Posts Tagged ‘covid-19’
An occupational therapist honoured for her contribution to pandemic response efforts
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.
Read MoreProfessional recognition: it’s time for a concrete gesture
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.”
Read MoreWithdrawal of services and reassigned workers: we need to be vigilant
APTS members began to experience severe disruption of their professional practice in April 2020 when services were withdrawn and employees reassigned throughout the health and social services system.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.
Read MorePrivatizing health care under cover of COVID-19
Our health and social services system is at a crossroads. Workers are exhausted, public services are eroding and elderly citizens have been all but abandoned. None of this is new.
Read MoreCOVID-19 and labs: a (poorly) controlled slide into chaos
If you’ve never worked in a medical lab, it’s hard to imagine the alarming circumstances into which graduate medical lab technicians and medical technologists were plunged during the first wave of COVID-19. And the situation only got more dramatic with the second wave.
Read MoreVital professions: in your own words
While the APTS ad describing the variety and value of the professions it represents was being aired, we contacted some of the members featured in the ad to talk about why they agreed to be part of the project and how the pandemic has affected their professional life.
Read MoreCNESST vs. disability insurance claims
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the APTS has noticed that physical and mental health problems are on the rise among our members. Unfortunately, people often forget that if their injury or illness is directly attributable to their work, they should submit a claim to the CNESST (Labour standards, pay equity and occupational health and safety commission).
Read MoreAfter the pay gap, the pandemic gap
Our current health crisis is putting the spotlight on social and economic inequalities throughout the world, and gender inequalities are also in evidence.
Read MoreThese negotiations are vital!
On the provincial APTS executive committee, Mélanie Bernier is our national bargaining and pay equity co-officer. In the current public-sector contract talks with the Treasury Board, she’s right there in the thick of the discussions.
Read MoreSame old recipe for economic recovery
Quebecers have made countless sacrifices to limit the pandemic’s impact. They have accepted significant restrictions on their freedom, placing their faith in government and following its directives. After all the soul-searching and questioning that this exceptional situation has evoked, and all the observations and conclusions calling for sweeping changes in the way we do things, the government’s uninspired proposal to get us out of the crisis is deeply dismaying.
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