New standard for hospitals on reporting adverse drug reactions released today

Standard will be supported by marketing activities to boost reporting by health professionals

OTTAWA, January 30, 2013 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, today congratulated Accreditation Canada on including, for the first time, guidance on the reporting of adverse drug reactions in its latest Medication Management Standards for health care facilities, including hospitals.

"Our Government is committed to protecting the health and safety of Canadians," said Minister Aglukkaq. "This initiative supports Health Canada's ongoing efforts to increase the quality and quantity of adverse reaction reports, an important part of our drug safety monitoring system."

As part of a certification process, Accreditation Canada evaluates the performance of its clients against national standards of excellence. These standards examine all aspects of health care, from patient safety and ethics, to staff training and partnering with the community. The new adverse reaction reporting component of the new standards was commissioned by Health Canada.

Accreditation Canada's Medication Management Standards are now available to more than 700 client organizations, including 143 hospitals and other acute care facilities, and other facilities including long-term care, home care and aboriginal health services.

The adverse reaction reporting component provides guidance on issues such as how to report patients' adverse reactions to drugs, and who is responsible for reporting them. The standards will encourage consistency in reporting practices and will strengthen and complement any reporting systems already in place.

This new standard will also complement Health Canada's ongoing efforts to promote adverse reaction reporting, including marketing activities aimed at health professionals in Canada. These activities provide information on how to report adverse reactions to drugs and other health products, why it's important to do so, and how to stay up to date on new safety information.

Starting next month, Health Canada will place notices in selected health professional journals and will distribute adverse reaction reporting forms with instructions to selected health associations, physicians and pharmacists, and facilities.

Adverse reaction reporting is an important source of data Health Canada uses to identify potential safety problems with marketed health products. Other sources include peer-reviewed scientific studies and information from drug manufacturers and international regulatory agencies.

The new reporting standard stems from Health Canada's consultations with provinces and territories, health professionals, industry, and the Canadian public regarding ways to address the under-reporting of adverse drug reactions in Canada. Much feedback, particularly from provinces and health professional associations, supported the development of a hospital-based adverse reaction reporting standard as an alternative to a legislative requirement.

Health care professionals and organizations can contact Accreditation Canada for more information on the new standards.

Canadians not keeping track of their discretionary spending

One in three Canadians monitors fixed expenses only

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, January 15, 2013 /Canada NewsWire/ - Many Canadians are taking a carefree approach to spending, acknowledging in a new poll commissioned by Edward Jones that they keep track of fixed expenses, but when it comes to discretionary spending, they aren't paying as close attention. One in three Canadians (29 per cent) only keep track of fixed expenses, such as mortgage, rent or car payments. A further 32 per cent of Canadians do not keep track of their expenses at all.

According to Statistics Canada, Canadian household debt-to-income ratio reached a new high of 164.6 per cent in the third quarter of 2012, which means for every $100 in after-tax income, Canadians owe $65.

"Failing to keep track of expenses could be keeping Canadians in hot water," says Michelle Kay-Scott, Senior Product Manager of Retirement Planning with Edward Jones. "Having a better understanding of where your money goes, from mortgage payments to a dinner out, can help to identify your current spending habits, so you can adjust them as necessary to achieve your financial goals."

Family status makes a difference

Family status is a driving force when it comes to our diligence to keep track of spending. According to the poll conducted by Leger Marketing, Canadians with children are more likely to monitor their expenses compared to those without children (73 per cent versus 65 per cent).

Kay-Scott notes

"Money priorities can change at different life stages, whether saving for a home, expecting a baby or living in retirement. Regardless of family status, it's important for Canadians at all life stages to identify where they stand financially and build a solid plan to meet financial goals."

Identify your discretionary spend with a new web-based app

To help Canadians track their discretionary spending, Edward Jones has launched a new web-based app. The easy-to-use app identifies the costs of everyday items (e.g. dining out, entertainment, new clothing) and calculates how spending on these items could translate into savings toward financial goals, such as retirement or a down payment on a home. Access the app from your smartphone at: ejsavingscalculator.com.

