when the government first allowed Ontario professionals to incorporate back in 2002, they included rules that said shares of a professional corporation could only be owned by the professional.
Other professionals, including lawyers and accountants, are not covered by the changes. "

winnipegsun.com - Canada News - State child care first: YWCA

Will 80 opinions(20X4) by a self interest group take your parent's child care by right money away?QJ

winnipegsun.com - Canada News - State child care first: YWCA: "The YWCA commissioned four community task forces from fall 2004 to fall 2005 to address how local resources could be organized to strengthen child care and create a viable model for service delivery.
The task forces, in Halifax, Vancouver, Martensville, Sask., and Cambridge, Ont., were made up of between 20 and 30 local residents, including parents, service providers and business people. "

Big bellies lead to cardiovascular disease

Beware the new fat crusaders are on the prowl- QJ

Big bellies lead to cardiovascular disease: "According to the International Day for the Evaluation of Abdominal Obesity (IDEA) Study, abdominal obesity is now pandemic, with Canadians weighing in among the heaviest in the world. The results were released in Atlanta Tuesday.
More than 170,000 people in 63 countries including 135 family physicians and 3,000 patients in Canada participated in the study, the largest of its kind. Around the world, 6,000 family doctors tape-measured their patients' stomachs.
The study reported a worldwide prevalence of known cardiovascular disease as 16 per cent for men, ranging from 10 per cent in Latin America to 26 per cent in Eastern Europe. For women, the numbers were lower at 12.5 per cent, ranging from seven per cent in North America to 23 per cent in Eastern Europe.
Doctors found a clear relationship between waist size and heart disease"

Canada Health guide dangerous to your Health

This is not the first time Health Canada's conduct has been questioned from an ethical standpoint. Three Health Canada scientists, who described themselves as whistle-blowers, were fired on the same day in 2004, purportedly for insubordination. They said they were being pressured to approve drugs despite safety concerns. In the late 1990s, the three had opposed bovine growth hormone, which enhances milk production in cows.

Freedhoff calculated calorie intake recommended in the drafts of the Food Guide and concluded it would be fattening. He said the food guide should include recommendations on calorie intake.

"Canada's Food Guide is not meant to be a weight-loss program but, at the same time, it should not be obesogenic," Freedhoff wrote.

This comes at a time of increasing concern about the health and fitness of Canadians, and specifically a rise in obesity.

The possibility that a government agency charged with overseeing Canadians' health might be allowing itself to be infiltrated and influenced by organizations with a vested interest is a serious matter.

For the individual, indications are that one may be better off following a respected diet book than Canada's Food Guide.

Doctor dog - Health - Browse Health Articles.

Doctor dog - Health - Browse Health Articles.: "Doctor dog



Article By: Cynthia Ross Cravit


Man's best friend may turn out to be a first line of defense for cancer
Researchers at the relatively unknown non-profit Pine Street Foundation in Northern California claim they have trained dogs to identify patients with breast or lung cancer -- based on the smell of their breath � with near perfect accuracy. "

Alberta's health reform should respect Canada Health Act, says Harper

It is all about choice
Alberta's health reform should respect Canada Health Act, says Harper: "Although Alberta's proposal lacks detail it would appear to permit queue-jumping by patients willing to pay for faster treatment, and would allow doctors to work in the public and private systems simultaneously.
Michael Decter, chairman of the Health Council of Canada, said his early reading of the Alberta plan is that it would in fact contravene the federal health law.
'The Alberta paper, if I'm reading it correctly, seems to propose a private, parallel system . . . and it is difficult for me to see how you can do that without violating the Canada Health Act.
He noted that Alberta's plan goes farther than Quebec's recently announced health reforms.
Quebec would force doctors to choose between the private and public systems, while the Alberta plan would allow doctors to work on both sides simultaneously. Experts believe giving doctors access to medicare patients as well as those willing to pay for private care represents a threat to the public system.
Quebec would give patients access to private care only if the public system cannot deliver the care within a reasonable time, while the Alberta plan lacks any such restriction.
'It looks as though they may be preparing to allow people to simply buy insurance for medically necessary service and that, absent some waiting list test, strikes me as unlikely to pass muster,'' said Decter.
Tom McIntosh of the Health Policy Research Networks said Alberta's plan, if it does proceed, does have the potential to undermine Canada's medicare system. "

