At the most recent CSRT conference, I attended a talk by Brian Walsh (President of the American Association of Respiratory Care) entitled “The Professional Road Ahead”. The purpose of Brian’s presentation was to look at some of the ways that RTs have the potential to make a significant impact – not just in the lives […]
When considering the possible outcome of any given situation, I often find myself beginning with the worst possible scenario and working backwards from that (my friends will attest to this). I don’t see that as a bad thing. It’s RT Risk Management 101 – prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Even in […]
The astonishing array of personal information available at our fingertips has had two very different effects on our society, our healthcare system and on us as healthcare professionals. One is the growing awareness that we need to safeguard our privacy from the technology that has encroached on virtually every part of our lives. The other […]
By now you have probably heard about the individuals who thought it would be “hilarious” and “amazing” to direct an extremely obscene comment at a CityNews reporter covering a TFC game. Their behaviour was undeniably shameful and disgraceful – and the reporter (good on her) called them on it.But what is truly fascinating about this […]
If you are like me, the events that took place in Paris the other week have left you shocked, angered, and – ultimately – deeply saddened by the senselessness of it all. I don’t profess to understand the many complex factors that result in one group of people attacking another, and that isn’t even really […]
In the healthcare setting, cultural competence refers to the ability to provide appropriate and effective medical care to members of various cultural groups. RTs provide care to patients/clients with diverse values, beliefs and behaviours. A practitioner therefore must become competent in providing equitable care though the process of gaining a congruent set of behaviours and […]
The therapeutic relationship between an RT and his/her patient/client is one of empathy, trust and respect. It is important to acknowledge that there exists within this relationship an inherent power imbalance. The RT has access to specialized knowledge, privileged information that the patient/client does not have. The RT also has the ability to advocate on […]
Lately, there has been a great deal of discussion in the news, in the courts and more recently in parliament, regarding “end-of-life”. Just last week, Manitoba Conservative MP Steven Fletcher tabled a private member’s bill that proposes the enabling of “assisted dying”. Mr. Fletcher, who was left a quadriplegic after a car accident, was interviewed […]
