If you’ve ever watched a couple ofepisodes of Star Trek you’ve probably thought it would be pretty cool to have a tri-corder.
The science-fiction device they use to instantly tell them about everything from the composition of the air around them to the nature of someone’s illness may not really be so far-removed from science fact.
University of Alberta engineering professor Jie Chen will be giving a free talk today, Sept. 26, about the kinds of advanced home health technology that are on the horizon, titled Turning your smart phone into a tri-corder. The talk is part of the University’s Engineering Expo.
Chen is working on a hand-held, touch-screen biosensor patients and physicians can use anywhere to diagnose, monitor and predict some of the most common health conditions that affect Canadians.
The talk is scheduled for 1 p.m. in room E1-007 of the Engineering Teaching and Learning Complex.
We all know that not getting a good night’s sleep can make us grumpy and sluggish, but it can have broader implications for our health as well.
Lori Jack, seniors nurse with the St. Albert and Sturgeon Primary Care Network, will facilitate a free talk this Monday evening to help us better understand what happens when we sleep, how to get a better night’s sleep, and why it’s important.
The talk will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the St. Albert Public Library. While there is no charge, participants are asked to register at sapl.ca or by phoning 780-459-1682.
St. Albert-area residents looking to drop off samples at the Sturgeon Community Hospital’s laboratory will now have to do it by 8 p.m. on weekdays.
Alberta Health Services spokesman Kerry Williamson said the change was made because while the lab used to be open until 9 p.m. on weekdays, the main hospital doors close at 8 p.m. so the lab chose to follow suit.
He said few outpatients were accessing the lab in that last hour regardless. The weekend hours will remain at 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For inpatients, the lab will continue to be available 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
A union representing 25,000 front-line healthcare workers has reinstated a bargaining-in-bad-faith complaint against Alberta Health Services.
The Alberta Union of Public Employees said in a news release it had reinstated the complaint with the Alberta Labour Relations Board, which was put on hold in May with the election of the new NDP government and the “hopes the employer would approach labour relations with a refreshed mandate.”
The initial complaint was filed following an AHS decision to pull a wage proposal for one per cent raises each year for three years, replacing that offer with a zero increase over those three years.
The union claims AHS has ongoing issues, including no directive to bargain, and wants to see the employer return to the bargaining table to “engage in fair and meaningful negotiations.”