CANOE -- CNEWS - Politics: Tories: May be long wait to cap wait times

CANOE -- CNEWS - Politics: Tories: May be long wait to cap wait times: "OTTAWA (CP) - There could be a long wait time for the new Conservative plan to cap medical wait times. Health Minister Tony Clement acknowledges it will take a lot of work with provinces to implement the 'care guarantee' that his party promised during the election campaign.
The purpose of the guarantee is to ensure that patients get care within clinically acceptable time limits even if that means they must be sent to another province or country.
Details of the proposal have not been spelled out.
'It's not one of those ones where I can sort of waltz into the House of Commons and slap a bill down and say, 'OK, problem solved,' ' Clement said in an interview.
'This one takes a lot of collaboration with the provinces and territories. This is one where you're going to have to have people rowing in the same direction in order to make some progress.'
Manitoba Health Minister Tim Sale has already spoken against the notion of care guarantees, saying none of the provinces have extra capacity in the key areas where the most pain is.
David Spencer, a spokesman for Ontario Health Minister George Smitherman, said his province already has a wait times strategy, including a program for out-of-country treatment. "

Timely Medical Alternatives Inc.

Timely Medical Alternatives Inc.

Before you hit send...

Before you hit send...

The power of e-mail . beaware you might be on Candid camera worldwide . QJ

Laugh for Better Blood Vessels - RealAge Tip of the Day

Laugh for Better Blood Vessels - RealAge Tip of the Day: "Laugh for Better Blood Vessels



Laugh your way to better blood vessel function by watching a funny flick.
Laughter relaxes blood vessels and increases blood flow -- the exact opposite of what your blood vessels do when you are stressed. In a small study of healthy men and women with normal blood pressure, watching a funny movie increased blood flow by about 22 percent. If funny movies aren't your style, spend time with the people who tickle your funny bone.

RealAge Benefit: Laughing often can make your RealAge up to 8 years younger. "

A childless culture

A childless culture: "Canadian families do not make babies like they used to. A dramatic decline in fertility in recent decades, combined with an aging population, has the potential to transform every aspect of Canadian society, from schools and housing to social attitudes toward family. In this, the first of a four-part series, the National Post examines the far-reaching implications of the fertility crisis."

Ont. considers presumed consent for organ donations

What do you think ? An intrusion or a right for a good government cause? QJ

Ont. considers presumed consent for organ donations: "TORONTO -- The question of whether to make Ontario the first jurisdiction in Canada to allow hospitals to harvest organs from dying patients who don't register an objection is proving a weighty one for the province's elected officials.
New Democrat member Peter Kormos introduced a private member's bill Thursday that would presume consent for organ donations from any dying patient who hasn't already made their wishes clear. "

Man ready to go to U.S. to extend his life

It is all about Life and death choices - the man wants to live not more excuses from the health system which is supposed to be universal and free . What great value from his tax contribution . Discusting - this non delivery of universal care myth in Canada, QJ

Man ready to go to U.S. to extend his life: "Man ready to go to U.S. to extend his life
Article Tools
Printer friendly
E-mail
Font: * * * * Pamela Cowan, Leader-Post
Published: Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Even as he underwent chemotherapy Tuesday afternoon, a desperate Swift Current man was planning to go to the United States to get a cancer drug that the Saskatchewan government has yet to approve.
'I don't think I can wait any longer,' said Bob Loeppky, 64. 'I have to look at other options so I'll either go to Minot, (N.D.) Great Falls (Mont.) or the Mayo Clinic in Rochester (Minn). It will depend on the travel connections.'"

B.C. eyes mixed health care

Finally choice and a step in the right direction QJ

B.C. eyes mixed health care: "VICTORIA - The British Columbia government signalled yesterday it will introduce major health care reforms -- including examining European models that offer a blend of publicly and privately delivered services -- to stem escalating costs that have made the existing system unsustainable.
In a Throne Speech with a heavy focus on health care, Premier Gordon Campbell's Liberals pledged to update the Canada Health Act on their own, if necessary."