Other key findings from the survey:

...Regionally, Albertans, British Columbians and Ontarians are more likely than Quebecers to keep track of every penny they spend (47 per cent, 46 per cent and 40 per cent versus 30 per cent, respectively).

...Canadians making $40K to $59K are more likely than those making $100K and over to say they keep track of every penny they spend (45 per cent versus 33 per cent).

About Edward Jones

Edward Jones is a full-service investment dealer with one of the largest branch networks in Canada. It is a member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada and the Canadian Investor Protection Fund, and a participating organization of the Toronto Stock Exchange. Including its affiliate, Edward Jones serves nearly 7 million individual investors in Canada and the U.S. from more than 11,000 locations.

Edward Jones is a limited partnership in Canada and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Edward D. Jones & Co., LP, a Missouri limited partnership. Edward D. Jones & Co., LP is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Jones Financial Companies, LLLP, a Missouri limited liability limited partnership.

A total of 1500 Canadians completed an online survey between October 1st and October 4th, 2012 using Leger Marketing's online panel, LegerWeb. A probability sample of the same size would yield a margin of error of +/- 3.48%, 19 times out of 20.

University of Guelph Researchers to Share Vision of Life in 2030

GUELPH Ontario January 10, 2013 - University of Guelph News Release - What will life be like in 2030? It could be that technology will prevent your car from crashing, or that mathematics will make the difference between wealth and poverty.

These are visions of the future that researchers from Ontario universities – including the University of Guelph - will share with the public at "Life in 2030: Discuss the Future with Those who are Creating It," a free public event that will be held January 23 in Kitchener.

Hosted by the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University, in partnership with U of G and University of Ottawa, this is the first in a series of Research Matters discussions taking place across Ontario during the next few months.

“The work of Ontario researchers has a significant impact on the day-to-day life and future of Ontarians,” said D. George Dixon, vice-president of research at University of Waterloo. “This event is an opportunity for researchers to connect with people in the Kitchener-Waterloo area and share their hopes, concerns, and expectations for the next generation of Ontarians. Additionally, because universities are publicly funded, we recognize the importance of sharing our work with the communities to whom we are accountable.”

Moderated by Iain Klugman, president and CEO of Communitech, four researchers will discuss what life will be like in 2030 through the prism of their research:

...Ajay Heble, University of Guelph, “Music improvisation and community building: Improvisation will be at the core of sustainable communities and unprecedented change”

...Amir Khajepour, University of Waterloo, “Intelligent cars: Vehicles will prevent themselves from crashing”

...Donna Kotsopoulos, Wilfrid Laurier University, “Math pedagogy: Mathematics will make the difference between wealth and poverty”

...Andrew Pelling, University of Ottawa, “Cellular nanotechnology: Technology and biology will integrate in unpredictable ways.”

“Our universities – both locally and across Ontario – are home to some of the most prestigious, varied, and collaborative research environments in the world,” said Abby Goodrum, vice-president: research at Wilfrid Laurier University. “We want all members of our community to be able to share this wealth of ideas.”

Life in 2030 is a Research Matters event that takes place at The Tannery, 151 Charles St. W. in Kitchener, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Those interested in attending are asked to register online.

Research Matters events allow Ontarians to discuss emerging challenges and opportunities with researchers who are helping to shape the future, as well as voice their opinions and ideas in conversation with some of the province’s leading thinkers. There are five Research Matters events taking place across Ontario that will include 21 provincial universities. The other four will occur in Sudbury on March 7, Oshawa on April 3, St. Catharines on April 16 and Toronto on May 9. The Research Matters campaign also includes a blog and social media opportunities for Ontarians to engage with university research. Visit the Research Matters website at www.YourOntarioResearch.ca for details.

