Educators in residences with continuous assistance (RACs) have expert knowledge that can work wonders in helping service users adjust and cope in their rehabilitation process. Unfortunately, that expertise is still seriously undervalued and misunderstood. The following video highlights the roles played by these dedicated workers and the day-to-day realities of a system disconnected from the actual needs on the ground.
Once again, projects led by APTS members have been rewarded with Stars du Réseau de la Santé (SRS) prizes from the Caisse Desjardins du Réseau de la santé. First prize in the High-Performance category went to a protocol – implemented in record time – that helped relieve the respiratory distress of COVID-19 patients by positioning them on their stomachs. Geneviève Thériault-Poirier, an occupational therapist at the CHUM who submitted the project, agreed to tell us about it.
At the time of this writing, 7,450 people had signed a petition launched on April 6 to demand that the government reimburse dues paid to professional orders. The signatories were reiterating arguments put forward by APTS president Andrée Poirier. Writing to Minister Christian Dubé on February 22, Poirier had asserted that in the context of a public health crisis, “it is inconceivable that we should force our members to pay out of their own pocket for the right to provide services for Quebecers.”
APTS members began to experience severe disruption of their professional practice in April 2020 when services were withdrawn and employees reassigned throughout the health and social services system. By the time the second wave of the pandemic was declared on September 21, the APTS knew it needed a formal strategy to lessen the impact of a second round of service interruptions and staff reassignments.
How can we demand conditions of practice that are compatible with our obligations, and defend the interests of the people we serve? APTS members will soon be offered a training activity on this topic.
The health crisis has forced significant changes in the organization of work in labs – changes that are calling into question the very core of the OPTILAB system. Before we all go back to normal and press the restart button, shouldn’t we at least take the time to think about these issues?
Some APTS members have been reassigned to work in CHSLDs and have had to withdraw their services from their regular clientele. This raises a number of issues in relation to professional practice. The current health and social emergency and the need to bring down terrifying death rates in care homes for older people are aggravating the structural disorganization of our health and social service system.
Recognition of dietitians/nutritionists’ clinical judgment and their role in ensuring more accessible care is reflected in the three new activities they are now authorized to perform. This is a promising advance. We discussed these developments with Marie-Joëlle Valiquette, Director of professional affairs for the Ordre professionnel des diététistes du Québec (OPDQ).
Alors que se poursuit dans la région de la Mauricie et du Centre-du-Québec le deuxième projet pilote prévu dans le cadre de l’implantation du Programme québécois de psychothérapie pour les troubles mentaux, vers quel type de pratique se dirige-t-on?