12 Ways to Make Your RealAge Younger

12 Ways to Make Your RealAge Younger: "Below are the top 12 Grow Younger� strategies designed to make your RealAge younger. For personalized recommendations, take the RealAge test. "

Building the perfect dream team

Building the perfect team starts with you
Sieg Holle BS MBA

(Jan 2006) You can't do everything well. Actually, I'd go one further than that: there are a lot of things you shouldn't even think of doing yourself! I've met and consulted with many of the country's top-performing business advisors, and if they share one trait in common, it's this: they choose to focus only on those activities that make them the most successful, the most productive, and the most motivated. They delegate everything else, and that is part of the reason for their success.

Of course, it took time for these top performers to realize they couldn't reasonably do everything in their practices. Then they had to think a good deal about how they were going to give up control of various tasks and duties without eroding brand integrity. In many cases, this was the single most difficult challenge they had to overcome on their way to the top of their profession. Then they had to find the right people to give those responsibilities to. All of this took time, a good deal of strategy, and a multitude of teams. But make no mistake. The results have far surpassed their wildest expectations.

Let's assume that you share something in common with these top performers: you see big opportunities for your business practice. To capture these opportunities, you've come to realize that you need to give up control over certain tasks in order for you to take advantage of these opportunities. Do you see yourself assembling a team that will not only get the job done, but will get it done so well that existing clients and customers will never think of leaving, and new clients will be beating down your door to meet with you?
How are you going to do it? How do you find the right people? How can you determine whether these people have the "right stuff" that will take your business to the next level? What can you do to get them up to speed on how you intend to build your business?


The ultimate marketing tool YOU
Rethinking the marketing newsletter
The rules of niche marketing

All of these are good questions. And all of them can be answered by thinking of team building as a strategic process, rather than something that just "happens." At the centre of this process is an understanding that a top performing team is comprised of three components, or "sub-teams."

(a) The Team Director or leader: The visionary leader who ensures all elements of the team are working together according to plan, and motivates team members to continually further business goals;
(b) The strategy team: Helps the Team Director set appropriate short-term and long-term business goals and formulate the core team;
(c) The core team: Individuals who excel at their specific tasks necessary for the business to accomplish its goals, yet can work together to achieve the Team Director's vision.

With this concept in mind, you can see team building is more than simply matching an individual to a job description. Rather, it's a systematic search for appropriate people who can competently help you through a new phase of growth.
Let's take a look at each of these sub-teams, in order to better understand their roles and how they work together. Keep in mind that while large, established business have a single person filling each of these roles, it's entirely possible that one or two people may wear several hats in any of these sub-teams (in fact, that's how most business people start out in the business).

The Team Director- Team leader
This is the leader of the business, and the most important member of the team-in other words, you. A team cannot function properly if they don't understand the vision for the business. They can't support you if they don't know your style and approach. As team leader, this is your primary responsibility-to align your team with your process and your business vision in order to achieve your business goals. If for whatever reason you feel you lack the skills to successfully communicate a business vision to team members, you must find a partner who has these skills.

The Strategy Team of advisors
Once you've clarified your role as Team Director, you need to establish a Strategy Team (I've heard some consultants refer to this group as the "growth team"). The strategy team is the group that directs big-picture business strategy, identifying business-building opportunities and defining long-term growth goals. This is the team that steers the business toward its success, helping you to assemble the ideal team which will take you where you want to go. It also monitors your progress towards those goals on a regular basis.
In addition to you, the Strategy Team can include one or all of the following:

Business coach: A like-minded, experienced expert who understands the operating challenges of the business, and can help capitalize on new opportunities
Professionals: HR professionals, business consultants, etc., who bring upper-level strategy and thinking to specific business challenges
Branch manager: A guide to help you utilize the firm's strategic and marketing resources to build your business
Peers and mentors: A set of business owners and entrepreneurs from both inside and outside the financial industry
Marketing associate: Your internal marketing expert, who has a natural "knack" for co-ordinating and systemizing marketing efforts
Industry wholesalers: Select outside of company representatives who have demonstrated themselves as an excellent resource for strategic marketing and business-building ideas
Client focus group: A small group of trusted clients who can give you honest, objective feedback on what you're doing right and what needs improvement