Annual eye examinations for Ontarians with diabetes continue to be funded by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan

Ontario Association of Optometrists reminds Ontarians of the importance of annual eye exams for people with diabetes

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, January 9, 2013 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Ontario Association of Optometrists (OAO) is reminding Ontarians that routine eye examinations for people with diabetes continue to be covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) regardless of their age, and that a referral for this service is not required.

A recent study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) found that when routine eye examinations for healthy adults were delisted from OHIP in 2004, there was an 8.7 per cent decrease in the test for people living with diabetes, despite the fact that annual eye examinations remained covered for this population.i

"For people living with diabetes, the consequences of neglecting eye health can be especially severe. The OAO continues to work with the provincial government and other partners to develop an integrated approach that ensures patients with diabetes receive proper eye health care as part of overall diabetes management," said Dr. Farooq A. Khan, President, OAO. "The OAO urges people living with diabetes to call and schedule eye examinations with a local Doctor of Optometry at least once every year."

Eye Health Risks Associated with Diabetes

Diabetic retinopathy is the most damaging eye condition caused by diabetes. Although vision loss due to the condition can be prevented, unfortunately, many people with diabetes do not know that they have damage from retinopathy until it is too late. Diabetic retinopathy causes the blood vessels of the retina (inner layer of the back of the eye) to leak, swell or develop abnormally. It is the leading cause of blindness among Canadians between the ages of 30 and 69, and will be developed by the majority of people with diabetes within 20 years of having the condition.

Although prevention of this devastating condition is best accomplished by maintaining normal blood glucose levels, blood pressure, and blood lipid levels, receiving a comprehensive eye examination by a Doctor of Optometry at least once a year is essential to catch retinal changes as early as possible, and ultimately help preserve vision through a variety of treatment options available.

Doctors of Optometry, widely available in local communities all across Ontario, are the primary health care providers trained to diagnose and manage damaging eye conditions caused by diabetes. To find an optometrist in your community, please visit: http://www.optom.on.ca/find_an_optometrist.

About the Ontario Association of Optometrists (OAO)

The OAO, founded in 1909, is the voluntary professional organization representing more than 1,500 optometrists in Ontario. The OAO is dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding of the importance of eye health, and helping Ontario's Doctors of Optometry provide the highest standard of eye health and vision care.

New cough and cold remedies now available for Canadians, offer options for children under six and those with compromised health

Sniffling noses get a new ally with Helixia™

TORONTO, December 11, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - For millions of Canadians ranging from the smallest tykes to our revered elders, cold season brings on a host of challenges when looking for a medication to help alleviate the predictable and uncomfortable symptoms of the common cold.

In 2009, Health Canada changed the cough and cold medication landscape dramatically when they required manufacturers to change the labels on over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medicines to state they are no longer suitable for anyone under the age of six.

Those with compromised health often fare no better. For people living with conditions like diabetes, hypertension, or respiratory illnesses such as asthma and chronic lung disease, certain medicinal ingredients including pseudoephedrine (decongestant) and dextromethorphan (antitussive) can cause side effects or negative interactions with other medications, and are therefore not recommended in this population. These ingredients are found in the top 50 cold remedies.

The introduction of Helixia™ is expected to fill a significant need for Canadians, their physicians, as well as their pharmacists and other healthcare professionals, especially relevant in light of some of the recent drug shortages. Helixia™ is a new line of naturally-sourced, over-the-counter cough and sinus remedies. Of particular note for parents and those struggling with certain chronic conditions, Helixia™ Cough is appropriate for use by children under six as well as adults with certain medical conditions in whom common over-the-counter cough medications are not recommended or difficult to tolerate. Helixia™ Sinus is available for adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older.

Though only recently introduced in Canada, Helixia's efficacy is supported by several clinical studies and its formulations, including the medicinal ingredients Hedera Helix L (the dried ivy leaf extract found in Helixia™ Cough), and Eucalyptol (the eucalyptus oil extract found in Helixia™ Sinus), have been available and used in Europe for more than 20 years.