The Core TeamThese are the people who get the job done day in and day out. While the strategy team deals with higher-level strategy, your core team delivers management and client service systems. In addition to you, the common positions are:

Business manager: Who ensures business processes and systems are running smoothly and who handles day-to-day issues with team members
Executive assistant: A versatile, detail-oriented assistant who can keep the team leader organized and ensures that all constituencies follow procedures
Junior advisors: These are your advisors-in-training; junior staff members who show promise and can be molded in your image
Associate advisors: Well-trained and qualified advisors who handle specific areas of your business , and may have a small group of their own clients
General administration assistant: Who deal with paperwork, general client requests, and general office duties
Professional centres of influence (COIs): Accountants, lawyers, private bankers, and other professionals who can function as "partners" on specific client accounts
In-house specialists: brand managers, and other experts who perform specific tasks for your clients
Marketing associate: A key position which executes day-to-day marketing tasks and long-range marketing projects (co-ordinating the client newsletter, setting up media appointments, booking seminars, etc.)
Marketing writer/designer: Outside brand-building and positioning experts who can help you attract ideal clients and distinguish yourself from the competition
Vendors: Printers, caterers, vendors, gifting-experts, and other companies who you can count on to support your client service process and deliver world-class service to your top clients

At first glance, this list seems a bit daunting. But what's even more daunting is the prospect of doing all of this yourself. If you can't find a way to delegate these tasks, that's exactly what you'll be doing.

Keep in mind that top performers all face the same issues that you do — including the harvesting of big opportunities. And they all found a way to get there. Top performers recognize that becoming the Team Director is the secret to success: they treat team building as a strategic process, one that demands serious planning, a multitude of teams, and a good deal of time investment and commitment .
(12/19/05)
Sieg Holle is the creator of the Earn-it program group, an organization that helps individuals build world-class, global marketing practices through innovative concepts, tools, and systems since 1989. Contact holcrest@worldchat.com or 1-519-754-0018 for more information about building your wealth through innovative business strategies.

FCPP Publications :: Dr. Mark Godley, Founder, Maples Surgical Clinic, Winnipeg

It is all about choice QJ
FCPP Publications :: Dr. Mark Godley, Founder, Maples Surgical Clinic, Winnipeg: "Frontier Centre: In Manitoba and beyond, you have become a symbol for the idea that we should expand healthcare choices for consumers. Was that planned or an accident?
Dr. Mark Godley: Initially our plan for the opening the Maples Surgical Centre in Winnipeg was built on the backbone of a contract with the Worker�s Compensation Board, back in 2001. Subsequently, we had no intention of leaving once we had set up our facility here. We have always felt that we had a role to play in the delivery of healthcare to all Manitobans.
FC: Why do you think we have such long waiting lists for healthcare procedures?
MG: Like the problems with any monopoly, like the Soviet Union and other Communist-bloc countries had, when you take away competition, you take away innovation and efficiency and creativity. When you combine all that together, you have a system that has a recipe for a lack of productivity. Only when we see the delivery of healthcare being provided through a competitive, free marketplace will we see the patient coming to the top of the pyramid.
FC: Did we make a crucial structural error in public policy when the parameters for the Canada Health Act were written?
MG: I think the Canada Health Act is very noble. But I believe there isn�t a government in Canada today that follows it at every level of functioning. I believe we could strive towards the principles and the values of the Canada Health Act only by changing our current system.
FC: Have you followed what happened in Sweden when they split the purchaser of healthcare from the provider?
MG: I haven�t followed the Swedish model very carefully. I do know that it was initially a success, and I do know that in other OECD countries such as Switzerland where there is a split betwee"

Company plans private health care for Ont. this summer

Company plans private health care for Ont. this summer: "Company plans private health care for Ont. this summer
Across Canada by 2007

Don Copeman, president and founder of Copeman Healthcare, plans to open private clinics in Toronto, London and Ottawa. He launched his first clinic in Vancouver and plans several more.

Published: January 12, 2006
TORONTO -- A private health-care company announced Wednesday that it plans to move into Ontario this summer and every major Canadian city by 2007, but the province's health minister threatened heavy fines if the company contravenes legislation. "