"We are proud to offer Canadian families a cough and cold remedy that has been trusted around the world for more than two decades", said Elise Vezina, vice president of Pendopharm, a division of Pharmascience Inc., distributors of Helixia™. "We are sensitive to the challenges in alleviating cold symptoms in children under six as well as in those whose added health conditions limit their treatment possibilities. We are confident that Helixia™ will be a welcome option."

By all indications, the availability of Helixia™ will come as a relief to parents of young children who have struggled to soothe their little ones for the past several years. "As a mother it's torture watching my two year old and five year old cough and sneeze and not be able to give them anything to make them feel better," said Jacynthe Audette.

"I see hundreds of patients every cold season and brace myself for the inevitable question 'What can I take to help me feel better?'" said Dr. Blais. "Until now, the only solutions I could offer for the vast majority of my patients were to rest, drink plenty of fluids, use a humidifier, or to take a smaller dose. With Helixia™, and the scientific studies that support its efficacy, I am comfortable recommending this option to many of my patients who have been virtually left to their own devices for the past few years."

Helixia is available at most pharmacies across the country. For more information, visit www.helixia.com.

About Helixia™

Helixia™ is a portfolio of naturally-sourced cough and cold natural health products.

Helixia™ Cough is used as an expectorant to help relieve coughing and loosen mucus and phlegm. It is made from dried ivy leaf extract, is non-drowsy, tastes like honey (although it contains no honey) and is free of sucrose*, gluten, dyes and alcohol, making it an option for all Canadians, as well as an excellent alternative for both small children and many health-compromised individuals.

Helixia Sinus helps relieve nasal symptoms of a cold, including stuffy nose, runny nose, dry nose and inflamed nose and also helps relieve sinus symptoms associated with acute sinusitis and a cold, including sinus pain and pressure, sinus headache, sinus congestion and runny nose. Helixia™ Sinus contains the medicinal ingredient Cineole (Eucalyptol extract).

About Pendopharm

Pendopharm is a rapidly growing specialty pharmaceutical company that is committed to commercializing a portfolio of specialty prescription (Rx) products as well as an established range of over-the-counter (OTC) and behind-the-counter (BTC) products. Dedicated to growth, it actively engages in licensing, developing and marketing late-stage prescription products as well as consumer brands. Its experienced team of people is dedicated to "going the extra mile" to support the medical community, partners and patients.

Pendopharm is a division of Pharmascience Inc., a Canadian privately-owned company. For more information about Pendopharm and its portfolio of products, visit www.pendopharm.com.

Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario screening tool helps nurses identify abuse against women

TORONTO, December 4, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - More than 450 nurses and other health-care professionals will take part in a webcast this week to learn how to better identify and deal with signs of abuse/intimate partner violence in female patients. The event will take place in Toronto on Wednesday (December 5) on the eve of Canada's National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

Participants will be reviewing recommendations contained in a clinical practice guideline titled, Woman Abuse: Screening, Identification and Initial Response Best Practice Guideline, which was developed by the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) in 2005 and updated this year.

Kathleen Fitzgerald, one of the nurses who led the work on the guideline and its recent update, says the physical and emotional health consequences of violence are profound and enduring.

"RNAO's guideline provides nurses with evidence-based knowledge and strategies to help break the cycle of violence against women. Nurses are well-positioned to screen for potential abuse. They are accessible, they enjoy a high degree of public trust and work in a variety of settings where they interact with female patients,"

says Fitzgerald, who also sits on RNAO's board of directors and works as a sexual assault nurse at Lake of the Woods District Hospital in Kenora.

According to the federal government's latest statistics, out of 100,000 women aged 15 and over, 574 reported being victims of dating or spousal violence. The rate for women is four times greater than it is for men. The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women was established by parliament in 1991 to mark the anniversary of the Dec. 6, 1989 murder of 14 young women at I'Ecole Polytechnique de Montréal. They were killed because they were women.

The RNAO guideline provides recommendations, strategies, and resources for nurses and other health-care professionals to encourage routine universal screening for all women and girls. The guideline contains a questionnaire to help nurses assess if female patients are suffering from abuse and, if so, how severely. For instance, one question asks if you have been kicked, hit, slapped, or physically hurt by your partner or ex-partner within the past year. Another question asks if you have been raped or forced to have any kind of sexual activity by your partner or ex-partner within the past year.

Among the recommendations laid out in the guideline:

...Routine universal screening should be implemented in all health-care settings for all females, ages 12 and older.

...Nurses should foster an environment that encourages women and girls to open up about abuse.

...Nurses should develop screening strategies that reflect the needs of all women taking into account differences based on culture, race, ethnicity, class, religious/spiritual beliefs, age, and/or sexual orientation.

...Nurses should know their legal obligations when a woman/girl reveals she is or was abused.

...All nursing school curricula should incorporate content on abuse against women.

RNAO's Best Practice Guidelines Program is funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, and was launched in 1999 to provide the best available evidence for patient care across a wide range of health-care settings. The 50 guidelines developed to date are a substantive contribution towards building excellence in Ontario's health-care system. They are available to nurses and other health-care professionals across Canada.

The Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) is the professional association representing registered nurses in Ontario. Since 1925, RNAO has advocated for healthy public policy, promoted excellence in nursing practice, increased nurses' contribution to shaping the health-care system, and influenced decisions that affect nurses and the public they serve.

For more information about RNAO or to learn more about this guideline, visit our website at www.rnao.ca You can also check out our Facebook page at www.rnao.org/facebook and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/rnao.

Food Bank Use Hits Record High in Ontario Over 412,000 Ontarians accessing Food Banks every month.

TORONTO, December 3, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - A new report released today by the Ontario Association of Food Banks (OAFB) revealed alarming new data: food bank use in Ontario has hit an all-time high, with over 412,000 Ontarians accessing food support and hunger-relief programs every month.

"The face of hunger is changing," says Bill Laidlaw, Executive Director of the OAFB. "The largest group of food bank users are children, with 160,000 kids accessing food banks monthly. What's more, some of the largest growing groups of food bank users are single parent households, the working poor, senior citizens, university students, and recent graduates."

There are many issues that have contributed to this spike in food bank use, which is up from 395,000 in 2011 and 374,000 during the 2008 recession.

"The challenges we've had in agriculture this year, rising food and living costs, the flooding in Northern Ontario, plant closures and layoffs, and funding cuts to social assistance programs have all played a role in the increased need for food assistance," says Laidlaw.

Details of the report's findings include:

...412,998 individuals, including 159,918 children, accessed Ontario's food banks in March 2012 alone

...174,618 households accessed food banks, this year, for the first time in their lives

...19% of food banks in Ontario do not have adequate supplies to address the growing need in their community

The Ontario Association of Food Banks is continuing to pursue the recommendations for change that it made in its 2011 Hunger Report, including: increased access to affordable healthy food, advocating for a housing benefit for low income individuals, a tax credit for farmers, and a push for the Ontario government to address the root causes of hunger by implementing policy changes that will lead to long-term sustainable solutions, and ultimately make food banks unnecessary.

"Every day there are children going to school without breakfast, adults working through the day without lunch, and seniors going to bed without dinner, simply because they cannot afford food to eat," says Laidlaw. "It is our hope that you will help us by speaking to your local MPPs and asking them to put hunger on the agenda, as well as by supporting your local food bank. In this province, and in this country, hunger and access to healthy food should not be an issue."

The Ontario Hunger Report is a compilation of data collected through the annual HungerCount report of Food Banks Canada. The full report is available online at www.OAFB.ca.

About Ontario Association of Food Banks

The Ontario Association of Food Banks (OAFB) is a network of 120 food banks and over 1,100 hunger relief programs and agencies across the province. Together, we serve 412,000 individuals, including 160,000 children, every month. The OAFB is committed to reducing hunger through sustainable solutions that ensure the long-term health and success of communities across the province.